Tag Archives: Matmo

Tropical Cyclone Bulbul Strengthens over Bay of Bengal

Tropical Cyclone Bulbul strengthened over the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Bulbul was located at latitude 14.8°N and longitude 89.9°E which put it about 520 miles (840 km) south of Kolkata, India.  Bulbul was moving toward the north at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

A low pressure system that was formerly designated at Tropical Storm Matmo when it was over the South China Sea moved across southeast Asia and over the Bay of Bengal during the past few days.  The low pressure system became nearly stationary west of the Andaman Islands.  More thunderstorms began to develop and bands began to form on Tuesday.  The low pressure system strengthened on Wednesday and the India Meteorological Department designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Bulbul.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Bulbul was still organizing on Wednesday night.  More thunderstorms were developing around the center of circulation.  Storms near the center were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical cyclone.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Bulbul.  The stronger rainbands were in the western half of the circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Bulbul will move through an area favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours.  Bulbul will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move under the western end of an upper level ridge over southeast Asia.  The ridge will produce southerly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Bulbul is likely to strengthen into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon within 36 to 48 hours.

The ridge over southeast Asia will steer Tropical Cyclone Bulbul toward the north during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Bulbul will approach the coast around the northern Bay of Bengal in two or three days.  Bulbul could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it approaches the coast.

Elsewhere, a much weaker Tropical Cyclone Maha neared the west coast of India.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Maha was located at latitude 20.0°N and longitude 70.2°E which put it about 75 miles (120 km) southwest of Dui, India.  Maha was moving toward the east-northeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.  Tropical Cyclone Maha will drop rain of southern Gujarat on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Matmo Makes Landfall in Vietnam

Tropical Storm Matmo made landfall on the southern coast of Vietnam near Quy Nhon on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Matmo was located at latitude 13.7°N and longitude 108.2°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) west of Quy Nhon, Vietnam.  Matmo was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 944 mb.

Tropical Storm Matmo organized quickly as it approached the coast of southern Vietnam on Wednesday.  The inner end of a band of showers and thunderstorms wrapped about 75% around the center of circulation and an eye appeared to be forming.  Thunderstorms near the center of Matmo were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass allowed the pressure to decrease which caused the wind speed to increase.  The maximum sustained wind speed at the time when Tropical Storm Matmo made landfall was 60-65 m.p.h. (95-105 km/h).

Tropical Storm Matmo began to weaken after the center moved over land.  The strongest winds were occurring in bands of showers and thunderstorms in the eastern half of Matmo over the South China Sea.  Wind speeds in the parts of the circulation what were over land were less.  Tropical Storm Matmo will continue to move westward during the next several days.  Matmo will drop heavy rain over parts of southern Vietnam, Cambodia, southern Laos, and Thailand.  Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Matmo Forms East of Vietnam

Tropical Storm Matmo formed over the South China Sea east of Vietnam on Tuesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Matmo was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 112.2°E which put it about 60 miles (260 km) east of Dai Lanh, Vietnam.  Matmo was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

More thunderstorms developed near the center of a low pressure system over the South China Sea east of Vietnam on Tuesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Matmo.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Matmo was still organizing.  Thunderstorms were forming around the center of circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were developing in the northern and western parts of the tropical storm.  Bands in the eastern and southern parts of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation were beginning to generate upper level divergence.

Tropical Storm Matmo will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 to 18 hours.  Matmo will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move under the west part of an upper level ridge where the winds are weaker and where there is less vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Matmo could strengthen during the next 12 hours.  Matmo will near the coast of Vietnam in about 12 hours and it will start to weaken when the center moves over land.

Tropical Storm Matmo will move south of a ridge of high pressure over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will steer Matmo toward the west.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Matmo could make landfall on the coast of Vietnam between Dai Lanh and Quy Nhon in 12 to 18 hours.  Matmo will bring gusty winds to the coastal regions of southern Vietnam.  Tropical Storm Matmo could also drop heavy rain over parts of southern Vietnam, Cambodia, southern Laos and eastern Thailand.  Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.