Super Cyclone Mala Heads Towards Burma at Cat 4/144mph winds, page 1

posted on Apr, 25 2006 @ 04:31 PM

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This is the first hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere for 2006.

INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
The Cyclonic Storm ( MALA ) over southeast Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary and lay centred at 2030 IST of 25th April 2006 near Lat. 10.00 N and Long. 89.50 E, about 400 km southwest of Port Blair and 1100 km southeast of Chennai. The system is likely to intensify further and move slowly in northwesterly direction.

Under its influence, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied with squally winds speed reaching 65-75 kmph is likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 48 hours.

More info at:
•2006 North Indian cyclone season
•NRL Monterey Marine Meteorology Division
•Hurricane Alley

Joint Typhoon Warning Center
TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) 02B, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 540 NM SOUTHWEST
OF YANGON, MYANMAR, HAS TRACKED NORTHWARD AT 03 KNOTS OVER THE PAST
06 HOURS. RECENT ANIMATED INFRARED AND UPPER AIR ANALYSIS INDICATE
02B REMAINS IN AN AREA OF MODERATE SOUTHEASTERLY VERTICAL WIND
SHEAR. THE VERTICAL WIND SHEAR IS LIMITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEAR
PERIOD. AS 23P (MONICA) TRACKS SLOWLY NORTHWARD IN A WEAK STEERING
ENVIRONMENT, SLIGHT INTENSIFICATION WILL OCCUR DUE TO PROXIMITY TO
MIDLATITUDE WESTERLIES. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 251800Z
IS 19 FEET. NEXT WARNINGS AT 260900Z AND 262100Z.

This is a strange time of year for storm of this strength to form in the Bay of Bengal.

Historical tropical storm info for the Northern India Ocean at Unisys

[edit on 28-4-2006 by Regenmacher]

Regenmacher

posted on Apr, 25 2006 @ 09:09 PM

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Cyclone Mala continues to intensify with strong banding in the Northwest quad.

`Low' intensifies into depression; could even become cyclone

Severe cyclone likely

The UK Met Office has categorised the system as `strong' and has forecast that it will undergo another round intensification around Thursday/Friday. The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre concurs with this outlook and says 02B will carry a core of winds with maximum sustained speeds of 55 knots (101 kmph) gusting to 70 knots (130 kmph).

This will elevate its status to a `severe cyclonic storm' (just below Category 1 storm). In the process, 02B will have moved north-northwest to 13.3N and 87.8E (along the Chennai latitude, to the southwest of Port Blair).

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Outflow from Mala may be the cause of this recent storm:
Nine killed by storm in eastern India

[edit on 26-4-2006 by Regenmacher]

Regenmacher

posted on Apr, 27 2006 @ 12:18 PM

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Cyclone Mala continues to intensify and is now the strength of a Cat 1 hurricane. This storm has the potential for wide spread devastation and numerous fatalities to the a poor nation of Myanmar.

Recent sats and track forecast at
NRL Monterey Tropical Cyclone Page

It's Cyclone Mala, likely to head for Myanmar coast
The UK Met Office says Cyclone Mala will undergo at least four rounds of intensification before weakening to below tropical storm strength on May 1 at 18.1N and 91.4E (over the Arakan coast in Myanmar).

The system will bring fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very rainfall with gusty winds over Andaman and Nicobar islands during the two days. Associated peripheral cloud bands could bring isolated to scattered rainfall activity over north Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. A western disturbance approaching the northern parts of Jammu and Kashmir by Sunday could cool down things a bit in the north, where mercury has been rising in the past few days.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Cyclone Mala is strongest after Orissa Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone Mala has become the severest storm in the Bay of Bengal basin after the Orissa Super Cyclone of 1999, but it is churning away too far across to the northeast to be of any consequence to the Indian coast.

In comparison, the Orissa Super Cyclone (unnamed, but numbered 05B) had slammed down on the Gopalpur region of Orissa with wind speeds reaching in excess of 160 knots (300 km).The massive storm killed an estimated 10,000 people over a period of three days.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

[edit on 27-4-2006 by Regenmacher]

Regenmacher

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 08:38 AM

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Cyclone Mala set to hit Myanmar and Bangladesh coasts
Expected to hit the Arakan coast of Myanmar, the cyclone is threatening to grow into a destructive Category 4 storm by Saturday. Weather scientists say the system would kick up wind speeds clocking 115 knots (213 kilometres per hour).

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Cyclone Mala borders on super cyclone status and should reach over 120 knot sustained winds today. Mala currently is a dangerous a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with a tight concentric eyewall.

jrod

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 08:50 AM

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That area is very vulnerable to storm surge, most structures poorly constructed, and the people are poor and often aren't given warning of an approaching storm. A bit north of where Mala is expected to make landfall is where the deadlist tropical cyclone in history made landfill killing well over 100,000.

Regenmacher

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 09:18 AM

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Yeah, the region is also densely populated, plus the junta is causing a lot of conflict and thousands of people are in transit. Surprised it isn't making more headlines, considering the potential for a large number of fatalities and destruction.

•Burma - Population Density Map UT Library
•Myanmar's junta fears US invasion Asia Times
•Major Myanmar offensive uproots 11,000 civilians, atrocities reported Mainichi News

04.28.06 1713Z: Mala has 125 knot sustained winds at 916mb pressure,
she has made super cyclone status. NRL 02B.MALA

Cyclone Mala churns into Category 4 status
Both the London-based Tropical Storm Risk Group and the US Navy's Joint typhoon Warning Centre agree that Cyclone Mala will undergo another round of intensification during the next 12 hours when winds are seen clocking speeds in excess of 125 knots (230 kmph) gusting to 150 knots (277 kmph).

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Cyclonic Storm 34–47 knots
Severe Cyclonic Storm 48–63 knots
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 64–119 knots
Super Cyclonic Storm ≥120 knots

[edit on 28-4-2006 by Regenmacher]

psyopswatcher

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 01:47 PM

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My my, that was quite an eye. Looks like it's closed up some.

This is early, 'cane season doesn't start in the North Atlantic till June 1. Most be some hot water in those seas? East of India, west of Siam.

Originally posted by jrod
That area is very vulnerable to storm surge, most structures poorly constructed, and the people are poor and often aren't given warning of an approaching storm. A bit north of where Mala is expected to make landfall is where the deadlist tropical cyclone in history made landfill killing well over 100,000.

Any stats on that, jrod? You know, who? what? where? when? and why? ... The Usual Suspects. What year was it, got a month? Dates? I'd google it but it's been a long week.

I would say Rangoon was feeling the weather from this storm yesterday. Where's landfall going to be, straight up the middle?

[edit on 28-4-2006 by psyopswatcher]

jrod

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 04:23 PM

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en.wikipedia.org...

en.wikipedia.org...

There have been many more killer storms besides these(the 1970 storm killed around half a million) and the record of the largest storm surge ever recorded was also set in that area, I just don't feel like googling for it right now. The topography maximizes the surge potential in the Bangladesh area.

At least now this storm looks a little weaker, that can change in a few hours and the water temps are plenty warm enough.

[edit on 28-4-2006 by jrod]

[edit on 28-4-2006 by jrod]

[edit on 28-4-2006 by jrod]

psyopswatcher

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 10:03 PM

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Thanks for the links, jrod.

I don't know tonight's stats on Mala, but that's a good name... mucho mala, very bad.

Here's a world view on Burma Shave:

[edit on 28-4-2006 by psyopswatcher]

jrod

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 10:19 PM

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I was thinking the same thing about Mala.

With the widespread destruction and loss of lifes these cause in 3rd world areas, it really angers me how Americans will moan and groan about not having power for a few days. They just dont know how good they have it. Mala is likely to kill 10-100 fold more than Katrina and ruin the homes of millions. A catastophy like this is uncomprehendable for most.

psyopswatcher

posted on Apr, 28 2006 @ 10:20 PM

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For the world watchers:

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