Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Newsletter February 2009

Tropical Cyclones
[Index]

Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Newsletter February 2009
[Summaries and Track Data] [Prepared by Gary Padgett]

MONTHLY TROPICAL CYCLONE NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY, 2009

(For general comments about the nature of these summaries, as well as
information on how to download the tabular cyclone track files, see
the Author's Note at the end of this summary.)

*************************************************************************

FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

--> A rather quiet month--one intense cyclone in Southwest Indian Ocean

*************************************************************************

!!!!!!!!!! EXTRA FEATURE !!!!!!!!!!

WESTERN HEMISPHERE TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES for 2009

Tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean Sea are assigned names by the Tropical Prediction Center/
National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. A separate alphabetical
set of alternating male/female names is used each year with the name
of the first tropical storm beginning with the letter "A". Names are
repeated every six years. The names of hurricanes which cause a lot
of damage and/or fatalities are usually retired from the list with
another name of the same alphabetical rank and gender replacing it.
Following the 2008 season, the names Gustav, Ike, and Paloma were
retired and have been replaced with Gonzalo, Isaias, and Paulette,
respectively.

The list of names for 2009 is the same one used during the active
hurricane season of 2003 when sixteen tropical cyclones were named with
seven reaching hurricane intensity. The names Fabian, Isabel, and Juan
were retired and have been replaced with Fred, Ida, and Joaquin in this
year's list.

TPC/NHC also has warning responsibility for the Eastern North
Pacific Ocean from the west coast of Mexico out to longitude 140W.
Six separate alphabetical sets of names are used for this basin in
the same manner as in the Atlantic. Initially, the Eastern Pacific
name sets contained only 21 names, omitting "Q" and "U" and ending
with the letter "W", as in the Atlantic. When the active 1985 season
threatened to exhaust the list, the names Xina, York and Zelda were
drafted to accommodate any additional storms which might develop.
(Hurricane Xina was named in late October, 1985.) The decision was
made sometime in the latter 1980s to extend the list with these three
names in odd-numbered years, and to add the names Xavier, Yolanda and
Zeke in even-numbered years (to preserve the alternating gender
scheme). During the Northeast Pacific's year of record activity in
1992, all 24 names were allotted to tropical cyclones forming east of
140W, ending with Tropical Storm Zeke in late October. Had more storms
developed, they would have been named with the letters of the Greek
alphabet (Alpha, Beta, etc), which is also the backup plan for the
Atlantic basin in case more than 21 tropical storms develop in a single
season.

Due to the fact that few Eastern Pacific cyclones significantly
affect populated areas, names are rarely retired from the list.
However, the following the 2008 season, the name Alma was retired and
has been replaced with Amanda in the set for 2014.

The list of names for this year was last used in 2003 when sixteen
tropical cyclones were named. No names were retired following that
season so the 2009 list is identical to that used six years ago.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center, located in Honolulu, has
tropical cyclone warning responsibility for that portion of the North
Pacific Ocean lying between longitudes 140W and 180. The majority of
the tropical storms and hurricanes seen in that region are visitors
from east of 140W, but on the average about one tropical storm forms
in the Central Pacific each year, and when this happens, the storm is
given a Hawaiian name. The list consists of four sets of twelve
names each, using only the letters of the Hawaiian alphabet. All the
names are used--the first storm to form in a given year is assigned
the next available name on the list. The last tropical cyclone named
by CPHC was Kika in 2008.

Names for 2009 are (** indicates name has already been assigned):

ATLANTIC EASTERN PACIFIC CENTRAL PACIFIC

Ana Larry Andres Marty Lana
Bill Mindy Blanca Nora Maka
Claudette Nicholas Carlos Olaf Neki
Danny Odette Dolores Patricia Omeka
Erika Peter Enrique Rick Pewa
Fred Rose Felicia Sandra Unala
Grace Sam Guillermo Terry Wali
Henri Teresa Hilda Vivian Ana
Ida Victor Ignacio Waldo Ela
Joaquin Wanda Jimena Xina Halola
Kate Kevin York Iune
Linda Zelda Kilo

*************************************************************************

ACTIVITY BY BASINS

ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Activity for February: No tropical cyclones

*************************************************************************

NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180

Activity for February: No tropical cyclones

*************************************************************************

NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180

Activity for February: 1 tropical depression **

** - treated as a tropical depression by PAGASA only

Northwest Pacific Tropical Activity for February
------------------------------------------------

Over the past 11 seasons (since 1998), the NWP basin has produced a
tropical storm or depression in February on four occasions, the last
being in 2004. February is the month of minimal tropical cyclone
activity in the NWP basin. Neither JTWC nor JMA classified any system
as a tropical depression, but PAGASA elevated a low-pressure area to
depression status, naming it Bising. TD Bising affected Mindanao and
the Visayas; also, the remnants brought scattered rainshowers to southern
Luzon and the Bicol region. Information on TD Bising may be found on
the Wikipedia website at the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Pacific_typhoon_season>

Since no agency elevated the depression's MSW to 30 kts, I did not
create a track for the system in the companion cyclone tracks file.
Michael Padua's storm log for Bising, containing PAGASA's track, may
be accessed at:

http://www.typhoon2000.ph/stormarchives/2009/stormlogs/02bising09_log.htm>

*************************************************************************

NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea

Activity for February: No tropical cyclones

*************************************************************************

SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E

Activity for February: 1 severe tropical storm
1 intense tropical cyclone

Sources of Information
----------------------

The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
Southwest Indian Ocean tropical cyclones are the warnings issued by
the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre on La Reunion Island, part of
Meteo France (MFR), and the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre
for the basin. However, tropical cyclones in this region are named
by the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centres in Mauritius and
Madagascar with longitude 55E being the demarcation line between their
respective areas of naming responsibility. The La Reunion centre only
advises these agencies regarding the intensity of tropical systems.
References to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging period unless
otherwise stated.

In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from MFR's coordinates by usually
40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings are also the source of the
1-minute average maximum sustained wind values included in the
tracks file. Additionally, information describing details of
satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation features included in
the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC warnings.

Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for February
-----------------------------------------------------

A. Climatological Information
-----------------------------

Tropical cyclone activity was slightly below normal in the South
Indian Ocean west of 90E during February, 2009. Two disturbances were
numbered by MFR, and both were named as tropical storms. Gael became
an intense tropical cyclone, rather sharply recurving east of
Madagascar and passing between that large island and Reunion Island.
Severe Tropical Storm Hina later moved on a general southerly track
through the central South Indian Ocean. The two storms combined
produced a total of 9.75 NSD, while Gael existed as a tropical cyclone
(hurricane) for 4.25 days and as an intense cyclone for 2.00 days.
Over the 1997-1998 through 2007-2008 period, the averages for the SWI
basin are:

NS - 2.09 / H - 1.27 / IH - 1.18 / NSD - 12.77 / HD - 5.50 / IHD - 1.95

Relating the monthly totals for these parameters to the averages for the
past eleven seasons, February, 2009, had a NTC at 86% of normal for the
month of February.

The Wikipedia page for the 2008-2009 cyclone season in the Southwest
Indian Ocean may be found at the following URL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_South-West_Indian_Ocean_cyclone_season>

B. Tropical Systems in February
-------------------------------

Both Gael and Hina are adequately covered by Wikipedia, so my comments
will be brief. A special report is available for Tropical Cyclone
Gael, though it covers only the formative stages of the storm in
detail.

(1) Gael 1 - 12 February
--------------------------

Intense Tropical Cyclone Gael (MFR-08/13S) began developing on
1 February from an area of disturbed weather about 1000 miles to the
northeast of Reunion Island. The system embarked on a west-southwesterly
track which it was to follow for almost a week. MFR initiated bulletins
on the LOW at 01/1200 UTC and upgraded it to a tropical depression at
03/0000 UTC. (JTWC had issued their first warning on TC-13S at 1800 UTC
2 February.) The depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gael at
03/0600 UTC, located near 17.2S/64.9E. Intensification was slow at
first and it was not until 1800 UTC on 5 February that Gael reached
cyclone (i.e., hurricane) intensity near 18.3S/55.1E. However, once
having reached cyclone status, Gael intensified rather quickly into
an intense tropical cyclone with 90-kt winds (10-min avg) at 06/1800
UTC. MFR's peak intensity for Gael was 95 kts at 07/0600 UTC, while
JTWC estimated the peak 1-min avg MSW to be 120 kts. The estimated
minimum CP was 934 hPa. MFR's and SAB's peak intensity estimate for
Gael was T5.5/5.5. JTWC alone rated the cyclone at T6.0/6.0.

Gael reached its peak intensity a few hundred miles off the east coast
of Madagascar near 20.0S/51.7E. This point turned out to be the
cyclone's point of recurvature. Gael recurved rather sharply to the
southeast, but remained an intense cyclone for another 24 hours before
slow weakening set in. Weakening became more rapid on the 9th with
Gael being downgraded to a 60-kt tropical storm at 10/0000 UTC near
31.4S/60.6E. Six hours later MFR declared the system extratropical.
The remnants of the former cyclone continued southeastward and slowly
filled, being last located near 42.6S/72.3E at 1800 UTC 12 February.

According to the Wikipedia report, there were two fatalities on
Reunion Island as a result of heavy rain produced by Gael.

(2) Hina 21 - 26 February
---------------------------

Severe Tropical Storm Hina (MFR-09/16S) formed in the central South
Indian Ocean to the southeast of Diego Garcia and followed a generally
southerly track. MFR initiated bulletins on a disturbance at 0600 UTC
21 February, and JTWC issued their first warning on TC-16S at 1800 UTC,
placing the center near 14.6S/77.8E. At the same time MFR upgraded
the disturbance to a tropical depression, and Tropical Storm Hina
was christened six hours later. The storm intensified quickly, reaching
its peak intensity of 55 kts by 22/1200 UTC near 16.8S/78.6E. JTWC's
peak 1-min avg MSW for Hina was 60 kts. Interestingly, this came at
23/0600 UTC, when MFR had already begun to decrease Hina's intensity.
The storm initially followed a track to the south-southeast, but as it
began to weaken the storm's motion turned toward the southwest. Hina
was downgraded to a tropical depression at 24/0000 UTC and to a tropical
disturbance six hours later. MFR issued their final bulletin on
ex-Hina at 25/0600 UTC. The remnant LOW could still be followed to
27.7S/63.4E at 26/1800 UTC. Tropical Storm Hina was a marine storm
and no damage or casualties are known to have resulted from the
system.

*************************************************************************

NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E

Activity for February: 1 tropical LOW
1 tropical cyclone

Sources of Information
----------------------

The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclones are
the warnings and advices issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning
Centres at Perth, Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory,
and less frequently, by the centre at Jakarta, Indonesia.
References to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging period
unless otherwise stated.

In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Australian centres' coor-
dinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings are also the
source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind values included
in the tracks file. Additionally, information describing details of
satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation features included in
the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC warnings.

Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean
Tropical Activity for February
------------------------------------------

A. Climatological Information
-----------------------------

Tropical cyclone activity was well below normal in the Southeast
Indian Ocean and off Western Australia during February, 2009. Only one
tropical cyclone, Freddy, formed, and it remained well offshore from
the Australian coastline. Another tropical LOW formed at the end of the
month, and although initially forecast to strengthen into a tropical
cyclone, made landfall in Western Australia without doing so. Tropical
Cyclone Freddy existed as a tropical cyclone of gale intensity or higher
for 3.75 days.

Over the 1997-1998 through 2007-2008 period, the averages for the
Australian Region between longitudes 90E and 135E are:

NS - 1.18 / H - 0.55 / IH - 0.27 / NSD - 4.59 / HD - 1.41 / IHD - 0.36

Relating the monthly totals for these parameters to the averages for the
past eleven seasons, February, 2009, had a NTC at only 28% of normal for
the month of February.

The Wikipedia page for the 2008-2009 cyclone season in the Australian
Region may be found at the following URL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_Australian_region_cyclone_season>

B. Tropical Systems in February
-------------------------------

(1) Freddy 3 - 15 February
----------------------------

Tropical Cyclone Freddy (11U/14S) formed in early February in the
monsoon trough in the north Kimberley region. Gale warnings in
anticipation of the system developing were initiated on the 3rd, but
the LOW strengthened slowly and Freddy was not named until 1800 UTC
on 6 February while located near 15.6S/113.3E. The cyclone moved on a
general westerly to west-southwesterly course away from the Australian
mainland for the next few days, reaching a peak intensity of 50 kts with
an estimated minimum CP of 983 hPa at 08/0000 UTC near 15.9S/110.4E.
JTWC's peak estimated 1-min avg MSW was 55 kts, in excellent agreement
with Perth's intensity. Freddy began to weaken steadily on the 9th
as it encountered cooler SSTs and increasing shear. BoM Perth down-
graded Freddy to a tropical LOW at 1800 UTC on the 10th, but the weak
remnants could be followed westward to 18.0S/72.3E where it dissipated
on the 15th.

The Wikipedia report indicates that the outer bands of Freddy
produced heavy rains in Indonesia, triggering a landslide which resulted
in two fatalities.

(2) Tropical LOW 26 - 28 February
-----------------------------------

A tropical LOW (15U) formed on 26 February north of the Kimberley
coast of Western Australia. The system initially moved west-
southwestward, thence curving to the south and inland near Port Hedland
on the 28th. For a good portion of its history the LOW was forecast
to reach tropical cyclone intensity, but landfall occurred before this
happened. According to the Wikipedia report upwards of 112 mm of rain
fell along the Pilbara coast, causing minor flooding.

*************************************************************************

NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E

Activity for February: No tropical cyclones **

** - No tropical cyclones formed during the month; Tropical Cyclone Ellie
was in existence on the first day of February

Northeast Australia/Coral Sea
Tropical Activity for February
------------------------------

A. Climatological Information
-----------------------------

No tropical cyclones formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Coral Sea
during February, 2009. Tropical Cyclone Ellie was in existence on the
first day of the month, but moved inland into Queensland late on the 1st
and weakened below cyclone intensity. Ellie was covered in the January
newsletter. A weak tropical LOW (12U) was present in the Coral Sea
during the first week of the month, but failed to develop further.
Around mid-month, the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Innis from the Fiji
area briefly curved into the Australian Region where it was identified
as Tropical LOW 14U, but the system later recurved back east of 160E.
The only TC activity was 0.5 NSD generated by Ellie on 1 February.

Over the 1997-1998 through 2007-2008 period, the averages for the
Australian Region between longitudes 135E and 160E are:

NS - 1.00 / H - 0.36 / IH - 0.00 / NSD - 1.61 / HD - 0.16 / IHD - 0.00

Relating the monthly totals for these parameters to the averages for the
past eleven seasons, February, 2009, had a NTC at only 5% of normal for
the month of February.

The Wikipedia page for the 2008-2009 cyclone season in the Australian
Region may be found at the following URL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_Australian_region_cyclone_season>

B. Tropical Systems in February
-------------------------------

Other than Ellie, no other tropical cyclone or significant tropical
LOW was active in waters between 135E and 160E during February. A few
weak tropical LOWs were identified during the month--brief summaries of
these can be found on the Wikipedia website.

Following is some information from Matthew Saxby regarding an East
Coast LOW which brought heavy rainfall to portions of New South Wales:

"After the fires...more floods. Earlier this week a severe East
Coast LOW (Australia's answer to the ATL Subtropical Storms, I think,
though we don't name them) dumped some very heavy rain on the Mid North
Coast of New South Wales and as far south as Sydney. Some serious
flooding occurred on the Bellinger River, with lesser floods on rivers
to the south, notably the Nambucca, Macleay, Hastings, Manning, and some
tributaries of the Hunter." Below are listed some links with further
information on the flooding:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/hundreds-stranded-and-storms-head-south-20090215-8880.html>
http://www.smh.com.au/national/bourke-declared-a-disaster-zone-20090217-89z6.html>
http://www.smh.com.au/national/torrential-rain-cuts-off-nsw-towns-20090217-89ke.html>
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/deluge-expected-to-double-the-flooding-20090217-8aaz.html>
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/floodwaters-isolate-bellingen-20090218-8as6.html>
http://www.smh.com.au/national/rain-lashes-sydney-as-flood-levels-ease-20090218-8ak2.html>
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25071890-421,00.html>
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/flooded-regions-declared-disaster-zones-20090218-8bga.html>
http://www.optuszoo.com.au/article/news/news_regional/news_regional_default/991>

*************************************************************************

SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E

Activity for February: 1 tropical depression
1 tropical cyclone

Sources of Information
----------------------

The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
South Pacific tropical cyclones are the warnings and advisories
issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at Nadi, Fiji (for
waters north of latitude 25S), and Wellington, New Zealand (for
waters south of latitude 25S). References to sustained winds imply
a 10-minute averaging period unless otherwise stated.

In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Southern Hemisphere
centres' coordinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings
are also the source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind
values included in the tracks file. Additionally, information
describing details of satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation
features included in the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC
warnings.

South Pacific Tropical Activity for February
--------------------------------------------

A. Climatological Information
-----------------------------

As was the case with January, tropical cyclone activity in the South
Pacific Ocean east of 160E was well below normal during February, 2009.
Only one minimal tropical cyclone, Innis, formed, and generated only
1.00 NSD before weakening.

Over the 1997-1998 through 2007-2008 period, the averages for the
South Pacific east of 160E are:

NS - 1.73 / H - 0.91 / IH - 0.64 / NSD - 6.61 / HD - 2.98 / IHD - 1.20

Relating the monthly totals for these parameters to the averages for the
past eleven seasons, February, 2009, had a NTC at only 12% of normal for
the month of February.

The Wikipedia page for the 2008-2009 cyclone season in the South
Pacific may be found at the following URL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_South_Pacific_cyclone_season>

B. Tropical Systems in February
-------------------------------

(1) Tropical Depression 1 - 5 February
----------------------------------------

A tropical disturbance formed on 1 February several hundred miles to
the west of Vanuatu, embedded in a monsoon trough. The system soon
became better organized and was designated Tropical Depression 09F.
Over the next few days TD-09F followed a south-southeasterly trajectory
which carried it to the west of New Caledonia where it moved out of
Fiji's AOR on the 5th. Rather strong vertical shear prevented the system
from attaining tropical cyclone status. (Note: The Wikipedia report
indicates that this system continued operating through 7 February before
dissipating. However, it moved out of RSMC Nadi's AOR after 05/1200 UTC
and I did not save any gale warnings issued on the system by Wellington.
After 2100 UTC on 4 February, Nadi dropped the adjective 'tropical' from
their warnings, indicated that the system had likely taken on hybrid
characteristics.)

(2) Tropical Cyclone Innis 14 - 24 February
---------------------------------------------

Tropical Cyclone Innis (10F/15P/14U) was a "one-day wonder" which
affected some of the islands of Vanuatu and also northern New Caledonia.
The Wikipedia website contains a detailed report on this cyclone. The
system moved across the southern islands of Vanuatu on 16 February while
still a tropical depression, although warnings from RSMC Nadi indicated
peripheral gales in the eastern semicircle. JTWC designated the system
as TC-15P at 0000 UTC 17 February, and Nadi upgraded TD-10F to Tropical
Cyclone Innis at 0700 UTC, shortly after it had crossed northern New
Caledonia and moved into a region of low vertical shear. Innis reached
a peak intensity of 40 kts at 17/1200 UTC and then began to weaken.
The cyclone moved south of 25S and into Wellington's AOR, where it was
downgraded to an extratropical LOW on that agency's first warning.
Ex-Innis briefly moved west of 160E and was designated as Tropical LOW
14U by BoM, but it soon recurved back east of 160E. The cyclone caused
only very minor damage in the areas affected. The extratropical remnants
of Innis could be followed to near 47.3S/179.8E on 24 February.

*************************************************************************

SPECIAL FEATURE - SOURCES OF TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION

The purpose of this section is to list some websites where many and
varied types of tropical cyclone information are archived. Many readers
will know about these already, but for the benefit of those who don't,
I wanted to include them.

(1) Aircraft Reconnaissance Information
---------------------------------------

Various types of messages from reconnaissance aircraft may be
retrieved from the following FTP site:

ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/products/nhc/recon/>

Information regarding how to interpret the coded reconnaissance
messages may be found at the following URL:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/reconlist.shtml>

Links are also included to websites with further information about the
U. S. Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the NOAA Air-
craft Operations Center.

(2) Archived Advisories
-----------------------

All the advisory products (public advisories, forecast/advisories,
strike probabilities, discussions, various graphics) issued by TPC/NHC
are archived on TPC's website. For the current year (using 2004 as an
example), the archived products can be found at:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/index.shtml>

Links to tropical products archives for earlier years are available at
the following URL:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastall.shtml>

JTWC warnings for past storms are archived on the NRL Monterrey website:

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html>

On the NRL site, the link to past years can be found in the upper left
corner of the screen.

I am not aware at the moment of any other TCWC which archives all
its tropical cyclone warning/advisory products for public access, but
if I learn of any, I will add them to this list.

(3) Satellite Imagery
---------------------

Satellite images of tropical cyclones in various sensor bands are
available on the NRL Monterrey and University of Wisconsin websites,
courtesy of Jeff Hawkins and Chris Velden and their associates. The
links are:

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html>

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/tropic.html>

On the NRL site, the link to past years can be found in the upper left
corner of the screen. For the CIMSS site, a link to data archives is
located in the lower left portion of the screen.

Additional tropical satellite imagery, along with looping ability for
composite microwave imagery for the Western Hemisphere north of the
equator, can be found at:

(1) For the Eastern North Pacific:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-epac.html>

(2) For the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-atl.html>

(4) Cyclone Tracking Information
--------------------------------

There is a U. S. Navy site that tracks tropical cyclones at 6-hourly
intervals which often includes pre and post-advisory positions. The
link to the site is:

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/atcf_web/doc_archives/>

Steve Young has compiled many of these tracks onto a single webpage
which is very user-friendly:

http://home.earthlink.net/~shy9/tc1.htm>

I'm sure there are other sites with available imagery available, and
as I learn of them, I will add the links to this list.

*************************************************************************

EXTRA FEATURE

In order to shorten the amount of typing in preparing the narrative
material, I have been in the habit of freely using abbreviations and
acronyms. I have tried to define most of these with the first usage
in a given summary, but I may have missed one now and then. Most of
these are probably understood by a majority of readers but perhaps a
few aren't clear to some. To remedy this I developed a Glossary of
Abbreviations and Acronyms which I first included in the August, 1998
summary. I don't normally include the Glossary in most months in
order to help keep them from being too long. If anyone would like to
receive a copy of the Glossary, please e-mail me and I'll be happy
to send them a copy.

*************************************************************************

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This summary should be considered a very preliminary
overview of the tropical cyclones that occur in each month. The cyclone
tracks (provided separately) will generally be based upon operational
warnings issued by the various tropical cyclone warning centers. The
information contained therein may differ somewhat from the tracking and
intensity information obtained from a "best-track" file which is based
on a detailed post-seasonal analysis of all available data. Information
on where to find official "best-track" files from the various warning
centers will be passed along from time to time.

The track files are not being sent via e-mail. They can be retrieved
from the archive sites listed below. (Note: I do have a limited e-mail
distribution list for the track files. If anyone wishes to receive
these via e-mail, please send me a message.)

Both the summaries and the track files are standard text files
created in DOS editor. Download to disk and use a viewer such as
Notepad or DOS editor to view the files.

The first summary in this series covered the month of October,
1997. Back issues can be obtained from the following websites
(courtesy of Michael Bath, Michael V. Padua, Michael Pitt, and
Chris Landsea):

http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/>
http://www.typhoon2000.ph>
http://mpittweather.com>
ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/landsea/padgett/>

Another website where much information about tropical cyclones may
be found is the website for the UK Meteorological Office. Their site
contains a lot of statistical information about tropical cyclones
globally on a monthly basis. The URL is:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/tropicalcyclone>

TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORTS AVAILABLE

JTWC now has available on its website the Annual Tropical Cyclone
Report (ATCR) for 2007 (2006-2007 season for the Southern Hemisphere).
ATCRs for earlier years are available also.

The URL is: http://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php>

Also, TPC/NHC has available on its webpage nice "technicolor"
tracking charts for the 2008 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2008 Atlantic
and Eastern North Pacific cyclones are now available, as well as
track charts and reports on storms from earlier years.

The URL is: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov>

A special thanks to Michael Bath of McLeans Ridges, New South Wales,
Australia, for assisting me with proofreading the summaries.

PREPARED BY

Gary Padgett
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 334-222-5327

Kevin Boyle (Northwest Pacific)
E-mail: [email protected]

*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************

Document: summ0902.htm
Updated: 5th May 2009

[Australian Severe Weather index] [Copyright Notice] [Email Contacts] [Search This Site]