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Cyclone Akash

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Cyclonic Storm Akash
Akash on May 14
Meteorological history
FormedMay 12, 2007(2007-05-12)
DissipatedMay 15, 2007(2007-05-16)
Cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained(IMD)
Highest winds85 km/h (50 mph)
Lowest pressure988hPa(mbar); 29.18inHg
Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure976hPa(mbar); 28.82inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities14 direct
Damage$982 million (2007USD)
Areas affectedAndaman Islands,Nicobar Islands,Bangladesh,Burma
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclonic Storm Akash(JTWC designation:01B) was the first namedtropical cycloneof the2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.Warned by bothIndia Meteorological Department(IMD) andJoint Typhoon Warning Center(JTWC), it formed from an area of disturbed weather on theBay of Bengalon May 12, and gradually organized as it drifted northward. Aneyebegan to develop as it approached land, and after reaching peak 3-min sustained winds of 85 km/h (55 mph) it struck about 115 km (71 mi) south ofChittagonginBangladesh.Akash rapidly weakened over land, and advisories were discontinued on May 15.

The storm initially brought heavy rainfall to theAndamanandNicobar Islands.Upon strikingBangladesh,Cyclonic Storm Akash produced a moderatestorm tide,along with strong winds and heavy rains. The storm left dozens of boats missing, with three fisherman confirmed killed and another 50 missing. Near the coast, thousands of houses were damaged from the flooding caused by the storm. InBurma,its storm tide caused somecoastal flooding.In all, 14 people were killed and damages amounted to US$982 million.

Meteorological history[edit]

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Storm type
triangleExtratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
Image of Tropical Cyclone 01B (Akash) right after formation.

During the second week of May,low pressurespersisted across theBay of Bengal.An area of convection developed on May 11, and the next day theIndia Meteorological Department(IMD) classified it as a depression.[1]The system drifted northward,[2]and initially moderatewind shearkept the deep convection on the periphery of the consolidating low-level circulation center.[3]Gradually,banding featuresdeveloped along the eastern semicircle, and with decreasing amounts of wind shear the system organized further.[4]By May 13, the pressure had dropped to 1000mbaras wind shear levels dropped significantly. Ananticyclonedeveloped over the system, while a mid-latitudetroughover northeastern India provided favorableoutflow.Convection continued to consolidate around the low-level circulation,[5]and with well-defined banding features and acentral dense overcastover the center of circulation, theJoint Typhoon Warning Center(JTWC) upgraded it to Tropical Cyclone 01B at 1121 UTC on May 13 while located about 545 km (339 mi) west-northwest ofYangon,Burma.[6]

Upon first being upgraded, the storm tracked steadily northward due to a break in a mid-levelridge.[6]Early on May 14, IMD upgraded the system to deep depression status,[7]and six hours later classified it as Cyclonic Storm Akash after attaining 3-min sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).[8]Akash continued to organize, with deep convection wrapping fully around the low-level circulation.[9]Aneyebegan to form as the storm approached land, and at 1800 UTC on May 14 JTWC estimated 1-min sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph).[10]Officially, Akash attained peak 3-min sustained winds of 85 km/h (55 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 988hPa.[11]Additionally, meteorologists inBurmaestimated Akash peaked with winds of 160 km/h (100 mph).[12]As it interacted with the mid-latitude westerlies, it began to becomeextratropical.[10]Shortly after reaching peak winds, Akash madelandfallabout 115 km (71 mi) south ofChittagong.The storm weakened rapidly as it continued inland,[13]and early on May 15 IMD issued its final advisory on the system;[14]shortly thereafter, JTWC discontinued advisories.[13]The name was contributed by India, Akash means Sky inHindilanguage.

Preparations[edit]

In its daily tropical weather outlook, the India Meteorological Department warned fishermen on theAndamanandNicobar Islandsto not go into the ocean due to the anticipated rough seas.[2]Upon approaching the coast ofBangladesh,officials canceled all flights to and from theShah Amanat International Airport.Additionally, authorities at the port ofChittagongworked to protect cargo ships from the storm,[15]and it was ultimately closed for a period of 19 hours.[16][17]In preparation for Akash, officials advised coastal residents to evacuate further inland;[15]about 80,000 total residents left for emergency shelters.[16]About 40,000Red Crossvolunteers were prepared to aid those potentially affected.[15]

Impact[edit]

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Bangladesh
Highest-known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
1 1,051.2 41.39 Komen 2015 Chittagong [18]
2 ~300 ~12.00 Rashmi 2008 [19]
3 280 11.02 Monsoon Depression — Sep. 2004 Barisal [20]
4 253 10.00 Viyaru 2013 Patuakhali [21]
5 227.2 8.94 Trop. Depression — Oct. 2004 Rangpur [22]
6 220.0 8.66 Bhola 1970 Maya Bandar [23]
7 200 7.87 Sidr 2007 [24]
8 130 5.11 Aila 2009 Chittagong [25]
9 129 5.07 Bijli 2009 [26]
10 53 2.13 Akash 2007 [27]

TheIndia Meteorological Departmentestimated winds of 45–55 km/h (28–34 mph) affected theAndamanandNicobar Islands,though no land reports were received.[2]InSittweinBurma,the storm produced astorm tideof 3 m (9.8 ft), which flooded coastal areas.[12]

InChittagong,about 115 km (71 mi) north of where Akash moved ashore, surface stations reported peak winds of 37 km/h (23 mph) and a pressure of 996.8hPa.[13]Near its landfall location, Akash produced high tides that flooded coastal areas with up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) of water,[16]destroying at least 30 businesses.[12]The cyclone destroyed 205 houses and left an additional 845 damaged.[27]Akash caused moderate crop damage near the coast,[12]including 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of destroyed lands of shrimp farms.[17]Heavy precipitation was reported, with one station reporting a total of 53 mm (2.1 in);[27]the rainfall caused flooding in inland areas.[16]The heavy rains, caused by outer bands of the cyclone before it made landfall, limited play in Chittagong in thethird One Day Internationalcricketmatch betweenIndiaandBangladesh,before the match was abandoned.[28]Strong winds caused power outages throughoutCox's Bazar District,[16]and downed about 200 trees onSt. Martin's Island.The cyclone left a total of 10 boats unaccounted for, with about 50 fishermen missing. In total, three fisherman were confirmed killed, all on St. Martin's Island,[17]with two people left hospitalized.[29]The passage of Cyclone Akash left many people homeless. Initially there was no response from the government.[29]In all, 14 people were killed by Akash and damages amounted to US$982 million.[30]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^India Meteorological Department (2007)."May 12 Tropical Weather Outlook for North Indian Ocean".Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^abcIndia Meteorological Department (2007)."May 13 Tropical Weather Outlook for North Indian Ocean".Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^Charlie Forecast Team (2007)."May 12 Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean".Joint Typhoon Warning Center.Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^Delta Forecast Team (2007)."May 12 Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean (2)".Joint Typhoon Warning Center.Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^Delta Forecast Team (2007)."May 13 Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean".Joint Typhoon Warning Center.Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^abJoint Typhoon Warning Center (2007)."Tropical Cyclone 01B Warning NR 001".Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^India Meteorological Department (2007)."May 14 Tropical Weather Outlook for North Indian Ocean".Retrieved2007-05-13.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^India Meteorological Department (2007)."Tropical Cyclone Akash Warning NR 001".Retrieved2007-05-14.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2007)."Tropical Cyclone 01B Warning NR 002".Retrieved2007-05-14.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^abJoint Typhoon Warning Center (2007)."Tropical Cyclone 01B (Akash) Warning NR 003".Retrieved2007-05-14.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^India Meteorological Department (2007)."TC Advisory on Cyclonic Storm Akash".Archived fromthe originalon May 22, 2024.Retrieved2007-05-15.
  12. ^abcdNizam Ahmed; Nurul Islam; Aung Hla Tun (2007)."Tidal surge floods Bangladesh coastal villages".Archivedfrom the original on 2007-09-27.Retrieved2007-05-15.
  13. ^abcJoint Typhoon Warning Center (2007)."Tropical Cyclone 01B (Akash) Warning NR 004".Retrieved2007-05-15.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^India Meteorological Department (2007)."Special Bulletin for Met. Area North of Equator".Retrieved2007-05-15.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^abcMalaysia Sun (2007)."Bangladesh airport, seaport shut as cyclone 'Akash' intensifies".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-05-17.Retrieved2007-05-14.
  16. ^abcdeThe Daily Star (2007)."Cyclone Akash spawns tidal surge in coasts".Archivedfrom the original on 2007-05-17.Retrieved2007-05-15.
  17. ^abcThe Daily Star (2007)."3 killed, 50 missing as cyclone Akash makes landfall".Archivedfrom the original on 2007-05-18.Retrieved2007-05-15.
  18. ^Nick Wiltgen (July 31, 2015)."Tropical Cyclone Komen Soaking Waterlogged Bangladesh, Myanmar; At Least 33 Reported Dead, 6 Missing".The Weather Channel.RetrievedJuly 31,2015.
  19. ^"Bangladesh: Tropical Cyclone Rashmi"(PDF).World Food Program.United Nations. 2008. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on April 11, 2013.RetrievedMarch 30,2010.
  20. ^Padgett, Gary; Kevin Boyle; John Wallace; Huang Chunliang; Simon Clarke (2005-05-17)."Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary September 2004".Australian Severe Weather Index.Jimmy Deguara.Retrieved2007-01-13.
  21. ^"Crops on 1.28 lakh hectares land damaged".The Daily Star. May 18, 2013.RetrievedMay 18,2013.
  22. ^Padgett, Gary; Kevin Boyle; John Wallace; Huang Chunliang; Simon Clarke (2005-05-17)."Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary October 2004".Retrieved2007-01-13.
  23. ^1970 Annual Summary Part C — Storms & Depressions(PDF)(India Weather Review). India Meteorological Department. p. 10.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2012-06-01.Retrieved2012-06-01.
  24. ^"Cyclone Sidr Rainfall Total".NASA. 2007.RetrievedJune 15,2009.
  25. ^Staff Writer (2009)."Cyclone Aila Preliminary Report"(PDF).India Meteorological Department.RetrievedJune 15,2009.
  26. ^Hal Pierce and Rob Gutro (April 20, 2009)."Hurricane Season 2009: Bijli (Northern Indian Ocean)".NASA.RetrievedMay 23,2009.
  27. ^abcInternational Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (2007)."Bangladesh: Cyclonic Storm Information Bulletin No. 01/2007".Retrieved2007-05-17.
  28. ^Asian News International (2007)."India, Bangladesh third ODI called off".Archivedfrom the original on 2007-10-22.Retrieved2007-05-15.
  29. ^abNarinjara News (2007)."No Relief for Akash's Victims in Arakan".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-28.Retrieved2007-05-17.
  30. ^Myint Thein (2008-03-05)."Relief and Resettlement Department"(PDF).Social Welfare Department. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-06-04.Retrieved2009-05-13.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyclone_Akash&oldid=1226808108"