Cyclone Thane
Very severe cyclonic storm (IMD scale) | |
---|---|
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Formed | December 25, 2011 |
Dissipated | Currently active |
Highest winds | 3-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph) 1-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg |
Fatalities | None |
Part of the 2011 North Indian Ocean cyclone season |
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Thane (IMD designation: BOB 05, JTWC designation: 06B, also known as Cyclone Thane) is the second cyclonic storm and the first storm to reach Very Severe Cyclonic Storm intensity during the 2011 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Developing out of an area of low pressure on December 25, Thane organized into a tropical storm and eventually a Severe Cyclone thereafter. The system now poses a serious threat to the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and their coasts have been set on high alert.
Meteorological history
The IMD reported on December 25 that a low-pressure area had organised itself into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal, about 1000 km southeast of Chennai.[1] Soon, a TCFA was issued by the JTWC on the same day and was upgraded to a tropical cyclone, designating it '06B'. The depression intensified into a deep depression on December 26.[2] Soon the IMD upgraded the deep depression into a Cyclonic Storm and named it 'Thane', making it the second cyclonic storm of the season.[3] Thane later intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on December 28.[4] The JTWC reported that windspeeds in the storm center have crossed 65 knots per hour, thus the storm is the first cyclonic storm of the 2011 season to reach Category 1 status in the SSHS hurricane scale[5]. In just a few hours, the storm intensified further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm[6].
Preparations
Tamil Nadu
Fishing activities have come to a complete halt in the cities of Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram in the wake of the storm after the warnings by the weather department were received. About 10,000 fishing boats were moved to safer locations in all fishing hamlets in these areas. Chennai Corporation has kept its four permanent relief centers (Basin Bridge, Chintadripet, Gopalapuram and Perambur Barracks Road) ready to accommodate people in case of evacuation due to torrential rains[7].
Andhra Pradesh
700 fishermen are reported to be stranded near the Nizampatnam Bay area due to the rough sea conditions near the coast due to the cyclone. Owners have asked the government as well as the National Coast Guard for the fishermen's search and rescue after they could not communicate with them[7].
KARAIKAL - NAGAPATTINAM
As the result of Thane Cyclone, Heavy Rains starts at Karaikal with wind speed ranging upto 80Km/Hr. Fortunately thane will cross our area at early morning.
The current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy has instructed all the district collectors of the concerned districts of the state, mainly Nellore and Prakasam districts to take all precautionary measures in the wake of the approaching storm. APSRTC has been asked to keep sufficient buses in reserve in case of evacuation of the people[8] .
Officials are reporting that food stocks, drinking water, emergency power etc. have been kept ready in reserves[8].
References
- ^ IMD. "Depression BOB 05 Warning 01". IMD. IMD. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
- ^ IMD. "Deep Depression BOB 05 Warning 3". IMD. IMD. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
- ^ IMD. "IMD Warning 8 for Cyclone Thane". IMD. IMD. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ IMD. "IMD Upgradation of Thane to a Severe Cyclonic Storm". IMD. IMD. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ JTWC. "JTWC Thane Warning No. 11". JTWC. JTWC. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ IMD. "IMD Than VSCS Status". IMD. IMD. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ a b Prasad, Ayyappa (29 December 2011). "Cyclone Thane: 700 fishermen stranded". TruthDive. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ a b IBN Live (28 December 2011). "Cyclone Thane: Food, medicines ready". IBN Live. Retrieved 28 December 2011.