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Hi I'm having a database of all storms that form during 2008 or come in from 2007.
[edit] Storm Names
- Ariel
- Bertha
- Celina
- Danielle
- Erin
- Francesca
- Gloria
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- Hanna
- Iris
- Joan
- Karen
- Lenny
- Maria
- Noel
|
- Olga
- Perry
- Rebekah
- Sandy
- Tammy
- Virginie
|
[edit] Storms
So far there have been 16 storms.
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Ariel-Melanie
On December 27, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low near 11.2°S and 117.2°E, and began issuing shipping warnings for the developing system.[1] Early on December 28, the TCWC in Perth upgraded the tropical low to a tropical cyclone and named it Melanie.[2] The cyclone moved southwards, then turned to the southwest on December 29 and strengthened to a Category 2 (Australian scale).[3] Cyclone watches and warnings were issued for the Pilbara coast. On December 30 Melanie began to weaken and become less organized. Melanie continued to weaken and the system was downgraded to Category 1 status on December 31. Continued weakening took place thereafter and it weakened below cyclone status early on January 2, when the final advisory was issued.[4]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Bertha-Helen
On January 3 the TCWC in Darwin, Australia, identifed a Tropical low, located near the edge of their Area of Responsabilty, with TCWC Perth, which had formed over land and had moved into the Timor Sea. [5] Later that day a TCFA was issued by the JTWC who then upgraded the low to a Tropical Cyclone designating the cyclone 10S later that day. [6] [7] Early on January 4 TCWC Darwin then upgraded the low to Tropical Cyclone Helen [8]. Tropical Cyclone Helen reached its peak intensity later that day of 50 knots. [9] It then started to weaken due to interaction with land with it weakening in to a tropical low on January 5 as it had become less orgainsed. [10]. on January 6 the JTWC issued its final warning on Tropical Cyclone Helen, [11] and then later that day TCWC Darwin followed suit and issued its final advisory on Tropical Low Ex-Helen as it approached TCWC Brisbane's Area of Responsibility. [12]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Celina-Elisa
On January 6 RSMC Nadi began issuing tropical disturbance summaries on a low pressure system which was located near the International Date Line. [13] Early the next day while the system was partially exposed but in a low to moderate shear environment RSMC Nadi designated it as Tropical Depression 07F.[14]. As it moved southwards, a TCFA was issued on January 9 by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).[15] On January 10 RSMC Nadi started to issue Tropical Disturbance advisories,[16] and then upgraded the system to tropical cyclone status, naming the cyclone Elisa.[17] The JTWC also initiated warnings on Tropical Cyclone 11P on the same day.[18] Elisa reached her peak wind speeds of 50 kts late on the 10th,[19] and started to weaken the next day as it approached the edge of RSMC Nadi's Area of Responsibility.[20] It had encountered lower sea surface temperatures, and, due to the low-level circulation being exposed and the deep convection being sheared, both the JTWC and RSMC Nadi dropped responsibility for the low on January 11.[21]
[edit] Severe Tropical Cyclone Danielle-Funa
On January 15, RSMC Nadi upgraded a Tropical Disturbance, which they had been monitoring for a few days,[22] to Tropical Depression 10F.[23] Early the next day RSMC Nadi upgraded the system to Tropical Cyclone Funa whilst the JTWC Issued a TCFA for the devloping cyclone,[24][25] and then designated the storm as 12P later that day as they issued their first warning.[26] It strengthened further on January 17 and by early on January 18 it was upgraded to a severe tropical cyclone.[27] After reaching its peak intensity on January 19,[28] the system moved south and RSMC Nadi issued its last advisory as it rapidly became extratropical.[29] The JTWC issued their last advisory on early the next day.[30]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Erin-Fame
An area of of disturbed weather formed north of Madagascar and was designated as Tropical Disturbance 08R on January 24. On the next day it was upgraded to Tropical Depression 08R by Météo-France, while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system. it was then upgraded to "Moderate Tropical Storm Fame" by the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Madagascar. It remained nearly stationary and by January 26 it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm. The storm made landfall over northwestern Madagascar as a severe tropical storm on January 27. Later that day the system temporarily reached tropical cyclone stage just before landfall near Malagasy.[31] It dissipated early on January 28 over Madagascar. The system, however, regenerated on January 29 as it re-emerged over water and became a tropical depression once again.[32] However, Fame did not strengthen further, and after being declared extratropical,[33] Météo-France redeclared the system tropical and issued its last advisory.[34]
Fame caused 13 deaths in Madagascar.[35]
[edit] Severe Tropical Cyclone Francesca-Gene
An area of disturbed weather formed northeast of Fiji and was designated as Tropical Depression 12F on January 26 by RSMC Nadi.[36] The next day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system.[37] It continued to organise, and was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Gene on January 28.[38] Two days later, it became a severe tropical cyclone.[39] Afterwards, it weakened to tropical cyclone status on February 2,[40] and by February 3, RSMC Nadi had issued its final advisory.[41]
The cyclone caused seven deaths on Fiji, where it also left many without power.[42]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Gloria-Gula
An area of disturbed weather formed over the south-central Indian Ocean in the fourth week of January. It slowly developed and Meteo-France began monitoring it as a disturbed area of weather on January 26. It was upgraded to a tropical depression later that day and was named as moderate tropical storm Gula on January 27 by the Mauritius Meteorological Service. Intensification continued and it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm on January 28. The intensification trend became more rapid early on January 29 as a clear eye developed and the storm became a tropical cyclone.[43] After weakening and oscillating between severe and moderate status,[44][45][46][47]Météo-France declared it an extratropical depression,[48] and then issued its last advisory on February 2.[49]
[edit] Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Hanna-Hondo
On February 4, an area of disturbed weather approximately 560 nm southeast of Diego Garcia was declared Tropical Disturbance 10R.[50] Early on February 5, the storm was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Hondo.[51] The storm began rapidly intensifying after that, skipping severe tropical storm status entirely and being declared Tropical Cyclone Hondo a few hours later.[52] On the evening of February 6, Hondo was upgraded to intense tropical cyclone status.[53] Intensification continued, and Hondo reached its peak at very intense status with 120 knot winds on February 7.[54]It then began a slow downturn in intensity for a while from February 8 to February 10.[55][56] Wind shear and low oceanic heat content eventually took its hold of the system, and it began rapidly weakening the system starting on February 11.[57][58] On February 12, Météo-France and the JTWC issued their final advisories on the system.[59][60]
The remnants of Hondo headed north-west.[61] Convection redeveloped over the circulation, and Météo-France resumed advisories as a tropical disturbance early on February 21.[62]. Later in the day Météo-France upgraded the system to a tropical depression,[63] and issued a yellow alert for the islands of Mauritius and Réunion,[64] for the possibility of Hondo to reintensify into a severe tropical storm in the coming days.[65] However, this never occurred, and Hondo was downgraded to a disturbance on February 22,[66] and the last advisory was issued on February 24.[67]
[edit] Intense Tropical Cyclone Iris-Ivan
- Main article: Cyclone Ivan
Early on February 7, an area of disturbed weather northeast of Madagascar, heading southeast, was designated Tropical Depression 11R.[68] Like Cyclone Hondo before it, the storm intensified quickly into Moderate Tropical Storm Ivan,[69] then reached severe status a few hours later.[70] Severe status was held until February 11, when Ivan became a tropical cyclone for a short time.[71] Ivan was moving quite slowly, and this, coupled with medium shear, weakened it to moderate tropical storm status by February 12.[72][73] During this time, Ivan made two complete loops in the open sea.[74] However, by February 14, it had sped up and entered a more favourable environment, becoming a severe tropical storm.[75] On February 15, Ivan was reupgraded to a tropical cyclone as favourable conditions persisted. Ivan was further upgraded to an Intense Tropical Cyclone on February 16 as it moved closer to Madagascar. Ivan made landfall north of Fanoarivo, Madagascar on February 17.[76] Once overland, rapid weakening occurred due to the rugged terrain of the island.[77] Ivan was forecast to regenerate over the Mozambique Channel into a tropical depression once it left Madagascar.[78]
Ivan traversed Madagascar, heading southwest. Its remnants emerged back over water on February 21, and Météo-France resumed advisories on "filling depression Ex-Ivan".[79] Ivan, severely disrupted by Madagascar, did not strengthen any further; the last advisory was issued on February 22.[80]
A preliminary casualty estimate due to Ivan is 93. The cyclone left over 330,000 homeless.[81] Sainte Marie, the island where Ivan made landfall, is estimated to have 75% of its buildings completely destroyed.[82] Total damages from Ivan total more than $30 million (2008 USD).
[edit] Tropical Low Joan
On February 4, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low near 15.4°S and 101.5°E, and began issuing shipping warnings.[83] On February 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued its first advisory, designating the low as Tropical Cyclone 17S.[84] On February 10 Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Perth and Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final advisory on the system.[85]
[edit] Severe Tropical Cyclone Karen-Nicholas
On February 10, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low near 16.0°S and 124.7°E, and began issuing tropical cyclone advices on the system.[86] On February 12, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system.[87] Later in the day, the JTWC issued its first advisory, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 19S.[88] Early on February 13, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth upgraded the tropical low to a tropical cyclone and named it "Nicholas".[89] On February 16, Nicholas was upgraded to a Severe Tropical Cyclone,[90] but it was downgraded back to a tropical cyclone on February 18.[91] Nicholas squirmed around Western Australia before finally making landfall north of Carnarvon on February 20.[92] Once inland, TCWC Perth discontinued advisories.[93]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Lenny- Ophelia
On February 27, 2008 the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Darwin identified a Tropical Low near the Northern Territory, and began issuing tropical cyclone advices on the system.[94] On February 29, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system.[95] On March 1, the JTWC issued their first warning on Tropical Cyclone 21S.[96] The low moved into TCWC Perth's area of responsiblity during the day. The low strengthened as it moved off the Kimberley coast, and was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ophelia by TCWC Perth.[97] Ophelia intensified to a Category 2 cyclone on the Australian scale early on March 2. The JTWC briefly upgraded Ophelia to a Category 1 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale later that day, but was downgraded to a tropical storm on the next advisory.
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Maria
On February 28, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on an area of disturbed weather northeast of Australia.[98] The next day, the JTWC issued its first advisory on the Tropical Cyclone 20P.[99] Later that day, the JTWC issued its final advisory on the system noting the storm was becoming extratropical.[100]. Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Brisbane noted this system as a Tropical Low with a central pressure of 999 hPa but no Shipping Warnings were released. [101]
[edit] Intense Tropical Cyclone Noel-Jokwe
On March 4, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on an area of disturbed weather developing northeast of Madagascar.[102] Soon after, Météo-France upgraded the system to tropical disturbance status.[103] Early on March 5, the JTWC issued its first advisory on the developing system, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 22S.[104] Later that day, the disturbance was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Jokwe.[105]. At noon on March 6, after a bout of rapid intensification, Jokwe was upgraded to a tropical cyclone, skipping severe storm status.[106] After being briefly downgraded to a severe tropical storm,[107] Jokwe was reupgraded to a tropical cyclone,[108] then an intense tropical cyclone on the evening of March 7.[109] Jokwe made landfall between Mozambique Island and Angoche Island early on March 8.[110]
Over the next two days, Jokwe fell down to severe tropical storm following land interaction with Mozambique.[111][112] Later that day, Jokwe was reupgraded to a tropical cyclone,[113] and became an intense tropical cyclone again early on March 11.[114] Jokwe then came under the influence of moderate windshear, and weakened down to a severe tropical storm again by March 12.[115][116] Jokwe was re-upgraded to a Tropical Cyclone early March 13,[117] but was soon downgraded again to a severe tropical storm later that day due to another increase in wind shear.[118] Shear had been steadily increasing, and on March 13 Jokwe's movement slowed down drastically; it moved around the same general area of ocean and weakened.[119][120][121] Final warnings were issued by the JTWC late March 14,[122] and by Météo-France early March 15.[123]
44 houses were destroyed in Madagascar as Jokwe hit the northern tip of the island. At least 20 people have been killed and over 9,000 homes were destroyed as Jokwe passed through north-eastern Mozambique. At least 100,000 have been displaced by Jokwe. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) says that it is providing emergency food aid to 60,000 people effected by Jokwe in Mozambique.[124]
[edit] Intense Tropical Cyclone Olga-Kamba
Early on March 7, Meteo-France classified an area of disturbed weather that had moved into the region from TCWC Perth's area of responsibility as Tropical Disturbance 13R.[125] Soon after, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the developing system.[126] Later that day, the system was upgraded to a tropical depression by Meteo-France, and the JTWC issued its first advisory on Tropical Cyclone 23S.[127][128] In the early hours of March 9, Tropical Depression 13R was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Kamba.[129] Later it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm[130] then a tropical cyclone early March 10.[131] Later that day, Kamba was upgraded further to a Intense Tropical Cyclone. Kamba was downgraded to a Tropical Cyclone on March 11.[132] Early on March 12 it was downgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm.[133] Shortly after it was further downgraded to a Moderate Tropical Storm,[134] and then by the middle of the day it was declared a "filling-depression", and the final advisory issued.[135] The JTWC issued its final advisory early that day as well.[136]
[edit] Tropical Storm Perry-Lola
An area of disturbed weather north east of Mauritius, identified on March 20,[137] become a tropical disturbance on March 21,[138] and depression later that day.[139] The JTWC initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 25S around the same time.[140] The system became Moderate Tropical Storm Lola early March 22 based on it having gale-force winds in the southern quadrant far away from the center and due to it having deep convection.[141] Lola weakened back to a tropical depression that afternoon as it begun to suffer from moderate to strong northeasterly shear.[142] It alternated between depression and disturbance a few times,[143][144][145] until the final advisory was issued on a zone of disturbed weather on March 26.[146] The JTWC had issued its final advisory two days earlier, on March 24.[147]
[edit] Severe Tropical Cyclone Rebekah-Pancho
On March 24, TCWC Perth identified a tropical low in the central Indian Ocean for which it began issuing shipping warnings. Also on March 24, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert,[148] then later that day the JTWC issued their first warning on Tropical Cyclone 26S.[149] The low intensified into Tropical Cyclone Pancho early March 25.[150] On March 26 Pancho became a severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[151] and intensified quickly to minimal category four cyclone on the Australian scale hours later. However during the 28th, Tropical Cyclone Pancho entered an area of increasing vertical wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures and within a few hours it was downgraded back to a category 2 cyclone on the Australian scale.[152]. The cyclone then weakened back to a tropical low about 300 kilometers southwest of the Western Australian Gascoyne coast with gale-force winds remaining south of the low.
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Sandy-Rosie
Early on April 20 the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Jakarta identifed a Tropical Depression located near Jakarta, Indonesia. The next day as the Tropical Depression moved southwards the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation alert on the developing system and then later that day upgraded the tropical depression to Tropical Cyclone 28S. Early on April 22 The Tropical Depression then moved into TCWC Perths Area of responsabilty and was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Rosie. On April 23 Rosie encountered high vertical wind shear and began weakening, being downgraded in the early hours of the next day to a tropical low.
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Tammy-Durga
On April 21 The JTWC identified a Tropical Disturbance which was located just inside Météo France's Area Of Responsibility (AOR) and issued a TCFA on the Developing system. However RSMC La Reunion did not monitor the storm. The Disturbance then moved out of Météo France's AOR, and into TCWC Jakarta's AOR, on April 22, and was designated as a Tropical Depression by TCWC Jakarta. Later on that day The JTWC initiated warnings on the Tropical Depression designating it as Tropical Cyclone 29S. Early the next day TCWC Jakarta Assigned the name Durga to the cyclone.
[edit] Tropical Depression Virginie
Late March 19, an area of disturbed weather west of Vanuatu was designated Tropical Disturbance 14F.[153] It was upgraded to a depression a few hours later.[154] The storm became slightly more organised and reached its peak intensity at 30 knots on March 20.[155] The JTWC also initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 24P the same day.[156] It then encountered an unfavourable environment of moderate to high vertical wind shear and weakened. The JTWC issued its last advisory on the system on March 21.[157] 14F was downgraded to a tropical disturbance early the next day.[158] On March 23, RSMC Nadi issued its last advisory.[159]
[edit] Tropical Depression Whitney
On April 17, a tropical disturbance developed about 1365 km (835 mi) northwest of New Caledonia, consisting of an elongated circulation within a marginal upper-level environment. Despite anticipation that tropical cyclogenesis was unlikely in the short term,[160] deep convection rapidly developed over an increasingly better defined circulation, with an anticyclone aloft aiding in intensification.[161] Late on April 17, the Fiji Meteorological Service classified the system as Tropical Depression 16F,[162] and early the next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified it as Tropical Cyclone 27P. Initially, it was forecasted to intensify further;[163] however, the storm quickly became disorganized as wind shear increased.[164] At 0000 UTC on April 19, the JTWC issued its final warning on the system as it began dissipating.[165]
[edit] Retirement
The names Iris and Noel were retired, they were replaced by Ingrid and Nathan
[edit] Stage2
[edit] Typhoon Areil-Neoguri
- Main article: Typhoon Neoguri (2008)
On April 11, area of convection with an area of low pressure was located between Palau and Yap. [166] Early on April 13, a low-level circulation developed near Mindanao.[167] The JMA designated the system as a minor tropical depression on the same day,[168] and PAGASA began warning on the system, naming it Tropical Depression "Ambo".[169] The low continued to get better organized and early on April 14, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center began issuing advisories on Tropical Depression 02W, which was located about north of Zamboanga City, Philippines.[170] Later that day, the agency upgraded it to tropical storm status, based on satellite intensity estimates.[171] The JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm, naming it Neoguri, the next day.[172] Early April 16, the system was upgraded to severe tropical storm status,[173] and then reached typhoon status a few hours later.[174] The typhoon continued north, weakening as it did so.[175][176] The cyclone made landfall as a weak tropical storm on Guangdong province in southern China,[177] and the final advisories from both agencies were issued shortly after.[178][179]
As the typhoon approached and passed Hainan Province, about 120,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas.[180] According to the China Meteorological Administration, it was the earliest in the year a tropical cyclone had ever impacted China (the old record was for Typhoon Wanda on May 3, 1971). [181] 42,000 residents were displaced in the aftermath of Neoguri. [182] 18 Chinese fisherman and 22 Vietnamese fisherman remain missing due to the passage of the storm.[183] Three fatalities have been confirmed in China, two due to a road being covered in a mud flow, and another due to winds blowing a sheet of aluminum into a person, throwing them off the roof of a stadium. [184]
The name "Neoguri" was submitted by South Korea, and refers to the Raccoon Dog.[185]
[edit] Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Bertha-Nargis
- Main article: Cyclone Nargis
An area of disturbed weather formed east of the Nicobar Islands on April 24. It slowly started moving in a northwesterly direction into an area of low vertical wind shear. The JTWC started issuing statements on the system on April 25.[186] On April 27, the Indian Meteorological Department upgraded it to a depression,[187] and the next day it was upgraded to Cyclonic Storm Nargis.[188] A few hours later it was upgraded to a Severe Cyclonic Storm.[189] The next day it was given the status of a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with winds up to 90 knots (based on IMD observations) although the JTWC assesed peak winds of 115 knots, or 135 mph (215 kmph).[190] Nargis hit southern Burma with 135 mph winds and then gradually started dissipating.[191][192]
Damage in Myanmar was extensive, where 243 people have been reported dead according to United Nations officials. Later, there were nearly 4,000 deaths confirmed. It became likely that 15,000 or even 22,000[193] deaths occurred, but this was disputed by officials. Later, 22,980 deaths have been blamed on Nargis and more than 40,000 other people were missing. If they were all killed, then Nargis would be the 6th deadliest cyclone in this basin on record, and the 3rd deadliest in this basin in modern history. The Labutta Township alone reportedly had a death toll of 80,000 deaths, and some estimate the death toll from Nargis being well over 100,000, and is at least as of now over 130,000. So far, Nargis is ranked as the 8th deadliest cyclone of all time, the deadliest named cyclone in this basin, and the second deadliest named cyclone of all time, after Typhoon Nina of 1975.[194] Thousands of homes and businesses throughout the country, including in Yangon, were damaged or destroyed by the winds and storm surge. The Irrawaddy Delta also suffered severely from the storm surge. Damage is estimated at nearly $10 billion (USD).[195][196]
[edit] Typhoon Celina-Rammasun
Early on May 7 PAGASA designated an area of low pressure which was about 790 km east of Mindanao as Tropical Depression Butchoy. [197] Around the same time the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also designated the area of low pressure as a Tropical depression with the JTWC assigning the number 03W to the depression. [198] [199]
Later that day the JMA upgraded the Tropical Depression to Tropical Storm status with the JMA assigning the name Rammasun to the storm. [200] The name Rammasun was submitted by Thailand and is named after the Thai God of Thunder. [201] It quickly organized, intensifying into a typhoon on May 9.[202] Rapid intensification continued and it strengthened into a Category 4-equivalent typhoon by early on May 10,[203] and a super typhoon by midday.[204]
Rammasun continued on a northerly path, and reached a peak of 105 knots and 915 hPa on May 10.[205] Soon after, the typhoon began slowly weakening. The JTWC downgraded it to a typhoon on May 11.[206] On May 12, the weakening became more rapid, and the JMA downgraded the system to a severe tropical storm,[207] while the JTWC issued its last advisory, noting that it was extratropical.[208] The JMA, however, held onto Rammasun until early May 13, when it downgraded the cyclone to a low and issued its final advisory.[209] Though it never hit land, it was the third strongest May typhoon in recorded history, behind Damrey of 2000 and Phyllis in 1958.[citation needed]
Rammasun brushed the Japanese coastline as it became extratropical on May 13 delivering strong winds and high waves. Along with moderate to heavy rain, winds gusted up to 52 mph (83 kph) as the storm moved out to sea.[210]
A strong storm from the "tail" of Rammasun struck the Philippines as it passed south of Japan. The winds brought by the storm caused severe damage to some buildings and numerous amounts of tress some weighing tonnes were uprooted. The damage may have been due to a possible tornado but there is no clarification for this possibility. At least 40 people were injured and damage totaled to 11 million PHP ($280,000 USD). [211][212]
The name "Rammasun" was submitted by Thailand, and means "God of Thunder".[185]
[edit] Tropical Storm Danielle-Matmo
A tropical disturbance formed to the east of the Philippines on May 13. Later that day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system and then designated it as Tropical Depression 04W the next day.[213][214]
Midday May 15, the JMA designated the system as Tropical Storm Matmo.[215] The name was submitted by the United States and means "heavy rain" in the Chamorro language.[216][185] PAGASA named the cyclone "Dindo" a few hours later.[217] The JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm as the day drew to a close.[218] However, the system then weakened as it moved north away from the Philippines; PAGASA and the JTWC issued their last advisories on May 16,[219][220] and the JMA first thing May 17.[221]
[edit] Severe Tropical Storm Erin-Halong
Early on May 14 PAGASA upgraded a tropical disturbance west of the Philippines to Tropical Depression Cosme.[222] Later that day the JTWC issued a TCFA,[223] later the first advisory on the system as Tropical Depression 05W.[224] On May 16, the JMA upgraded 05W to Halong.[225] Later that day, it was upgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm by JMA,[226] and a Typhoon by JTWC,[227] and reached its peak of 60 knots early May 17.[228] It made landfall on western Pangasinan early May 17,[229] and weakened while crossing northern Luzon,[230][231] but after reaching open waters it re-organized while accelerating northeastward. The system intensified to a severe tropical storm again,[232] but never reached its previous peak intensity and began weakening as it moved northeast.[233] The JTWC and the JMA issued their final advisories on May 20.[234][235]
In Luzon, the storm caused 58 deaths and $94 million (USD) in damage. The storm destroyed 43,365 houses and damaged 188,830 more.[236]
The name "Halong" was submitted by Vietnam after Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular tourist attraction in northern Vietnam.[237]
[edit] Typhoon Francesca-Nakri
A tropical disturbance formed south of Guam on May 25.[238] On May 26, the JMA recognized it as a weak tropical depression,[239] and later that day, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the system.[240]
Early on May 27, the JTWC issued its first advisory on Tropical Depression 06W.[241] Hours after, the JMA designated the system as Tropical Storm Nakri.[242] Early on May 28, the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm.[243] Twelve hours later, the JTWC upgraded 06W to a typhoon. Later that day, Nakri strengthened at a more rapid pace and the rapid intensification continued into May 29, when Nakri strengthened to a Category 4-equivalent typhoon.
The name Nakri was submitted by Cambodia and refers to a type of flower found in the country.[185]
[edit] Tropical Storm Gloria-Alma
- Main article: Tropical Storm Alma (2008)
A tropical wave developed south of Central America in the last week of May. The wave developed gradually, and by late on May 28 the system became the first tropical depression of the 2008 season. It strengthened into a tropical storm on May 29, and then rapidly strengthened that morning into a strong tropical storm. Alma reached her peak of 65 mph early on May 29. Around 12 PM PDT, Alma made landfall on the Northwestern coast of Nicaragua near León at peak strength.
León lost electricity and telephone services as the storm impacted the area, and trees were toppled and some houses lost roofs. Seven people were killed.[244] The remnants of Alma would later reemerge into the Gulf of Honduras and reorganize on May 31 to become Tropical Storm Arthur.
[edit] Tropical Storm Hanna-Arthur
- Main article: Tropical Storm Arthur (2008)
Tropical Storm Arthur formed near the Belize coast on May 31, developing out of the interaction between a tropical wave and the remnants of Tropical Storm Alma, and made landfall on Belize a short while later.[245] The system traversed the Yucatán Peninsula slowly and dissipated inland on June 2.[246] Arthur is the first tropical storm to form in May since Tropical Storm Arlene in 1981. Other systems have formed (such as Subtropical Storm Andrea in 2007), but they have started out as subtropical. The formation of Arthur also marks the first time that a named storm formed in May for two consecutive years.
_-_MODIS.PNG/150px-Tropical_Storm_Arthur_(2008)_-_MODIS.PNG)
