Tropical Storm Soudelor (2009)

Tropical Storm Soudelor (Gorio)
Tropical storm (JMA scale)
Tropical storm (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Tropical Storm Soudelor at peak intensity on July 11
Formed July 9, 2009
Dissipated July 13, 2009
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 65 km/h (40 mph)
1-minute sustained: 65 km/h (40 mph)
Lowest pressure 992 hPa (mbar); 29.29 inHg
Fatalities 17 direct, 2 indirect
Damage $9 million (2009 USD)
Areas affected Philippines, China and Vietnam
Part of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season

Tropical Storm Soudelor, known in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Gorio, was a weak tropical cyclone that produced deadly flooding in the Philippines, China and Vietnam in July 2003. Forming out of an area of low pressure on July 9, Soudelor failed to maintain deep convection around its center for the duration of its existence. On July 10, the depression brushed the northern Philippines and intensified into a tropical storm on July 11. Later that day, the storm crossed the Leizhou Peninsula. The last public advisory from the JMA was issued the following day after Soudelor made landfall in southern China.

In the Philippines, Soudelor produced severe flooding that killed one person and resulted in the issuance of a state of calamity. The storm later killed 15 people in southern China after a group of hikers were washed away in a flash flood on Hainan Island. In Vietnam, rainfall up to 250 mm (9.8 in) caused widespread flooding. Lightning triggered by the storm killed two people in the country.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Late on 7 July 2009, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that an area of disturbed weather had formed 900 km (560 mi) to the northwest of Yap. Deep convection was embedded in a broad, weak, poorly defined circulation that was starting to be enhanced by a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough to the east of the system.[1] Over the next couple of days, gradual development took place[2] and early on July 9, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued by the JTWC.[3] Around the same time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) designated the system as a tropical depression, giving it the name Gorio.[4] Later that day both the JMA and the JTWC reported that the depression had formed and started to issue warnings on the depression, with the JTWC designating it as 05W;[5][6]

On July 10, PAGASA issued their final advisory on Tropical Depression Gorio as it moved out of their area of responsibility.[7] Hampered by an unfavorable upper-level environment, the depression barely intensified into a tropical storm early on July 11.[8] Upon becoming a tropical storm, the JMA named the system Soudelor reporting peak winds of 65 km/h, (40 mph).[6][9] Later that day the JTWC reported that Soudelor had weakened into a depression;[10] however they re-upgraded it to a tropical storm as it moved closer to Hainan Province.[11] Shortly before landfall in Leizhou Peninsula, China, the JTWC downgraded the storm to a tropical depression.[12] After moving back over water in the Gulf of Tonkin, the JTWC issued their final advisory on the depression.[13] The JMA, however, continued to monitor Soudelor until it made landfall near Fangchenggang, China several hours later.[14]

Preparations and impact

Philippines

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued public storm signal one for nine regions of the northern Philippines.[15] As a tropical depression, Soudelor brushed northern Luzon in the Philippines, producing upwards of 330 mm (13 in) of rainfall which resulted in flash flooding and landslides.[16] In Ilocos Norte, major roadways were completely blocked by high waters.[17] The storm affected 19,845 people throughout the Philippines and one person was killed after being swept away by a fast current.[18] At least ten villages were flooded during the storm.[19] Three homes were destroyed and two more were damaged by Soudelor.[17][18] A total of 42 barangays were flooded by the storm, killing 21 cows and isolating low-lying areas.[7] On July 10, a battalion from the army engineers were deployed to the affected region to repair infrastructure.[17] Following the storm, the hardest hit town Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, was put under a state of calamity and regional aid was deployed to the area.[20] Total damage was estimated at PHP 205 million $4.4 (US 2009).[21]

China

Tropical Depression Soudelor making landfall in Vietnam on July 12

In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory issued standby signal No. 1 as Soudelor neared the region on July 11. The following day, the signal was raised to strong wind No. 3 due to the possibility of landfall near the region. The signal was lowered back to No. 1 later that day before they were all canceled early on July 12.[22] The emergency response system was put at level four water-disaster in preparation for torrential rainfall from Soudelor.[23] A red alert was also declared for the affected regions.[24] Torrential rains in Hainan caused significant flooding that killed 15 hikers and left several others missing. Numerous roads were also cut off or destroyed by landslides and 30 villages were inundated with flood waters.[25] In Hong Kong, outer bands of Soudelor produced squally rain showers on July 11.[22] About 20 trees reportedly fell within Hong Kong, one of which struck a mini bus terminal.[22] The direct economic loss to china was estimated at about RMB 1.71billion, ($5.4 million 2009 USD).[26]

Vietnam

Ahead of the storm, 4,000 fishing vessels were ordered to return to port and up to 200 volunteers were mobilized to deal with damages from the storm. Officials evacuated people from 297 residences to higher grounds and reported that 977 other homes were in threatened areas. Roughly VND71 billion (US$3.98 million) was set aside by the Government of Vietnam to assist residents in natural disasters, including Soudelor.[27] An estimated 5,000 sandbags and 1,000 cubic meters of canvas were distributed to flood-prone areas.[28] The remnants of Soudelor produced widespread torrential rains in Northern Vietnam on July 13. Rainfall totals peaked at 250 mm (9.8 in) in the region.[29] Heavy rainfall, amounting to 130 mm (5.1 in), was also recorded in Hanoi. The capital city experienced flash flooding, inundating numerous streets and buildings. Two men were killed by lightning strikes associated with the storm. Officials reported that at least 13 large trees had been downed by high winds.[30] Flood waters in the hardest-hit areas reached a depth of 0.35 m (1.1 ft). One person was killed after being swept away. A tornado also touched down during the storm, destroying the roofs of three homes. Thousands of hectares of croplands were inundated by flood waters. Following the storm, 1,000 tonnes of rice was allocated for victims of the floods.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 7, 2009). "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  2. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 8, 2009). "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 9, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  4. ↑ Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (July 9, 2009). "Tropical depression "Gorio" enters RP; 9 provinces under signal No. 1". Balita. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  5. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 9, 2009). "Tropical Depression 05W Advisory One". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Japan Meteorological Agency (September 2, 2009). "JMA Tropical Cyclone Best Track: Soudelor". Archived from the original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  7. 1 2 Evelyn Macairan, Artemio Dumlao (July 12, 2009). "New low-pressure area spotted as 'Gorio' leaves RP". Philippine Star. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  8. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 11, 2009). "Tropical Storm 05W (Soudelor) Advisory Six". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  9. ↑ Various Agencies (July 11, 2009). "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for 0600 UTC on July 11". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  10. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 11, 2009). "Tropical Depression Soudelor (05W) Advisory Seven". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  11. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 11, 2009). "Tropical Storm Soudelor (05W)". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  12. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (July 12, 2009). "Tropical Depression Soudelor (05W) Advisory Ten". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  13. ↑ Various Agencies (July 12, 2009). "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for 0600 UTC on July 12". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  14. ↑ Various Agencies (July 12, 2009). "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for 1200 UTC on July 12". Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  15. ↑ Aie Balagtas (July 9, 2009). "Pagasa hoists signal no. 1 in nine areas". GMA News TV. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  16. ↑ Dave Samuhel (July 12, 2009). "Soudelor Brings Heavy Rain To China, Vietnam Sunday". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 Glenn J. Rabonza (July 10, 2009). "Situation Report No. 1: Effects of Tropical Depression "Gorio"" (PDF). National Disaster Coordinating Council. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  18. 1 2 Glenn J. Rabonza (July 11, 2009). "Situation Report No. 2: Effects of Tropical Depression "Gorio"" (PDF). National Disaster Coordinating Council. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  19. ↑ Staff Writer (July 10, 2009). "Classes suspended in flood-hit Laoag City". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  20. ↑ Staff Writer (July 11, 2009). "Ilocos Norte town placed under state of calamity due to tropical depression "Gorio"". Balita. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  21. ↑ Glenn J. Rabonza (July 28, 2009). "Situation Report No. 16: Effects of Tropical Depression "Gorio"" (PDF). National Disaster Coordinating Council. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 "Tropical Storm Soudelor (0905)". Hong Kong Observatory. July 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
  23. ↑ 张永 (July 12, 2009). 中国气象局解除热带风暴“苏迪罗”Ⅳ级应急响应 要求继续做好后期服务工作 (in Chinese). 中国气象局副局长矫梅燕. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  24. ↑ Zhu Yanshan (July 12, 2009). "Tropical Storm Soudelor Lands in South China". Xinhua. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  25. ↑ Staff Writer (July 13, 2009). "Inondations dans le Sud de la Chine: 15 morts" (in French). Meteo World. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  26. ↑ "Member Report: China" (PDF). China Meteorological Administration. World Meteorological Organization. January 25, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  27. ↑ Staff Writer (July 13, 2009). "Storm Soudeler hits north, El Nino looms". Thanh Nien Daily. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  28. ↑ Staff Writer (July 12, 2009). "Storm sweeps ashore, brings heavy rains". Voice of Vietnam. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  29. ↑ Staff Writer (July 14, 2009). "Storm passes but new tropical depression affects coastal waters". VietNamNet Bridge. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  30. ↑ Staff Writer (July 14, 2009). "Hanoi streets flooded for hours by storm". Thanh Nien Daily. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  31. ↑ Staff Writer (July 14, 2009). "Downpours and whirlwinds cause damage in northern region". Nhan Dan. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.

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