Cyclone Phet
Cyclone Phet (IMD designation: ARB 02, JTWC designation: 03A ) is the second strongest ever recorded tropical cyclone that has formed in the Arabian Sea - only cyclone Gonu in 2007 reached a greater intensity. The third named storm of the cyclone season in 2010 Nordindik first moved to the northwest to Oman, but was gradually recognized when approaching the Arabian Peninsula from the west wind zone and deflected to the north. Phet crossed the east of the country and arrived at Sur in the Gulf of Oman, where he turned off to the east. The cyclone moved parallel to the Pakistani coast and came thereby to depression from. South of the 15 - million - inhabitant city of Karachi drew Phet on June 6 around 16:30 clock finally over land and broke up in the late evening of June 6 on.
The name of the cyclone was the WMO / ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones of Thailand proposed. Phet (Thai: เพชร ) means diamond.
Storm History
Early on May 30 reported both India Meteorological Department (IMD ) and Joint Typhoon Warning Center ( JTWC ) that about 925 km south-west of Mumbai, India, has developed a tropical depression. In this low-pressure area was a loosely organized convection, gathered around the monsoon trough lying in the circulation center. The system was located south of a high pressure area over Oman and was on the influence of moderate vertical wind shear. Early the next day, the convection had continued to consolidate around the center of circulation, so that the JTWC drew attention has formed a tropical cyclone. At the same time, the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre ( RSMC ) classified the depression as depression and took the warnings on to the system. During the day the JTWC also began with the issue of storm warnings and classified the system as a cyclone 03A, because despite the moderate wind shear, convection had continued to consolidate.
Once in the morning of 1 June, the vertical wind shear had subsided, presented the IMD determined that the depression had intensified into a cyclonic storm and assigned the name Phet. After the system reached one-minute wind speeds corresponding to category 1 on the Saffir -Simpson Hurricane Scale, the JTWC reported that Phet has begun a rapid intensification. In the course of June 2 the JTWC noted that this intensification Phet has continued and with one-minute wind speeds of 230 km / h, the category has reached 4. The IMD, which is commissioned as competent for the Indian Ocean RSMC by the World Meteorological Organization with the observation of tropical weather patterns, applies to a different wind scale based on three-minute sustained wind speeds. In this intensification phase was the IMD Phet gradually from the cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm and then to a very severe cyclonic storm high.
The cyclone reached on 4 June, the Oman coast north-east of Masira. The center Phets went into another country along the coast to the north and came on June 5 at Sur over the water of the Gulf of Oman. The storm was detected by western winds deflected eastward. A higher wind shear prevented intensified, especially as the hurricane moved the hurricane over the open waters of the Arabian Sea again close parallel to the coast of Balochistan to the east. In the wake of the storm to tropical depression was graded.
Preparations
For the coasts of Oman and Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan including Karachi and the Indian state of Gujarat have been warnings against storm surge and high waves and wind warnings. The fishermen have been asked not to go out to sea. The Pakistani Meteorologists have warned of six to eight foot waves, which could inundate parts of Karachi. For Balochistan, meteorologists warned especially against flash floods. Experts pointed out that the clogged with garbage and filth sewers of the 15 million inhabitants metropolis of Karachi, the expected rain water can not absorb it.
In Oman, the police ordered the immediate evacuation of Masirah and Ras al - Hadd. The loading of oil and gas was interrupted a few hours of the arrival of the cyclone, as high waves prevents creating and loading facilities may damage both. Oman has shipped 731,000 barrels of oil per day in the first quarter of 2010 average.
More than 8,000 residents of Kandla and Tuna in Kutch district in Gujarat, India were evacuated by the authorities.
Effects
Oman
Although Phet weakened by the effects of the coast clear as of yet Phet reached the Omani capital Muscat with wind gusts of up to 200 km / h Locally fell 250 mm of rainfall, leading to flooding. The storm disrupted electricity supply and telephone lines. Many wadis were into raging waters. Most affected by the hurricane were Al- Amerat and Quriyat. In Oman, died from the effects of the cyclone 24 people, most of them drowned. The effects of the storm damaged bridges and roads, sea water desalination, electricity and water pipes. The heavy rainfall in residential areas and business districts under water. The Civil Protection Department said the damage to infrastructure on 7 June with 780 million U.S. dollars, the total insured damage in the private sector was estimated by the insurance company Axa to 100-200 million U.S. dollars.
Pakistan
Associated with the cyclone torrential rain have already resulted in the approach to the Pakistani coast to flooding in Baluchistan. In Gwadar ten villages were flooded, the building of Radio Pakistan collapsed by the effects of the storm. Road links were broken. At least 15 people were killed by the impact of the storm in Pakistan.
India
The dissolving depression led moist air to the north of India. In Rajasthan heavy rainfall led to flooding. In Jaisalmer more than 120 mm of precipitation fell. Several villages in the district of Jaipur were flooded, the hardest it hit the town of Lahti in Pokhran. 300 families have been evacuated, 35 houses were washed away by the flood water.