Tropical Storm Mekkhala (2008)

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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
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A Tropical Disturbance formed to the south of China, within the Gulf of Tonkin on September 25, 2008. [1] Early the next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed the disturbances chances of becoming a "significant tropical cyclone" within 24 hours as "Fair". [2] However early on September 27 the JTWC reassessed the disturbances chances becoming a "significant tropical cyclone" as poor. [3] Later that day the Japan Meteorological Agency then designated it as a weak tropical depression. [4] Whilst early the next morning the JTWC upgraded the disturbances chances of becoming a "significant tropical cyclone" to good, and subsequently issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert. [5] Later that day the JMA started to issue full advisories on the tropical depression, as it was expected to become a tropical storm within the next 24 hours. [6] The JTWC then designated the depression as Tropical Depression 20W as they issued their first warning on the depression. [7] On September 29 the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and named the storm as Mekkhala. [8] Later that morning the JTWC designated Mekkhala as a tropical storm. [9]

Early the next day the JMA reported that Mekkhala had intensified into a severe tropical storm and reached its peak wind speeds of 50kts. [10] However within their next advisory the JMA downgraded Mekkhala to a tropical storm as Mekkhala had made landfall on northern Vietnam during the previous three hours. [11] During the morning of September 30, RSMC Tokyo downgraded Mekkhala to a tropical depression as they issued their final advisory. [12] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center also issued their final advisory that morning as Mekkhalla was expected to weaken below their warning level of 25 kts (30 mph (48 km/h) and then dissipate later that day. [13] Mekkhala then dissipated over Land later that day. [14]

On November 17, 2008, the Japan Meteorological Agency released their Post Storm Analysis on Mekkhala. Within it they reassessed the peak wind speeds as 45 knots (52 mph; 83 km/h) which meant that Mekkhala was downgraded from a severe tropical storm to a tropical storm. [14]

Preparations and impact

Vietnam was affected by Tropical Storm Mekkhala less than a week after Typhoon Hagupit had affected the country. Despite this Mekkhala still caused $6.6 million (2008 US$) worth of damage. [15] A total of 1,000 homes were washed away by the storm and an additional 10,000 were damaged. The storm was also responsible for Blackouts in Vietnam, as well as causing 16 deaths and 13 injuries. [15] [16] [17] Vietnam's National Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Control also reported that Mekkhala had forced the evacuation of thousands of people and had sunk 38 fishing trawlers. [15]

An estimated 3,050 hectares of crops were damaged in Thanh Hóa Province, leading to $1.2 million in losses. In Hà Tĩnh Province 500 homes and 4,000 hectares of crops were damaged and three people were killed. Damages in the province amounted to $1.8 million. [18]

Naming

The name Mekkhala was one of the ten original names submitted to the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee for use from January 1, 2000, by Thailand. It has been used once before worldwide within the 2002 Pacific typhoon season to name a tropical storm and refers to the Thai Angel of Thunder. [19] [20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tropical Storm 20W (Mekkhala) Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center . Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  2. ↑ "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western & South Pacific Oceans 26-09-08". Joint Typhoon Warning Center (FTP). Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead ftp link](To view documents see Help:FTP)
  3. ↑ "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western & South Pacific Oceans 27-10-08 06z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center (FTP). Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead ftp link](To view documents see Help:FTP)
  4. ↑ "WWJP25 Advisory 27-09-08 18z". Japan Meteorological Agency (FTP). Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead ftp link](To view documents see Help:FTP)
  5. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert 28-09-08". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on September 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  6. ↑ "JMA Advisory 28-09-08 12z". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  7. ↑ "JTWC Warning 28-09-08 21z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center (FTP). Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead ftp link](To view documents see Help:FTP)
  8. ↑ "JMA Advisory 29-09-08 00z". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  9. ↑ "JTWC Warning 29-09-08 09z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center (FTP). Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead ftp link](To view documents see Help:FTP)
  10. ↑ "JMA Advisory 30-09-08 00z". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  11. ↑ "JMA Advisory 30-09-08 03z". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  12. ↑ "JMA Advisory 30-09-08 12z". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  13. ↑ "JTWC Warning 30-09-08 09z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center (FTP). Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead ftp link](To view documents see Help:FTP)
  14. 1 2 "RSMC Tropical Cyclone Best Track: 0816 Mekkhala". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  15. 1 2 3 "Typhoon Mekkhala leaves three dead in Vietnam". Relief-Web. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  16. ↑ "Typhoon Mekkhala". Asian Disaster Relief Center. Archived from the original on 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  17. ↑ "Vietnam gets pounded by another deadly storm". NBC News. Associated Press. October 2, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  18. ↑ Rob Gutro (October 2, 2008). "Hurricane Season 2008: Tropical Storm Mekkhala (Pacific Ocean)". NASA. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Names in 2000-2001". Hong Kong Observatory. 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  20. ↑ "The meaning of tropical cyclone names". Hong Kong Observatory. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
Tropical Storm Mekkhala
Mekkhala 2008-09-29 0612Z.jpg
Tropical Storm Mekkhala approaching Vietnam on September 29
Tropical cyclones of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season
2008 Pacific typhoon season summary.png
TD
01W
TD
TD
TD
TD
TY
Neoguri
VITY
Rammasun
STS
Matmo
STS
Halong
VSTY
Nakri
TD
TD
TD
TD
VSTY
Fengshen
TD
TD
TD
Gener
TY
Kalmaegi
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TD
TY
Fung-wong
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Kammuri
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11W
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Nuri
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Lawin
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Sinlaku
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16W
TD
17W
VSTY
Hagupit
VITY
Jangmi
TS
Mekkhala
TS
Higos
TD
22W
TS
Bavi
STS
Maysak
TD
Rolly
TD
TD
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Noul
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Haishen
TD
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Dolphin
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