Cyclone Mala
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | April 25, 2006 |
Dissipated | April 29, 2006 |
Extremely severe cyclonic storm | |
3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 954 hPa (mbar); 28.17 inHg |
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 220 km/h (140 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 922 hPa (mbar); 27.23 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 37 |
Damage | $6.7 million (2006 USD) |
Areas affected | Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Northern Thailand |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2006 North Indian Ocean cyclone season |
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Mala was the strongest
In contrast to Mala's intensity, damage was relatively minimal across Myanmar due to adequate early warnings, while timely and effective evacuations minimized loss of life along the coast. The greatest damage resulted from a thunderstorm near
Meteorological history
In mid to late April 2006, a pulse in the Madden–Julian oscillation, coupled with a Kelvin wave (which later contributed to the formation of Typhoon Chanchu in the western Pacific), enhanced convective activity over the Bay of Bengal.[2] By April 22, a trough developed along an axis from the southern Bay of Bengal eastward to the Andaman Sea.[1] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring the system for potential tropical cyclogenesis the following day.[3] By 0600 UTC on April 24, an area of low pressure formed southeast of the Andaman Islands and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began monitoring the disturbance.[4] Quickly organizing, the low developed into a tropical depression later on April 24 and the JTWC began writing full advisories on the cyclone without issuing a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert.[3][5] Organization slowed thereafter due to moderate wind shear,[6] but continued at a near-climatological rate as upper-level outflow allowed for continued convective development.[7] Early on April 25, the JTWC estimated the system to have attained gale-force winds.[5] The IMD followed suit later that day and subsequently assigned it the name Mala.[8][nb 1] Weak steering currents prompted slow and erratic movement with an overall northward trajectory.[3][6]
Forecasters at this time anticipated little intensification as the system was expected to move into a region of higher shear.
The JTWC estimated Mala to have been a stronger system, with peak winds of 220 km/h (135 mph) and a pressure of 922 mb (hPa; 27.23 inHg) — equivalent to a
Sea surface temperatures in the wake of Cyclone Mala decreased up to 4–5 °C (7–9 °F) due to upwelling.[15] From April 28–29, the low-level inflow associated affected much of the northern Bay of Bengal and resulted in northwesterly winds as far away as Hyderabad, India. These winds brought dry, dust filled air over the bay with mean particulate-matter doubling over the region.[16]
Preparations
On April 26, the local Department of Meteorology and Hydrology in Myanmar stated that the Ayeyarwady, Bago Region, and Yangon regions were likely to be affected within two days and Rakhine State within three days.[17] Officials began broadcasting storm warning to the public over radio the following day.[18] Evacuations of at-risk coastal areas were conducted, though specifics are unknown.[19] Once the storm moved inland, residents across the country were advised of the likelihood of widespread heavy rain from the remnant system.[20]
Despite never being forecast to strike Bangladesh, officials there warned residents that the storm could strike the nation and cause loss of life. Cautionary signals were raised at ports in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and Mongla, advising seafaring vessels to remain docked until the storm's passage.[21] Roughly 34,000 members of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society were placed on standby for possible relief efforts.[9]
Flash flood warnings were issued across northern Thailand on April 29 under the threat of heavy rains from Mala's remnants.[18]
Impact
Throughout almost the entire existence of Mala, it produced rainfall in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Daily totals peaked on April 27 at 100 mm (3.9 in) in Car Nicobar.[1]
After moving through Myanmar, Mala brought heavy rains to northern Thailand. According to local meteorologists the storm also accelerated the onset of the seasonal monsoon which would contribute to a wetter-than-average year for the region.[22]
Myanmar
Though Mala struck Myanmar as a powerful cyclone, early warnings and proper evacuations minimized loss of life along coastal areas. Additionally, no major
Rakhine State suffered a direct hit from the cyclone, with Gwa Township reporting the worst damage. There, 88 homes were destroyed and 1,246 more were damaged. One person was killed and at least four others were injured in the township. Ra Haing Ku Toe village suffered significant losses as well, with 132 homes destroyed and 531 more damaged.[27] A storm surge of 4.57 m (15.0 ft) struck the region, but did not impact populated areas.[24]
Across the
Aftermath
By May 1, the local branch of the
See also
- 2006 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Cyclone Nargis – A storm of similar intensity two years later that devastated the Irrawaddy Delta
- Cyclone Giri – A storm of similar intensity in 2010 that caused significant damage in areas just north of where Mala struck
- Cyclone Maarutha – A storm of weaker intensity in 2017 that caused some notable damage in northwestern areas of Myanmar in April
- Cyclone Mocha – A destructive storm of similar intensity and path in 2023 that caused widespread damages in Myanmar.
Notes
- Sinhalese as well as Hindi for a garland of flowers.[9]
References
- ^ S2CID 244699456. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- .
- ^ a b c O'Hara, J. F.; Falvey, Robert (2007). "Tropical Cyclone (TC) 02B (Mala)" (PDF). In Lana, Aaron (ed.). 2006 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report. Pearl Harbor: U.S. Naval Maritime Forecast Center / Joint Typhoon Warning Center. p. 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ "Tropical Weather Outlook". India Meteorological Department. Unisys. April 24, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Tropical Cyclone 02B (Mala) Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. 2007. Archived from the original (.TXT) on October 9, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for April 25, 2006 at 1800 UTC". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Unisys. April 25, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for April 25, 2006 at 0600 UTC". Joint Typhoon Warning Center; India Meteorological Department. Unisys. April 25, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 2006 Mala (2006114N08090). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh coast under cyclone warning". USA Today. Dhaka, Bangladesh. Associated Press. April 29, 2006. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for April 26, 2006 at 0600 UTC". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Unisys. April 26, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for April 27, 2006 at 0600 UTC". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Unisys. April 25, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ "Some characteristic features of cyclonic disturbances formed over the Indian Ocean and adjoining region during 2006" (PDF). WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones 34th Session. World Meteorological Organization. November 15, 2007. p. 33. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Gary Padgett (May 5, 2006). "Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks – April 2006". Australia Severe Weather. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for April 28, 2006 at 1800 UTC". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Unisys. April 25, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- S2CID 29216997.
- Bibcode:2010EGUGA..1212891K. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ "Special Storm Warning". The New Light of Myanmar. Yangon, Myanmar. April 26, 2006.
- ^ a b "Cyclone Mala reaches western Myanmar". Yangon, Myanmar. Agence France-Presse. April 29, 2006 – via Lexis Nexis.
- ^ a b c Myanmar: Cyclone Mala Final Report for DREF Bulletin no. MDRMM01 (PDF). International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Report). ReliefWeb. February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ^ "Storm Warning". The New Light of Myanmar. Yangon, Myanmar. April 29, 2006.
- ^ "Cyclone spares Bangladesh, hits Burmese coast". The Daily Star. Dhaka, Bangladesh: British Broadcasting Company. May 1, 2006.
- ^ Chiang Mai (May 3, 2006). "Early rains in North 'a sign of La Niña and wet year'". The Nation. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
- ^ "Myanmar: 2006 Progress Report" (PDF). International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. ReliefWeb. December 31, 2006. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ a b Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and the Ministry of Education (2008). "Natural Disasters in Myanmar" (PDF). Guidance on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education Sector, Myanmar – Rural Settings. Myanmar Information Management Unit. p. 16. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Tint Zaw; Mu Mu Than (March 2010). "Climate Change Impacts to the Water Environment and Adaptation Options" (PDF). Union of Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Water Environment Partnership in Asia. p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ a b "Myanmar: Cyclone Mala DREF Bulletin MDRMM001 Update No. 2". International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. ReliefWeb. November 6, 2006. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Myanmar: Cyclone Mala Information Bulletin No. 1". International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. ReliefWeb. May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ^ "Myanmar authorities put on alert after cyclone destroys homes in southwestern delta region". Yangon, Myanmar. Associated Press International. April 28, 2006 – via Lexis Nexis.
- ^ a b "Cyclone Mala kills two in Burma". The Nation. Yangon, Myanmar. Associated Press. May 1, 2006. p. 4A. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ^ a b "Cyclone Mala kills one and injures 21 in Myanmar". Yangon, Myanmar. Agence France-Presse. April 30, 2006 – via Lexis Nexis.
- ^ "Myanmar: Commander, Minister donate relief supplies to cyclone victims in Ayeyawady Division". Government of Myanmar. ReliefWeb. May 1, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ^ "Myanmar: Relief provided to cyclone victims". Government of Myanmar. ReliefWeb. May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ^ "Cyclone Mala leaves 18 drowned, 14 missing in Kyangin". The New Light of Myanmar. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. May 3, 2006.
- ^ "Myanmar: Cyclone Mala DREF Bulletin MDRMM001 Final Report" (PDF). International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. ReliefWeb. February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2014.