May 24, 2009

Cyclone Watch: Tropical Cyclone Two Alias 'Aila'


Image courtesy Weather Underground

The cyclonic storm Two alias "Aila" will make a landfall tomorrow noon.

From Joint Typhoon Warning Center:

241500Z POSITION NEAR 18.7N 88.4E.
TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) 02B (TWO), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 255 NM SOUTH OF KOLKATA, INDIA, HAS TRACKED NORTHWARD AT 03 KNOTS OVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. [..] THE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO ACCELERATE NORTHWARD AND SHOULD MAKE LANDFALL NEAR TAU 24. [..] TC 02B IS LOCATED WITHIN A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT WITH GOOD RADIAL OUTFLOW AND IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY TO A PEAK INTENSITY OF 60-65 KNOTS PRIOR TO LANDFALL, AND WILL DISSIPATE OVER NORTHERN BANGLADESH BY TAU 48. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 241200Z IS 18 FEET.

Bangladesh is preparing to embrace.

Update: The death toll from Aila rose to 121:

Tidal waves churned by strong winds have inundated vast swathes of land.

Heavy rains coupled with gales flattened huge tracts of standing crops and washed away numerous fisheries.

They also caused extensive damage to embankments and levees in the coastal districts.

More than 800 people have been wounded and at least 58,450 domestic animals killed, according to the disaster management ministry.


The Army has started relief operation at 12 Aila-affected Upazilas in four districts.

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