The 1990 Andhra Pradesh Tropical Cyclone (IMD Designation:BOB04, JTWC Designation:02B) was the worst disaster to affect Southern India since the 1977 Andhra Pradesh Cyclone. The cyclone formed out of a tropical disturbance early on May 4 1990, whilst moving towards the northwest under the influence of a subtropical ridge of pressure. During the next day the depression intensifed into a Cyclonic Storm and started to rapidly intensify becoming a Super Cyclonic Storm early on May 8. The Cyclone slightly weakened before it made landfall on India about 300 km (190 mi), to the north of Madras in the vicinity of Machilipatnam in Andra Pradesh state as a Very Severe Cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km/h 105 mph. Whilst over land the Cyclone gradually weakened into a depression with the IMD reporting that it had dissipated early on May 10. The Cyclone had a severe impact on India feter making landfall with over 500 people reported to have died from the Cyclone. Over 100000 animals also died in the cyclone with the total cost of damages to crops estimated at over $600 million (1990 USD).
Meterological history
Early on May 3 1990, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that a tropical disturbance had formed in the Bay of Bengal about 800 km (500 mi) to the east of Sri-Lanka.[1] The disturbance was then designated as Depression BOB 01, early the next day by the India Meteorological Department before a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued later that day by the JTWC as the cyclone was moving towards the northwest under the influence of a subtropical ridge of pressure.[2][3] The Depression was then upgraded to a cyclonic storm early the next day before being designated as Tropical Cyclone 02B later that day with winds equivilant to a weak tropical storm.[3][2]
Even though the cyclone had a good outflow into the upper level easterlies, the JTWC were expecting the system to make landfall in southern India within 72 hours. As a result of this the JTWC were only expecting the cyclone to intensify into weak hurricane intensity before weakening a little bit before the cyclone made landfall with a moderate turn to the northwest due to a weakness in the subtropical ridge. However the turn turned out to be more to the north than anticipated as a result this enabled the cyclone to stay offshore for longer and rapidly intensify becoming a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm early on May 6 as it had winds that were equivalent to a hurricane.[3][2]
Over the next couple of days the Cyclone rapidly deepened and intensifed further becoming a Super Cyclonic Storm on May 8 with both 3-minute and 1-minute peak wind speeds of 240 km/h (150 mph), which also made it a category 4 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. After reaching peak intensity as a Super Cyclonic Storm it weakened later that day into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm as it moved closer to land. At 1200 UTC on May 9, the cyclone made landfall about 300 km (190 mi), to the north of Madras in the vicinity of Machilipatnam in Andra Pradesh state as a Very Severe Cyclonic storm with winds of 165 km/h 105 mph. Whilst over land the Cyclone gradually weakened into a depression with the IMD reporting that it had dissipated early on May 10.[3][2]
Impact and aftermath
In preperation for the cyclone, an evacuation campaign was launched by the Goverment which led to more than 150 000 people being evacuated before the cyclone made landfall in Andrah Provence, though Seven thousand people were left stranded in a goverment shelter after they refused to evacuate.[3][4][5] The Cyclone had a substantial effect on India, with storm surge tides were reported to be 4.9 metres (16 ft) above the normal sea tide as a consequence more than 100 villages were submerged in water and subsquently were destroyed.[3][5] At least 514 people were reported as dying in the super cyclonic storm whilst over 100 000 farm animals were killed due to the cyclone.[3] The total cost to crops was estimated at over $600 million (1990 USD) and was the worst disaster for Southern India since the 1977 Andhra Pradesh Cyclone.[3][4]
On May 11 two days after the cyclone had hit, the Indian Government, launched a massive relief and rescue operation. With surveys of the areas affected by the cyclone, being undertaken by the Indian Army and Naval helicopters, which were also dropping food packets.[4] However the Indian Government did not request international assistance though the Red Cross provided food, oil, medicines and water tanks for the affected families; whilst the wcc/cicarws issued an appeal for $262 000 (1990 USD) so they could provide immediate needs with World Vision providing $160 000 (1990 USD) for food blankets and utensils.[4]
See also
References
External links
- ↑ JTWC Best Track Cyclone 01B. Joint Typhoon Warning Center, 17. Dezember 2002, abgerufen am 6. August 2009.
- ↑ a b c d IMD Best track data 1990-2008. India Meteorological Department, 2009, abgerufen am 6. August 2009.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Lieutenant Commander Lester E Carr III USN: JTWC Annual Tropical Cyclone Report 1990: Tropical Cyclone 02B. Joint Typhoon Warning Center, 1991, abgerufen am 6. August 2009.
- ↑ a b c d India Cyclone May 1990 UNDRO Information Reports 1 - 3. In: United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). ReliefWeb, 14. Mai 1990, abgerufen am 14. November 2009.
- ↑ a b , Steve Newman: Earthweek: A diary of the planet. In: Toronto Star. The star.com, 13. Mai 1990, abgerufen am 14. November 2009.