Amphan - IMD releases detailed fact-sheet
Published: Jun 15, 2020
By TIOLCORPLAWS News Service
NEW DELHI, JUNE 15, 2020: THE India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a report on Super Cyclonic Storm "Amphan" that crossed West Bengal coast during 16th -21st May, 2020as a very severe cyclonic storm across Sundarbans with maximum sustained wind speed of 155 – 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. The report discusses the life history, salient features, monitoring aspects, forecast performance and details of advisories issued in respect of Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan.
IMD maintained round the clock watch over the north Indian Ocean and the system was monitored since 23rd April about three weeks prior to the formation of the Low Pressure Area on 13th May. In the extended range outlook issued on 7th May, IMD indicated possible cyclogenesis during the second week over south Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. On 9th May, it was indicated that a Low Pressure Area would form over the region on 13th May (96 hours prior to formation of the system) under the influence of the remnant cyclonic circulation persisting over the region during 6th-12th. On 11th, it was indicated that cyclogenesis (formation of depression) would occur around 16th May (48 hours prior to formation of the Low Pressure Area and 120 hours prior to formation of depression) over the BoB.
The cyclone was monitored with the help of available satellite observations from INSAT 3D and 3DR, polar orbiting satellites including SCATSAT, ASCAT etc. and available ships & buoy observations in the region. From 18th May midnight (1800 UTC) onwards till 20th May, the system was tracked gradually by IMD Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) at Visakhapatnam, Gopalpur, Paradip, Kolkata and Agartala as it moved from south to north. IMD also utilised DWR products from ‘DRDO Integrated Test Range’, Chandipur, Balasore for tracking the system. Various numerical weather prediction models run by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) institutions (viz.,IMD, IITM, NCMRWF & INCOIS), various global models and IMD’s dynamical-statistical models developed in-house were utilized to predict the genesis, track, landfall and intensity of the cyclone. A digitized forecasting system of IMD was utilized for analysis and comparison of guidance from various models, decision making process and warning product generation.
