Thursday 15 November 2007

Hurricane update - 15 November

Copied from the Tropical Cyclones blog, bulletin 729A
Tropical cyclone Sidr is expected to make landfall on the western coast of Bangladesh early tomorrow morning (November 16), local time. The cyclone is equivalent to a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the strongest possible category.
  • Maximum sustained winds around the centre have reached 135 knots, 150 mph or 245 kph.
  • Maximum gusts could reach 165 knots, 185 mph or 300 kph.
  • A storm surge is expected to be 6 to 7 metres (20 to 23 feet) above normal astronomical tides.
  • Hurricane force winds (65 knots, 73 mph or 117 kph, or higher) occur within 50 miles / 80 km of the centre, which is moving north, broadly along the line of 89.3 longitude East.
  • Tropical storm force winds (34 to 65 knots, force 8 to 11 on the Beaufort scale) occur within 140 miles (225 km) of the centre. The city of Calcutta (Kolkata) is likely to experience tropical storm force winds towards the higher end of the scale. These winds are beginning to impact the coast of West Bengal and western Bangladesh NOW.
  • Eastern India, Bangladesh and western Burma are likely to feel the effects of this storm.
Category 5 hurricane
Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required.

Please bear in mind that this description was written for landfall in the USA.

Residents in the affected area are strongly advised to follow orders and advice from the authorities immediately.

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