bove is a satellite photo from this morning showing three major storm systems in our region. The one in the middle, Typhoon Nari, is of most concern to us here in Thailand. It has moved over the northern Phillippines and is now in the South China Sea where it is expected to intensify It is headed toward Vietnam and eventually Thailand, although it will have weakened considerably by then (Tuesday or Wednesday). Rain, of course is the biggest concern and a lot of that is possible.
The biggest news today is the storm to the far left of the image. That is Tropical Cyclone Phailin which has continued to strengthen as it approaches the coast of India. Meteorologists say it is one of the strongest storms ever recorded, more intense then Hurricane Katrina which devastated the city of New Orleans, Louisiana in 2005. The only good news is that landfall is expected to hit an area that is not as low-lying as the area of India hit by a similar-strength cyclone in 1999, killing more than 10,000 people.
Landfall is expected sometime this evening. Evacuations of the coastal area began yesterday. A local red cross official interviewed by phone by the BBC said heavy rain had already started to fall on the coast but the evacuation had proceeded smoothly – much better than in 1999. The Times of India reports nearly 400,000 people have fled the cyclone so far. Still, with some meteorologist predicting sea winds of up to 300km/hour, coastal areas are sure to be in for a very hard time.
Finally, the third storm in the image – to the far right – is Tropical Storm Wipha. That could well become a typhoon but it is expected to move north towards Japan.
Earlier story