Millions Flee Monster Cyclone PHAILIN

A million evacuated, millions more flee their homes as “terminator cyclone” approaches India

Massive waves have begun pounding eastern India’s coastline more than a day before Super Cyclone PHAILIN is forecast to hit India.

The monster cyclone, which measured about 1,600km in diameter, filling the entire Bay of Bengal several hours ago, is expected to cause sever damage to homes, crops, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure, as well as major disruption to power and water supplies and rail services.

• Indian authorities have issued a cyclone high alert for nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and All 14 coastal districts in Odisha have been put on high alert, five of them – Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur – expected to be worst hit.

• Mass evacuations are underway.

• Andhra Pradesh government has put the navy, army and air force on standby for emergency and relief operations.

Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN. IR Satellite Image recorded at 11:30UTC on October 11, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN

• Time: 13:00UTC on October 11, 2013
• Movement: NW – 305 degrees @ 7km/hr
• Position: Near 16.4ºN, 87.7ºE
• Location: About 670km SSW (187 degrees)  of Kolkata, India
• Max Sustained Winds: 260km/hr  [Super Cyclonic Storm]
• Max Wind Gusts: 320km/hr
• Significant Wave Height: ~ 10m
• Estimated Landfall Time and  Location: about 16:00UTC on October 12, 2013. … Being revised … [JTWC estimate: Near 19.1ºN, 84.79E ]
• Source: FIRE-EARTH, JTWC and others

On October 10, 2013 FIRE-EARTH forecast that PHAILIN could become a super storm.

Super Cyclonic Storm PHAILIN. VIS/IR Satellite Image recorded at 11:30UTC on October 11, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

India’s Largest Gas Field

“India’s largest gas field—the Reliance Industries-operated D6 natural gas block—lies in the Cauvery Basin further down the east coast. The company said it was not expecting to be hit.”

The 1999 Odisha Cyclone [aka, Cyclone 05B, and Paradwip]

The 1999 Odisha cyclone was the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit India since 1971. The Category Five super storm made landfall just weeks after a category 4 storm had hit the same region.

The deadly cyclone hit India on October 29, 1999 with sustained winds of about 250km/hr, killing an estimated 15,000 people and carving a path of destruction.

Related Links

• PHAILIN Becomes a Super Cyclonic Storm October 11, 2013
• Massive Cyclone Drifting Towards E India October 10, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale
• Satellite Imagery