2002 Oman cyclone

Infobox Hurricane
Name=2002 Oman cyclone
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2002
Basin=NIO
Image location=Tropical Cyclone 01A 09 may 2002 0928Z.jpg


Formed=May 6, 2002
Dissipated=May 10, 2002
1-min winds=45
3-min winds=35
Pressure=991
Pressurepost=Unofficial estimate
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=9 total
Areas=Oman, Yemen
Hurricane season=2002 North Indian Ocean cyclone season The 2002 Oman cyclone (JTWC designation: "01A", officially known as "Cyclonic Storm ARB01A") was an uncommon tropical cyclone that struck the Dhofar region of Oman in May 2002. The first storm in the 2002 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, it developed on May 6 in the Arabian Sea, and it maintained a general west-northwest track for much of its duration. The system reached cyclonic storm status on May 9, meaning it attained winds of greater than 65 km/h (40 mph), and on May 10 it made landfall near Salalah; shortly thereafter it dissipated. The storm was rare, in that it was one of only eleven tropical cyclones on record to approach the Arabian Peninsula in the month of May.

The storm brought the heaviest rainfall totals to Dhofar in 30 years, causing flooding and creating rivers in wadis, or typically dry riverbeds. Several people drowned after their vehicles were swept away by the flooding. The passage of the storm caused locally heavy damage, totaling $25 million (2002 USD, $30 million 2008 USD).

Meteorological history

An area of convection developed on May 2, 2002 near Sri Lanka, associated with a weak and broad circulation center. [cite web|author=Leejoice, et al.|date=2002-05-02|title=Significant Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=2008-07-15|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050222-ABIO.PGTW] The system tracked west-northwestward through the Arabian Sea along a trough. Its thunderstorm activity was enhanced by a ridge to its north, though was also removed from the center. [cite web|author=Roberts, et al.|date=2002-05-03|title=Significant Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=2008-07-15|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050318-ABIO.PGTW] By May 5, the circulation had become better defined, and concurrently the convection increased over the center. [cite web|author=Roberts, et al.|date=2002-05-05|title=Significant Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=2008-07-15|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050518-ABIO.PGTW] After further organization, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as Depression ARB01A on May 6.cite web|author=Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific|date=2003-03-10|title=2002 Annual Tropical Cyclones Review|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|accessdate=2008-07-15|url=http://ftp.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/TCP_vO/Publications/PTC-Review2002.pdf|format=PDF] Around the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Depression 01A, while located about 1300 km (800 mi) southeast of Salalah, Oman. [cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-06|title=Tropical Depression 01A Advisory|accessdate=2008-07-15|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050621-TPIO.PGTW]

After becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression turned to a northwest motion before resuming a track to the west-northwest. On May 7 it intensified into a deep depression, and though its winds had increased, the structure became disorganized as the center became exposed from the thunderstorm activity. [cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-07|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Warning NR 003|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050715-WTIO.PGTW] The convection waned, due to the influence of dry air from the Arabian Peninsula, [cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-07|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Update|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050718-TPIO.PGTW] as well as from wind shear. [cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-08|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Warning NR 005|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050803-WTIO.PGTW] As a result, the IMD downgraded it to depression status early on May 8. However, later in the day, convection redeveloped over the western half of the circulation,cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-08|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Warning NR 005|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050803-WTIO.PGTW] and it again reached deep depression status, about 830 km (515 mi) southeast of Oman.

The storm maintained poleward outflow as it continued west-northwestward, which allowed for some further development. Deep convection increased in coverage, though partially removed from the center,cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-09|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Warning NR 009|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002050909-WTIO.PGTW] and early on May 9 the IMD upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm. Around that time, the storm was estimated by the JTWC to have attained peak winds of 85 km/h (50 km/h), with an atmospheric pressure of 991 mbar. [cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2005-04-10|title=2002 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|accessdate=2008-07-17|url=https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/atcr/2002atcr/2002atcr.pdf|format=PDF] While located a short distance offshore, the storm turned to the northwest and weakened slightly.cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-10|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Warning NR 014|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002051009-WTIO.PGTW] At about 0900 UTC on May 10, the storm made landfall near Salalah, Oman, with a pressure of 995 mbar and sustained winds of 80 km/h (50 mph); shortly thereafter it began dissipation over Oman.cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2002-05-10|title=Tropical Cyclone 01A Warning NR 015|accessdate=2008-07-16|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2002/May/2002051015-WTIO.PGTW]

Its landfall in the Dhofar region of Oman was uncommon; in the period from 1891 to 1990, only 17 tropical depressions or storms struck the region.cite web|author=Ahmed Majid Al-Hakmani|year=2006|title=Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman|publisher=Regional Centre on Urban Water Management|accessdate=2008-07-23|url=http://www.rcuwm.org.ir/events/workshop/08/files/Oman%20-%20Al-Hakmani-full.pdf|format=PDF]

Impact

Along the coastline, the arrival of the storm resulted in strong waves of up to 4 metres (13 ft). The storm dropped heavy rainfall in the vicinity of its landfall, which were the greatest totals in 30 years in the Dhofar region. The city of Salalah reported 58 mm (2.28 in) in a 24 hour period as the storm moved ashore, which was more than 300% of its average monthly for May. [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|date=2002-06-17|title=Tropical Cyclones in June 2002|accessdate=2008-07-17|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/may/hazards.html] As a result, some flooding was reported in the city, and several wadis, or typically dry riverbeds, became sudden rivers in the area; one station recorded a discharge of 1146 m³/s (40,470 ft³/s). In Qairoon, precipitation amounted to 251 mm (9.88 in), which was the highest total in Oman. Severe thunderstorms were reported during its passage, with wind gusts peaking at 106 km/h (66 mph). In neighboring Yemen, the city of Al Ghaydah reported light winds of about 45 km/h (30 mph). [cite web|author=Gary Padgett|year=2002|title=May 2002 Worldwide Tropical Summary|accessdate=2008-07-17|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2002/summ0205.htm]

Damage was severe and widespread, estimated at $25 million (2002 USD, $30 million 2008 USD).cite web|author=Dartmouth Flood Observatory|date=2003-01-08|title=2002 Global Register of Extreme Flood Events|accessdate=2008-07-17|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/Archives/2002sum.htm] Storm impact included property, crop, transportation, and agricultural damage, with hundreds of cattle drowning during the passage of the storm. Across the Dhofar region of Oman, the storm caused several injuries and a total of nine fatalities; most of the deaths were drownings, occurring when their vehicles were swept away by flooding in typically dry areas.cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=Agence-France Presse|date=2002-05-20|title=World must drink treated, desalinated water to make up shortfall: officials|accessdate=2008-07-22] Two army soldiers and one police officer drowned while saving other people in danger.

In the aftermath of the storm, the Omani government received 4,000 requests for assistance, and in turn provided financial aid to 500 families; additionally, the government supplied temporary housing for displaced people.cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=Global News Wire|date=2002-05-27|title=4,000 Requests for Relief Given by Storm Victims|accessdate=2008-07-23]

ee also

* Geography of Oman

References