Cyclonic Storm Nisha
Cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Tropical Cyclone Nisha
FormedNovember 25, 2008
DissipatedNovember 29, 2008
Highest winds3-minute sustained: 85 km/h (50 mph)
1-minute sustained: 100 km/h (65 mph)
Lowest pressure996 hPa (mbar); 29.41 inHg
Fatalities204
Damage$800 million (2008 USD)
Areas affectedSri Lanka, India
Part of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclonic Storm Nisha (IMD designation: BOB 07, JTWC designation: 06B) was a fairly weak but catastrophic tropical cyclone that struck Sri Lanka, and India which killed over 200. It was the ninth tropical cyclone of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, and the seventh tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal that year.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On November 24 an area of low pressure formed over land in Sri Lanka.[1] Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed the low-pressure area's chance of becoming a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as 'poor', due to the minimal convection near the low-level circulation center.[2] The next morning the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the low-pressure area, stating it had a 'good' chance of becoming a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours, as the Low Level Circulation Center was moving into the Bay of Bengal.[3] Two hours later the IMD upgraded the area of low pressure to Depression BOB 07.[4] Three hours later the India Meteorological Department reported that the depression had intensified into a Deep Depression whilst remaining stationary.[5] Later that day the JTWC upgraded the Deep Depression to Tropical Cyclone 06B and reported that the depression had wind speeds equivalent to a tropical storm, on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.[6]

Early on November 26, the India Meteorological Department upgraded the deep depression to a Cyclonic Storm and named it Nisha. Later that day as Nisha moved northwest towards India, both the JTWC and the IMD reported that Nisha had reached its peak wind speeds of 55 kts (63 mph 102 km/h 1-min) 45 knots (52 mph 83 km/h 3-min).[7] Early the next day the IMD reported that Cyclonic Storm Nisha had made landfall in Tamil Nadu, India, at 0030 UTC.[8] Later that day as the IMD reported that Nisha had weakened into a deep depression, The JTWC issued their final advisory on Nisha.[9][10] The IMD then reported that Nisha had weakened into a Depression and then issued their last advisory the next day, reporting that Nisha had weakened into a well-marked area of low pressure.[11][12]

Preparations and impact

Death toll
Sri Lanka 15 [13]
Tamil Nadu, India 189 [14]
Total 204

Sri Lanka

Fifteen people were killed when Nisha hit northern Sri Lanka on November 25, 2008, causing heavy rains and flooding that reportedly displaced between 60,000 and 70,000 people in Vanni and 20,000 people in Jaffna district.[13] Jaffna recorded the highest rainfall since 1918, of 520.1 mm of rain in one week, with the 26 November total rainfall (389.8 mm) being the highest in nine decades.[15]

India

At least 189 people were killed by the heavy rains and floods caused by the Nisha in Tamil Nadu.[14][16] Some places have recorded extreme rainfall, notably Orathanadu, Thanjavur District where over 660 mm of rain fell in a 24-hour period, breaking the 65-year-old record of highest daily rainfall in Tamil Nadu. In two days, Orathanadu registered 990 mm of rainfall. Previously the highest amount of rainfall in a day was 570 mm registered by Cuddalore on May 18, 1943.[17] During the four-day period from 25 through 28 November, Orathanadu received 1280 mm of rainfall, making it as the 4th wettest Cylone in India to date. A map showing the most affected areas was released by ReliefWeb. Damage in India totaled to 3789 crores, or 800 million in 2008 USD.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tropical Weather Outlook 24-11-08 06z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  2. ↑ "Tropical Weather Advisory 24-11-08 18z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert 25-11-08 07z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook 25-11-08 12z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  5. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook 25-11-08 15z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  6. ↑ "JTWC Warning 25-11-08 21z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  7. ↑ "JTWC Nisha Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  8. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook 27-11-08 00z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  9. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook 27-11-08 09z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  10. ↑ "JTWC Warning 27-11-08 09z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook 27-11-08 15z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  12. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook 28-11-08 03z". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  13. 1 2 "Sri Lanka: Allow aid groups to help cyclone victims - Sri Lanka". 28 November 2008.
  14. 1 2 "Deep depression over Bay of Bengal weakens: Met Dept". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Record Rain falls cripple Northern Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  16. ↑ "CM meets Collectors | Local | Administration | the New Indian Express". Archived from the original on 28 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "Rain-related death toll rises to 51". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 28 November 2008. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Updates". 27 September 2023.
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