APCEDI ALERT Tropical Cyclone 01B (WTIO21) #4, 2005: Tropical Cyclone 01B to Move Onshore in Southeast Sri Lanka

Tropical Cyclone O1B has further weakened, and its remnants are now forecast by the JTWC to come ashore in Ampara District, where it will likely dissipate in the eastern hill region. Heavy rains and gusty winds will be felt throughout Southern, Central and Eastern Sri Lanka although the worst affected areas will be Ampara, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Matara and Monaragala Districts. Coastal and inland flooding can be expected anywhere in these districts. Flash flooding could occur in the hill areas of Monaragala District and other highland districts.

All tsunami relief personnel should monitor the situation with this storm and take necessary measures for themselves and their communities in which they are working. Authorities in low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas should monitor the situation very carefully and be prepared to move people to higher ground if conditions warrant.

Cyclone 01B should dissipate in 24-48 hours and is no longer expected to be a threat to southern India.

FROM JOINT TYPHOON WARNING CENTER
http://www.npmoc.navy.mil/jtwc.html

100900Z0 POSITION NEAR 6.8N4 83.1E2. TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) 01B, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 200 NM EAST OF COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, HAS TRACKED NORTHWARD AT 03 KNOTS OVER THE PAST 06 HOURS. THE WARNING POSITION IS BASED ON 100530Z9 MULTISPECTRAL SATELLITE IMAGERY. THE WARNING INTENSITY IS BASED ON SATELLITE CURRENT INTENSITY ESTIMATES OF 20 KNOTS. TC 01B HAS WEAKENED EXTENSIVELY OVER THE PAST 06 TO 12 HOURS. THE LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC) HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE. A 100031Z5 QUIKSCAT INDICATES THE LLCC HAS DISSIPATED AND ANOTHER BROAD CIRCULATION HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF NEAR 05.0N5 89.0E7. RECENT SURFACE OBSERVATIONS IN THE BAY OF BENGAL VERIFY WEAK WINDS OVER SRI LANKA AND A BROAD CIRCULATION IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE BAY OF BENGAL. A 100131Z6 SSMI PASS REVEALS THE CONVECTION PREVIOUSLY LOCATED OVER TC 01B HAS DISSIPATED AND ANOTHER AREA OF CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE BROAD LLCC HAS RECENTLY FLARED. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 100600Z7 IS 14 FEET. REFER TO WWIO31 PHNC FOR ADDITIONAL SEA HEIGHT INFORMATION. THIS IS THE FINAL WARNING ON THIS SYSTEM BY THE JOINT TYPHOON WARNING CENTER (NAVPACMETOCCEN). THE SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF REGENERATION.//

APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this tropical system.

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

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