Overview of Tropical Cyclones in May 2009
Overview of Tropical Cyclones in May 2009
(Tracks)
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Two tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and South China Sea in May 2009. Kujira formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 390 km east-southeast of Manila on 2 May and moved generally northeastwards. It intensified into a tropical storm on the morning of 3 May and then a severe tropical storm that evening. According to press reports, rainbands associated with Kujira set off landslides and swamped farmlands in the northeastern Philippines, leaving at least 11 people dead and nine others missing. Kujira intensified further into a typhoon on 4 May and continued to move in a northeasterly direction across the western North Pacific. It weakened into a severe tropical storm on the morning of 7 May and then a tropical storm that afternoon. Kujira became an extra-tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific to the northeast of Ogasawara Islands that night.Chan-hom formed as a tropical depression over the central part of the South China Sea about 320 km west-southwest of Nansha on 3 May. Moving slowly northeastwards, it intensified into a tropical storm that evening. Chan-hom moved northwards slowly on 4 May and intensified into a severe tropical storm the next day, but turned to move east-northeastwards on 6 May. Chan-hom intensified into a typhoon on 7 May and crossed northern Philippines that night. According to press reports, Chan-hom brought heavy rain to the northern Philippines. There were many incidents of collapsed houses and landslides. Over 25 people were killed and three others missing. Some 4 000 people were affected. Chan-hom moved eastwards into the western North Pacific on 8 May. It weakened into a severe tropical storm in the early hours of that day and then a tropical storm that afternoon. Chan-hom weakened further into a tropical depression on 9 May and moved generally north-northwestwards for the following three days. It weakened into an area of low pressure near the Rykuyu Islands on 12 May. |
Track of tropical cyclones in May 2009
Infra-red satellite imagery at 11 p.m. on 4 May 2009 of Typhoon Kujira and Tropical Storm Chan-hom.
[The satellite imagery was originally captured by the Multi-functional Transport Satellite-1R (MTSAT-1R) of Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).]