Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary #160 (August 21 - 28, 1994)
JACK
National Hurricane Center Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Naval Western Oceanography Center Fiji Meteorological Service
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Japanese Meteorological Agency Bureau of Meteorology, Australia
Philippine Meteorological Service Royal Observatory of Hong Kong
Indian Meteorological Department Reunion Meteorological Service
Mauritius Meteorological Service
(others may be added as they become available)
WEEKLY TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY #160 AUGUST 21 - 28, 1994
North Atlantic Basin:
Tropical Storm Chris: At the start of the summary period, ex-hurricane
Chris was moving north just east of Bermuda with 35 kt winds. Chris turned
north-northeast on 22 August, and it turned northeast and became extratrop-
ical on 23 August. Maximum sustained winds increased to 40 kt before extra-
tropical transition. Buoy 44141 reported a pressure of 1003.4 mb at 1200 UTC
23 August, although reported winds remained below tropical storm strength.
While Chris affected Bermuda, there are no reports of damage, casualties,
or significant weather from the island.
Eastern North Pacific Basin (E of 140 Deg. W): No tropical cyclones.
Central North Pacific Basin (180 Deg. W to 140 Deg. W):
Hurricane John: At the end of the summary period, John was moving west
with 130 kt winds. John followed a general westward track through 23 August,
when it reached a peak intensity of 150 kt. (This may be revised later.
Although the satellite intensity estimates for John were as high or higher
than in Emilia, the lowest pressure measured by reconnaissance aircraft was
929 mb at 0128 UTC 23 August. This is higher than Emilia's 926 mb.) John
turned west-northwest on 24 August as it weakened, and this track continued
until it moved into the Western North Pacific on 28 August. John passed just
north of Johnston Island on 26 August with 85-90 kt winds. The island
reported sustained winds of 49 kt with gusts to 64 kt at 0236 UTC with a
minimum pressure of 985.4 mb at 0436 UTC. (Lower pressures and higher winds
probably occurred between the hourly observations.) John's winds dropped to
70 kt later on 26 August, then they increased to 110 kt on 27 August. When
John crossed the International Dateline, it was packing 100 kt winds.
Western North Pacific Basin (W of 180 Deg. W):
Typhoon Fred: At the start of the summary period, Fred was moving west-
northwest over eastern China with 80 kt winds. The system continued inland
and dissipated the next day. The latest press reports indicate that more than
1000 people died in China due to Fred. There are no additional damage or
casualty reports from Taiwan or the Ryukyu Islands.
Typhoon Gladys: Tropical Depression 20W formed near 24N 175E on 22 August.
Initially moving northeast, the system turned west the next day. This
general motion continued through 27 August. TD-20W reached tropical storm
intensity on 24 August and typhoon intensity on 25 August. The cyclone
reached a peak (during this summary period) intensity of 70 kt on 26 August,
then it weakened to a tropical storm the next day. Gladys turned west-
southwest on 28 August, and at the end of the summary period it was maintain-
ing this track with 35 kt winds.
Gladys passed near Minamitorishima Island, which reported 45 kt sustained
winds at 1200 UTC 25 August. There are no reports of damage or casualties at
this time.
Tropical Storm Harry: Tropical Depression 21W formed over the South China
Sea near 18N 119E on 25 August. The system initially moved west, and this
continued through the end of the summary period. The depression reached
tropical storm strength later on 25 August, then it reached a peak intensity
of 60 kt just before moving across Hainan Island on 27 August. Harry moved
into Vietnam on 28 August, and at the end of the summary period it was
weakening rapidly over land.
Harry affected Hainan Island and northern Vietnam. Haikou, China reported
a minimum pressure of 990.0 mb at 1500 and 1800 UTC 27 August, while Phu Lien,
Vietnam reported a pressure of 994.0 mb at 1800 UTC 28 August. Mong Cai,
Vietnam reported 30 kt sustained winds at 1200 UTC 28 August. There are no
reports of damage or casualties at this time.
Tropical Storm Ivy: A tropical depression formed near 20N 165E on 27
August. Initially moving west, the system turned north-northeast the next day
as it reached tropical storm strength. At the end of the summary period, Ivy
was moving north-northeast with 45 kt winds.
Typhoon John: Hurricane John crossed the International Dateline near 22N
on 28 August and was renamed a typhoon. At the end of the summary period,
John was moving west-northwest with 95 kt winds.
North Indian Ocean Basin: No tropical cyclones.
South Indian Ocean Basin (W of 135 Deg. E): No tropical cyclones.
South Pacific Ocean Basin (E of 135 Deg. E): No tropical cyclones.
Disclaimer: While an effort has been made to make sure this information is
accurate as possible, it was drawn from operational warnings that may not
always agree with the best track information published after the storm is
over. Please address any questions or comments on the information this
week to Jack Beven at Internet address:
be...@hrd-tardis.nhc.noaa.gov (preferable)
or
jbe...@delphi.com (new address)
Please address any questions or comments on the digitized version or the
associated satellite imagery to Greg Deuel at the DMSP satellite archive at
Internet address:
Past text copies of the Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary can be obtained via e-
mail. Please send an e-mail message to Jack Beven if you are interested.
Special Announcement: A digitized version of the weekly summary with DMSP
polar orbiting satellite imagery is now available via the World Wide Web (http
protocol) using Mosaic. This is courtesy of Greg Deuel at the DMSP satellite
archive. It can be retrieved by:
1. Open the Open URL window (under File) in Mosaic, then typing:
http://web.ngdc.noaa.gov.
2. Find the Home Page for the DMSP satellite archive
3. Click on Weekly Updated Items, then click on the dates given on the next
page.
4. The imagery links will be color-coded inside the summary text.
For more information on the imagery and how the digitized summary and
images can be retrieved by ftp, gopher, etc., please contact Greg Deuel
(Internet: g...@po-box.ngdc.noaa.gov).