Cyclone Laila

Template:Infobox weather eventTemplate:Infobox weather event/IMDTemplate:Infobox weather event/JTWCTemplate:Infobox weather event/EffectsTemplate:Infobox weather event/Footer Severe Cyclonic Storm Laila was the first cyclonic storm to affect southeastern India in May since the 1990 Andhra Pradesh cyclone. The first tropical cyclone of the annual season, Laila developed on May 17, 2010 in the Bay of Bengal from a persistent area of convection. Strengthening as it tracked northwestward, it became a severe cyclonic storm on May 19. The next day, Laila made landfall in Andhra Pradesh, and it later dissipated over land. It caused flooding and damage along its path. Laila is an Urdu/Arabic name, meaning Night. It was the worst storm to hit Andhra Pradesh in the last 14 years.

Meteorological history

Template:Storm path In the middle of May 2010, an area of convection, or thunderstorms, persisted about 865&nbsp;miles (1400&nbsp;km) south of the Indian city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in the Bay of Bengal. It was initially disorganized, although satellite imagery indicated a mid-level circulation.<ref>Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2010-05-15). "Significant Tropical Weather Outlook for the Indian Ocean". Retrieved 2010-05-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref> After a few days, the convection began consolidating around a developing low-level circulation, and rainbands became evident. With low amounts of wind shear in the region, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed its chances of development as fair.<ref>Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2010-05-17). "Significant Tropical Weather Outlook for the Indian Ocean". Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-17.</ref> The official warning agency in the basin &ndash; the India Meteorological Department (IMD) &ndash; classified the system as Depression BOB&nbsp;001 at 0900&nbsp;UTC on May&nbsp;17.<ref>India Meteorological Department (2010-05-17). "Depression BOB 01 Advisory 01". Retrieved 2010-05-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref> About three hours after the depression was first classified, the IMD upgraded the system to a deep depression, indicating sustained winds of at least 34 mph (55 km/h).<ref name="imd517">India Meteorological Department (2010-05-17). "Deep Depression BOB 01 Advisory 02". Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-17.</ref>

Late on May&nbsp;17, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 01B, based on further organization. By that time, it was located about 485&nbsp;miles (780&nbsp;km) east-southeast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and was moving westward due to its position southwest of the subtropical ridge.<ref>Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2010-05-17). "Tropical Cyclone 01B Warning NR 001". Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-17.</ref> The IMD upgraded the deep depression to Cyclonic Storm Laila early on May&nbsp;18.<ref>India Meteorological Organization (2010-05-18). "Cyclonic Storm Laila Advisory 04". Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-18.</ref> With further consolidation of the convection throughout the day, the JTWC noted that the storm "[appeared] to be rapidly intensifying", which is a term referring to a quick drop in barometric pressure that usually coincides with a sharp increase in winds. By late on May&nbsp;18, an eye feature became evident on satellite imagery,<ref>Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2010-05-18). "Tropical Cyclone 01B (Laila) Warning NR 005". Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.</ref> and at 0000&nbsp;UTC on May&nbsp;19, the JTWC assessed Laila as producing peak winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), the equivalent of a minimal hurricane.<ref>Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2010-05-19). "Tropical Cyclone 01B (Laila) Warning NR 06". Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.</ref> A few hours later, the IMD upgraded Laila to a severe cyclonic storm.<ref>India Meteorological Organization (2010-05-19). "Severe Cyclonic Storm Laila Advisory 12". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.</ref>

After reaching peak intensity, Laila briefly decelerated as it moved around tan increasing, and the cyclone began weakening as it remained just off the coast.<ref>Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2010-05-19). "Tropical Cyclone 01B (Laila) Warning NR 09". Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.</ref> Between 1100 and 1200&nbsp;UTC on May&nbsp;20, Laila made landfall near Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh.<ref>India Meteorological Organization (2010-05-20). "Severe Cyclonic Storm Laila Advisory 21". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-20.</ref>

Preparations and impact

Death toll
Region	Total<br>deaths	Source(s)
Sri Lanka	20	<ref name="ColomboPage-May20_1274373140CH">"Sri Lanka: Over 500,000 people affected by floods in Sri Lanka, death toll rises to 20". ColomboPage. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref>
Andhra Pradesh	36	<ref name="Indiatimes-5960419">"Cyclone Laila weakens into depression, toll 36 – India – The Times of India". Indiatimes. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.</ref>
Tamil Nadu	9	<ref name="DNAIndia-1385673">"Tamil Nadu heaves sigh of relief as Laila moved over – dnaindia.com". DNAIndia.com. May 21, 2010 <!-- 2:17 IST -->. Retrieved 22 May 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)</ref>
Totals:	65

Sri Lanka

Cyclone Laila displaced nearly 280,000 people, triggering floods, delaying flights and submerging many areas of capital Colombo. The indirect impact of the cyclone was compounded as heavy pre-monsoonal showers set in over parts of the country as the storm developed over the Bay of Bengal. The Sri Lanka air force helicopters and navy vessels were pressed into service to ferry stranded passengers from Colombo to the international airport after parts of the connecting roads were washed away. All international and domestic flights were either delayed or cancelled because of heavy rain. Colombo experienced 350&nbsp;mm of rain over the last five days ending May 20.<ref>"Department of Government Information Sri Lanka".</ref>

Thousands of passengers were also stranded after railway tracks were flooded across the country. Several train stations had to suspend operations. The Lankan Parliament, located in a Colombo suburb, was adjourned after an adjoining lake threatened to overflow and flood the premises. The weather conditions experienced were caused after Sri Lanka was hit by 'feeder bands' (clouds on the outer spirals of a cyclone but connected to its centre) of the cyclone as it moved up the Indian east coast.<ref>"Cylone Laila's touch brings destruction in Lanka". Hindustan Times. 2010-05-19. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-28.</ref>

India

Andhra Pradesh

Early in the duration of the cyclone, the IMD noted the potential for heavy rainfall and gusty winds along the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The agency advised fishermen to avoid being in open seas. Additionally, the agency contacted state governments in the region to warn of the storm's threat.<ref name="imd517"/> The weather office has stated that the cyclone will not have an effect on the monsoon season.<ref>"Govt evacuates people as cyclone Laila strengthens-Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2010-05-28.</ref>

Cyclone Laila battered Ongole town; it received heavy rain of 320&nbsp;mm on May 20 and 142&nbsp;mm on May 21, and has made rivulets like Gundlakamma, Addavagu and Pothurajukalva swollen. Addanki received the highest rainfall of 522&nbsp;mm, followed by Maddipadu with 510&nbsp;mm and Kothapatnam 258 mm in 24 hours on May 21.<ref>Special Correspondent (2010-05-21). "The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Ongole: rivulets swollen, villagers marooned". The Hindu. Beta.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)</ref>

The cyclone caused heavy destruction in Prakasam, Krishna and Guntur districts and preliminary reports prepared by the State government put the loss at over Rs 500 crore.<ref>Menon, Nalini (2010-05-23). "Loss due to Laila in state put at Rs 500 cr". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-28.</ref> According to a BBC report, Cyclone Laila was the worst storm to hit Andhra Pradesh in 14 years.<ref name="BBC8696211">"BBC News – Cyclone Laila 'kills 23' in southern India". BBC Online. 2010-05-21. Retrieved 22 May 2010.</ref>

Tamil Nadu

Nine people were killed in rain related incidents in Tamil Nadu, as the cyclonic storm "Laila" battered the Coastal areas in Northern parts of Tamil Nadu, Chennai city and its suburbs.<ref name="DNAIndia-1385673"/>

External links

• India Meteorological Department
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center Archived 2010-03-01 at the Wayback Machine