Tropical Storm Noul (2020)

Tropical Storm Noul, also known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Leon, was a weak, but deadly tropical cyclone that impacted central Vietnam, which had been affected by Tropical Storm Sinlaku more than one month earlier. Noul originated from a tropical system in the Philippine Sea in September 15. The system was upgraded into a tropical depression later that same day by JMA, with JTWC and PAGASA following suit in 15:00 UTC, with PAGASA assigning the local name Leon to the developing tropical cyclone. As Leon was leaving the area of responsibility, Leon intensified into a tropical storm and was assigned the international name Noul by JMA. Noul would make landfall between Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên-Huế provinces in September 18 before degenerating into a remnant low over Thailand later that day.

Tropical Storm Noul (Leon)
Tropical Storm Noul approaching Vietnam on September 17
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 15, 2020
DissipatedSeptember 18, 2020
Tropical storm
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds85 km/h (50 mph)
Lowest pressure992 hPa (mbar); 29.29 inHg
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds95 km/h (60 mph)
Lowest pressure990 hPa (mbar); 29.23 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities18 total
Damage$175.2 million
Areas affectedLaos, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata

Part of the 2020 Pacific typhoon season

Noul caused six deaths and losses of US$175.2 million in Vietnam.[1] In Cambodia, Noul killed 12 people, in which 8 of them are killed by lightning strike on Battambang Province, 3 of them drowned in Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong provinces, and a person from Pailin Province is missing and presumed dead.[2]

Meteorological history edit

 
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
  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
  Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On September 14 at 12:00 UTC, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began issuing warnings on a tropical depression as it was moving west-northwest.[3] The system continued organizing, and on September 15 at 02:00 UTC, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system as it was located over the Philippines.[4] The system was in a favorable environment, though strengthening was limited due to the disorganized structure.[5] Convection, albeit disorganized, began covering the low-level circulation, and at 15:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression, giving it the unofficial designation of 13W as it was located approximately 159 nautical miles (294 km; 183 mi) southwest of Manila. Sea surface temperatures in the area ranged from 30–32 °C (86–90 °F).[6] At the same time, the PAGASA began issuing severe weather bulletins on the depression, giving it the local name Leon.[7] 3 hours later at 18:00 UTC, the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm, assigning it the name Noul.[8] At 21:00 on September 16, the storm left the PAR and PAGASA issued its final warning on the system.[9] At 03:00 UTC September 18, Noul made landfall between Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên-Huế provinces. At 9:00 UTC, the JTWC issued its final warning on the system.[10] After being downgraded to a low pressure area (LPA), Noul followed a westward path and emerged in the Indian Ocean.[citation needed]

Preparation and impacts edit

A few days before the storm hit Vietnam, the Vietnamese government closed three airports and evacuated more than one million people in the affected areas.[11][12][13] Noul damaged homes and knocked down trees and power lines in Hue, Vietnam.[14] Heavy precipitation amounts peaking at 310 mm (12.20 inches) fell in Da Nang.[15] The storm caused 6 deaths and 705 billion đồng (US$30.4 million) in damage.[16][17][18]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Typhoon kills 3 in central Vietnam - Xinhua | English.news.cn".
  2. ^ "Tropical storm Noul leaves 11 dead in Cambodia - it's havoc in South East Asia". The Star. ASEANPLUS NEWS. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Warning and Summary 141200". wis-jma.go.jp. Japan Meteorological Agency. September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (90W)". metoc.navy.mil. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2020-09-15. Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2020-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "RSMC Tropical Cyclone Prognostic Reasoning no. 1 for TD Located at 12.3N 120.4E". wis-jma.go.jp. Japan Meteorological Agency. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning NR 001". wis-jma.go.jp. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #1 for Tropical Depression "Leon"" (PDF). pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph. PAGASA. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory TS 2011 Noul (2011) Upgraded from TD". wis-jma.go.jp. Japan Meteorological Agency. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #5-FINAL for Tropical Storm "Leon"" (PDF). PAGASA. 2020-09-16. Archived from the original on 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-09-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Tropical Storm 13W (Noul) Warning No. 12". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2020-09-18. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2020-09-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ "Bão số 5 tăng tốc, hơn 1 triệu dân phải sơ tán". Báo Công an nhân dân điện tử.
  12. ^ "Storm Noul shuts down central Vietnam airports". VnExpress. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Vietnam plans to evacuate 1.1 million in storm's path: Media". The Straits Times. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Tropical Storm Noul pounds Vietnam;one dead, dozens injured". Al Jazeera. September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Maura Kelly (September 18, 2020). "Noul turns deadly while making landfall in Vietnam". Accuweather. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  16. ^ "6 người chết do bão Noul" (in Vietnamese). VnExpress. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Cơn lũ đi qua, vùng cao Quảng Nam bị thiệt hại gần 200 tỉ đồng" (in Vietnamese). Lao Động. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Vì sao hàng trăm cột điện tại Thừa Thiên Huế gãy đổ trong bão số 5?". Thứ Ba. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.

External links edit