Tropical Storm Vamco[nb 1] was a weak tropical cyclone which affected Indochina in mid-September 2015. Formed from a tropical disturbance on September 13, the system developed into a tropical storm and reached its peak intensity on September 14. Vamco made landfall in Vietnam and affected Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. The storm caused flooding in these countries and damages amounted to US$14.1 million. Fifteen people died in the floods.
![]() Tropical Storm Vamco at peak intensity while approaching Vietnam on September 14 | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 13, 2015 |
Dissipated | September 15, 2015 |
Tropical storm | |
10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
Highest winds | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 998 hPa (mbar); 29.47 inHg |
Tropical storm | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 996 hPa (mbar); 29.41 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 15 total |
Damage | $14.1 million (2015 USD) |
Areas affected | South China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season |
In Vietnam, Vamco was known as Cơn bão số 3 năm 2015 (3rd storm in 2015). Heavy rains caused by the storm in Central Vietnam ended the drought in this area, after many hot days because of the strong El Niño.[2]
Meteorological history
editTropical 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
The system that was to become Tropical Storm Vamco was first noted as a tropical disturbance during September 11, while it was located over the South China Sea, about 555 km (345 mi) to the west of Manila in the Philippines.[3] At this time fragmented bands of atmospheric convection were trying to form around the system's low level circulation centre, which was located within a marginal environment for further development.[3] Over the next couple of days the system gradually developed further, before it was classified as a tropical depression during September 13, by both the Japan Meteorological Agency and the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center.[4] With flaring deep convection surrounding its LLCC, the JTWC started issuing bulletins and was assigned the designation 19W.[5][6] Thereafter, both the JMA and the JTWC upgraded 19W to a tropical storm, naming it Vamco.[7][8] On September 14, deep convection slightly weakened and became displaced near its center, however the environment was still favorable at this moment.[9] A few hours later, the JTWC reported that according to animations, the center of Vamco had become partially exposed and wind shear inhibited further development, which favorable conditions started to fade.[10] Therefore, the JTWC issued its final warning.[11] Vamco made landfall south of Da Nang, Vietnam,[12] and the system was last noted as it dissipated over land on September 15.[4]
Impact
editThe outer bands of Vamco affected Hainan, causing a damage of ¥2 million (US$314,000) in economic losses.[13]
On September 14, before Vamco made landfall, Da Nang suffered some damage from the storm.[14] Over 500 trees were downed in this city and dozens of flights were cancelled.[15][16]
Vamco made landfall in Quảng Nam Province, causing floods in central Vietnam.[2][17] Flooding in Vietnam killed 11 people.[18] Losses to fisheries in the Lý Sơn District exceeded ₫1 billion (US$45,000).[19] Damage to the power grid in Vietnam reached ₫4.9 billion (US$218,000).[20] In Quảng Nam Province, Vamco caused moderate damage. In Duy Xuyên District, agricultural losses exceeded ₫2 billion (US$89,000) and in Nông Sơn District total damage amounted to ₫1 billion (US$45,000).[21] Officials in Thanh Hóa Province estimated total damages from the flooding by the storm had reached ₫287 billion (US$12.8 million).[22] Heavy rains caused by the storm in Central Vietnam ended the drought in this area, after many hot days due to the strong El Niño.[2]
Flooding in Cambodia affected thousands of residents and prompted numerous evacuations.[23] The remnants of Vamco triggered flooding in 15 provinces across Thailand and killed two people.[24][25] At least 480 homes were damaged and losses exceeded ฿20 million (US$556,000).[25] Two fishermen died after their boat sank during the storm off the Ban Laem District while a third remains missing.[26]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The name Vamco was submitted to the World Meteorological Organization by Vietnam and comes from a river in southern Vietnam.[1]
References
edit- ^ "List of names for tropical cyclones adopted by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee for the western North Pacific and the South China Sea (valid as of 2015)". Japan Meteorological Agency. 2015. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c NHẬN ĐỊNH XU THẾ THỜI TIẾT, THỦY VĂN MÙA ĐÔNG XUÂN NĂM 2015-2016 (in Vietnamese). VNCHMF. October 6, 2015.
- ^ a b "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans September 11, 2015 01z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ a b Tropical Storm Vamco (RSMC Tropical Cyclone Best Track). Japan Meteorological Agency. October 21, 2015. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 19W (Nineteen) Warning Nr 01". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Depression 19W (Nineteen) Warning Nr 001". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "TS 1519 VAMCO (1519) UPGRADED FROM TD". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Storm 19W (Vamco) Warning Nr 002". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 19W (Vamco) Warning Nr 03". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 19W (Vamco) Warning Nr 04". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Storm 19W (Vamco) Warning Nr 005". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Rainstorm Vamco Unleashes Flooding in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia". Archived from the original on 2015-09-14. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ^ China Member Report (PDF) (Report). ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee 10th Integrated Workshop. 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ Bão chưa vào, Đà Nẵng đã thiệt hại
- ^ Cây xanh ngã gục, đường bị chia cắt sau bão Vàm Cỏ
- ^ "Hàng chục chuyến bay bị hủy do bão - VnExpress". vnexpress.net. Archived from the original on 2015-09-15.
- ^ "Bão số 3 rất nguy hiểm!". 14 September 2015.
- ^ Hoàng Phan (September 19, 2015). "11 người chết, 1 người mất tích do bão số 3". Thanh Nien Daily (in Vietnamese). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ Hồng Long (September 18, 2015). "Đảo Lý Sơn thiệt hại hàng tỷ đồng do bão số 3" (in Vietnamese). Dân Trí. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Điện lực miền Trung thiệt hại hàng tỷ đồng vì bão số 3" (in Vietnamese). VinaNet. September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Bão số 3 gây thiệt hại về nông sản và sạt lở một số địa phương" (in Vietnamese). Quảng Nam Online. September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ Thu Thủy (September 21, 2015). "Thanh Hóa: Mưa lũ làm thiệt hại khoảng 287 tỷ đồng" (in Vietnamese). Vietnamese Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ "Thousands Affected by Kampot Floods". Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Khmer Times. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Vamco readies parting shot at 9 provinces". Bangkok Post. September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ a b "East, South still fighting floods". The Sunday Nation. Bangkok, Thailand. September 20, 2015. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ "Phetchaburi fishermen's bodies found". Bangkok Post. Phetchaburi, Thailand. September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
External links
edit- JMA General Information of Tropical Storm Vamco (1519) from Digital Typhoon
- JMA Best Track Data of Tropical Storm Vamco (1519) (in Japanese)
- 19W.VAMCO from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory