Cyclone Phethai

{{Infobox weather event

| name = Severe Cyclonic Storm Phethai

| image = Phethai 2018-12-15 0740Z.jpg

| caption = Cyclone Phethai north of Sri Lanka on December 15

| formed = December 13, 2018

| dissipated = December 17, 2018

}}{{Infobox weather event/IMD

| winds = 55

| pressure = 992

}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC

| winds = 55

| pressure = 989

}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects

| year = 2018

| fatalities = 8 total

| damage = 100000000

| areas = Sri Lanka, East India, Northeast India

}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer

| season = 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

}}

Severe Cyclonic Storm Phethai{{efn|The name was suggested by Thailand, which is literally means zircon in Thai. In other terms, Phethai ({{lang|th|เพทาย}}) was some interpreters said that the name refers to the vegetarian bean.{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Kamalakara |date=December 17, 2018 |title=Cyclone Phethai: All you need to know |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/cyclone-phethai-to-cross-kakinada-coast-after-1pm-today/articleshow/67123631.cms |work=Times of India|access-date=April 17, 2025}}}} ({{IPAc-en|'|p|eɪ|t|aɪ}}; {{Respell|Pay|ti}}) was a tropical cyclone which affected some portions of Sri Lanka and India during December 2018. The fourteenth depression, ninth deep depression, seventh cyclonic storm, and fifth severe cyclonic storm of the 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Phethai developed from an area of low pressure that formed over the Bay of Bengal on December 13. Having forecasted not to develop significantly, the depression then strengthened to a deep depression later that day before becoming a cyclonic storm on December 15. Phethai further intensified and peaked to a severe cyclonic storm, the following day. The system then steadily weakened due to land interaction and increasing wind shear, before making landfall as a disorganized system over Andhra Pradesh on December 17. It degenerated to an area of low-pressure inland later that day.

Phethai caused over eight fatalities during its path towards East India. Some rice crops and paddies were destroyed and flooded, while over 31,600 individuals were evacuated to different centers in Godavari District and Odisha. The total damages from the cyclone were finalized at $100 million (2018 USD).

Meteorological history

At 06:00 UTC on December 7, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began to note in their bulletins that an area of low-pressure could significantly form over the Bay of Bengal over the next 48 hours.{{Cite web |title=Cyclone Phethai Archive Bulletin |url=http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/pdf/archive/bulletins/2018/rphethai.pdf |access-date=April 4, 2021 |publisher=India Meteorological Department}} The American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also began to monitor the developing system later that day.{{Cite web |title=Annual Tropical Cyclone Report 2018 |url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/2018atcr.pdf |access-date=April 4, 2021 |website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center}} The IMD later reported that a low-pressure area had formed over the Bay of Bengal, influenced by a trough of low pressure, at 12:00 UTC on December 9. The agency noted that conditions would be favorable for the system to develop further, due to the Madden–Julian oscillation phase being at a three. Over the next couple of days, the low-pressure area produced moderate to deep convection, with the IMD designating the system as a well—marked low-pressure area on December 11. At 3:00 UTC on December 13, the IMD upgraded the low-pressure area into a tropical depression, while located roughly {{convert|530|miles|km|round=5}} east-southeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. At the same time, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on the system.

The depression moved north-northwestward towards the coast of India for the next few days, being steered by an anticyclone over Southeast Asia. While doing so, the depression strengthened into a deep depression according to the IMD, by 18:00 UTC on December 13, while located about {{convert|645|miles|km|round=5}} south-southeast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Deep convection associated with the system began to increase, while global prediction models suggested further strengthening. The JTWC released their first warning on the depression at 6:00 UTC on December 15. Just 9 hours later, the deep depression strengthened into a cyclonic storm, and was provided the name Phethai by the IMD, while located around {{convert|480|miles|km|round=5}} south-southeast of Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The storm changed little in appearance over the next 26 hours, before being upgraded into a severe cyclonic storm, at 17:30 UTC the next day. At this time, Phethai reached its peak intensity with 1–minute sustained winds of around {{convert|65|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}}, and a minimum pressure of 992 mbar (29.29 inHg). The cyclone then maintained this intensity for over 12 hours before weakening due to increasing wind shear. By 6:00 UTC on December 17, the structure of the storm began to disorganize, with the center becoming ill-defined. Shortly afterwards, Phethai moved onshore in Andhra Pradesh, near the town of Yanam, just a few hours later.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/pdf/archive/best-track/best%20track%20ecscsuc-2020.xls|title=2019 Best Track Archive|website=India Meteorological Department|access-date=February 3, 2021}}

Just an hour later, the JTWC issued their final warning on Phethai, while it was located just off the coast of Eastern India. The IMD soon reported that the cyclone had weakened into a deep depression, inland over Andhra Pradesh, at 15:00 UTC that same day. The depression remained disorganized as it moved across Eastern India, making a second landfall in the country near Tuni. Phethai continued to weaken inland, being downgraded into a depression by 19:30 UTC that day. The IMD issued their final bulletin on the depression at 3:00 UTC the following day, as it degenerated into an area of low pressure over the northwestern Bay of Bengal, while producing minimal convection.

Preparations

Cyclone Phethai affected areas still recovering from the impacts of cyclones Daye, Titli, and Gaja.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/sflngc05nAvY9L2ybk33VJ/Days-after-Gaza-cyclone-to-hit-Andhra-coast-IMD.html|title=After Gaja, Andhra Pradesh now braces for Cyclone Phethai|website=Mint|date=December 15, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2021}} Ahead of the storm, boats were prohibited from leaving port with fishing activities halted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/krishna-braces-for-phethai/article25746674.ece|title=Krishna braces for Phethai|website=The Hindu|date=December 15, 2018|access-date=February 2, 2021}}

File:Cyclone Phethai during its landfall near Kakinada.png on December 17]]

Roughly 10 shelters were opened within Andhra Pradesh. Over 2,000 electrical workers were assembled to help restore power in Phethai's aftermath. Police and firefighters formed special crews to help with debris removal from streets. Firefighters also prepared boats and lifejackets, with the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force assembling seven rescue teams. Marketing departments arranged vegetables and necessities to provide to people staying at shelters. The Indian Coast Guard kept ships and aircraft along the country's east coast to help with aid efforts following the cyclone.

Over 10,000 people prepared for disaster response as the storm neared. Numerous flights heading to Visakhapatnam were cancelled, with trains being halted.{{Cite web|url=https://disasterscharter.org/web/guest/activations/-/article/cyclone-in-india-activation-593-|title=Cyclone Phethai in India|website=Disasters Charter|date=December 17, 2018|access-date=February 2, 2021}} N. Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, hosted a teleconference with the collector's of four districts in the state, where cyclone preparations were planned and discussed. Paddy crops were attempted to be saved by farmers in the Krishna and Godavari river deltas.{{Cite web|url=https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2018-12-16-cyclone-phethai-approaching-villages-high-alert|title=Cyclone Phethai to Hit Kakinada, AP, Today Afternoon; 350 Villages on High Alert|author=TNN|website=The Weather Channel India|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=February 2, 2021}} Roughly 20,000 people were evacuated ahead of the cyclone in the nearby Godavari District.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cyclone-phethai-live-updates-meteorological-department-weather-andhra-pradesh-tamil-nadu-5495722/|title=Cyclone Phethai Highlights: 20,000 people shifted to relief camps, storm weakens|website=The Indian Express|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=February 3, 2021}} Within Krishna district, 68 relief centers, 15 health teams, and 155 firefighters were put on standby, as local officials prepared for the storm. The Rural Water Supply setup 3 water tankers in each of the district's villages, while also producing more than 500 sandbags. Machinery was also readied to help clear downed trees. While electrical departments ordered crews to be stationed every {{convert|6|mi|km}}, to quickly restore power.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mynation.com/news/cyclone-phethai-to-hit-andhra-pradesh-on-december-17-state-on-high-alert-pjs0o0|title=Cyclone Phethai to hit Andhra Pradesh on December 17; state on high alert|website=MyNation|date=December 15, 2018|access-date=February 4, 2021}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2018-12-16/Cyclone-Phethai-Andhra-Pradesh-govt-gears-up-all-its-wings-to-attend-emergencies/459816|title= Cyclone Phethai: Andhra Pradesh govt. gears up all its wings to attend emergencies|author=VKL Gayatri|website=The Hans India|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=February 4, 2021}}

In Odisha, roughly 11,600 residents were evacuated from the Gajapati district. These residents were evacuated due to the damage remaining from Cyclone Titli, just two months previously.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/over-11-000-people-evacuated-in-odisha-as-cyclone-phethai-makes-landfall-in-andhra-pradesh-1964123|title=Over 11,000 Evacuated In Odisha As Cyclone Phethai Hits Andhra|author=Press Trust of India|website=NDTV|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=February 2, 2021}} Farmers in the state were asked to take measures to protect their crops from the results of heavy rainfall.{{Cite web|url= https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-odisha-government-evacuates-11-600-people-as-cyclone-phethai-makes-landfall-in-neighbouring-andhra-pradesh-493738|title= Odisha government evacuates 11,600 people as Cyclone Phethai makes landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh|website=India TV News|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=February 4, 2021}} The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of a chance of heavy rains in the northern part of Tamil Nadu.{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/905609/cyclone-phethai-imd-predicts-heavy-rain-in-coastal-parts-of-andhra-pradesh-tamil-nadu-on-weekend|title=Cyclone Phethai: IMD predicts heavy rain in coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu on weekend|website=Scroll.in|date=December 13, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2021}}

Some fishing communities were advised to exercise cautions when fishing from Trincomalee to Mannar via Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka.{{Cite web|title=Cyclonic storm 'Phethai' moving away from Sri Lanka|url=https://www.news.lk/news/business/item/23370-cyclonic-storm-phethai-moving-away-from-sri-lanka|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.news.lk-gb}} Gusty winds and some squally rainfall were also expected in these areas.

Impact

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = horizontal

| header = Conditions before and after the passage of Phethai in Visakhapatnam.

| image1 = Weather just before Phethai cyclone stuck in Visakhapatnam.jpg

| width1 = 200px

| caption1 =

| image2 = Weather after Phethai cyclone stuck in Visakhapatnam.jpg

| width2 = 200px

| caption2 =

}}

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Phethai affected Sri Lanka during its development.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/As-Phethai-cyclone-intensifies-Fishermen-warned-159855.html|title=As Phethai cyclone intensifies: Fishermen warned|website=Daily Mirror|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=February 3, 2021}} After moving onshore, Phethai brought torrential rainfall and strong winds in Andhra Pradesh which downed trees and electrical lines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/18/deadly-cyclone-phethai-makes-landfall-in-india|title=Deadly Cyclone Phethai makes landfall in India|website=Al Jazeera|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2021}} A peak precipitation accumulation of {{convert|156.5|mm|in|abbr=on}} was reported in the city of Ninnimamidivalasa in Visakhapatnam,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/cyclone-phethai-claims-two-lives-andhra-weakens-after-making-landfall-93541|title=Cyclone Phethai claims two lives in Andhra, weakens after making landfall|author=Charan Teja|website=The News Mir|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2021}} while the village of Pachipenta recorded a rainfall amount of 136 mm.{{Cite web|title=Deadly Cyclone Phethai makes landfall in India|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/18/deadly-cyclone-phethai-makes-landfall-in-india|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.aljazeera.com}} During the storm, seven fishermen went missing offshore the city.{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/cyclone-phethai-leaves-one-dead-seven-missing-in-andhra-pradesh-weakened-storm-now-moving-towards-odisha-5748521.html|title=Cyclone Phethai leaves one dead, seven missing in Andhra Pradesh; 'weakened' storm now moving towards Odisha|author=Press Trust of India|website=Firstpost|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2021}}

A 40-year-old man was killed after a boulder crashed through his roof in Vijayawada. Another man in the city was hurtled down a small hill due to heavy rainfall, killing him. A 68-year-old woman was also killed in Pallepalem. In the East Godavari district, streets in more than 50 locations were left impassible but were quickly cleared. Power outages were reported in 99 villages within the district.{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/environment/cyclone-phethai-andhra-news|title=One Killed as Cyclone Phethai Storms Through Andhra Pradesh|author=PTI|website=The Wire|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2021}}

In the town of Amalapuram, a rare phenomenon of fish rain was reported along a canal on December 17. A video of the incident went viral on social media, showing more than 100 bodies of fish on land near the canal. A possible cause of this occurrence was high wind bringing the bodies of fish and frogs onshore.{{Cite web|url=https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2018-12-17-cyclonic-phethai-shower-fish-on-andhras-amalapuram|title=Cyclone Phethai Showers Fish on Andhra's Amalapuram|author=V Kamalakara Rao|website=The Weather Channel India|date=December 17, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2021}}

Aftermath

Following the cyclone, the Government of Odisha began to assess damage to crops in the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/odisha-to-assess-crop-damage-caused-by-cyclone-phethai-118121900364_1.html|title=Odisha to assess crop damage caused by Cyclone Phethai|author=Press Trust of India|website=Business Standard|date=December 19, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2021}} Some assistance would be given to the farmers regarding the major damages to rice paddies from the aftermath of the cyclone.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}