Living and having Fun… Omero

Taken from a News website “Typhoon Report”

Monday 15 Sep 2008

Typhoon SINLAKU

Statistics

During an average year a total of 26-27 tropical systems will develop. Four usually in the first 6 months of the year & the remaining 20+ during the last 6 months.

Typhoon Q & A

What things should one do to prepare for a typhoon?

1. In the aftermath of many storms, the hardest hit areas can have their water mains shut down. This can last for several days. Having a 5 gallon bottle of water, or two, in a closet somewhere can make drinking, eating (and showering or using the toilet) a lot easier. It won’t be any fun getting them, but if you are in an area apt to be hard hit, having them there will make you pretty happy if things go bad in terms of water in your neighborhood.
2. Sea warnings are announced 24 in advance radius affecting shipping lanes. Land Warnings 18 hours in advance of the radius of the storm reaching land.
3. After wind damage, the most common problem faced in Taiwan comes from flooding. If you are in an area that is likely to be hard hit and on a ground floor or in a basement structure, get yourself and your stuff to a second floor.

What does “maximum sustained wind” mean ?

The maximum sustained wind mentioned are the highest 1 min surface winds occurring within the circulation of the system. These “surface” winds are those observed (or, more often, estimated) to occur at the standard meteorological height of 10 m (33 ft) in an unobstructed exposure (i.e., not blocked by buildings or trees).

During a Typhoon/hurricane are you supposed to have the windows and doors on the storm side closed and the windows and doors on the lee side open?

NO! All of the doors and windows should be closed throughout the duration of the hurricane. The pressure differences between the inside of your house and the outside in the storm do not build up enough to cause your windows to blow out.

Stages

1. Tropical Disturbance (Tropical Wave): Unorganized mass of thunderstorms, very little, if any, organized wind circulation.
2. Tropical Depression: Has evidence of closed wind circulation around a center with sustained winds from 20-34 knots (23-39 mph), and the storm generally doesn’t feel very good about itself.
3. Tropical Storm: Maximum sustained winds are from 35-64 knots (40-74 mph). The storm is named once it reaches tropical storm strength.
   The Taiwan weather service categorizes Tropical Storms as Category 1 Typhoons. (In Taiwan there are only 3 storm levels.)
4. Typhoon or Hurricane: Maximum sustained winds exceed 64 knots (74 mph).

A Taiwanese man tries to rescue a dog stranded on a basketball court along Ilan River in Ilan county in northeastern Taiwan Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008.