Tropical Storm Rai (2016)

Tropical Storm Rai

Tropical storm (JMA scale)
Tropical depression (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Tropical Storm Rai over Indochina on September 13
Formed	September 11, 2016
Dissipated	September 13, 2016
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 65 km/h (40 mph) 1-minute sustained: 55 km/h (35 mph)
Lowest pressure	996 hPa (mbar); 29.41 inHg
Fatalities	12 total
Damage	$37.3 million (2016 USD)
Areas affected	Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia
Part of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season

Tropical Storm Rai was a weak and short-lived tropical cyclone which affected Indochina in September 2016. Formed from a tropical disturbance on September 11, the system developed into a tropical storm and reached its peak intensity on September 12, before making landfall in Vietnam and affecting Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. In Vietnam total damage reached US$37.3 million.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

During September 11, the Japan Meteorological Agency started to monitor a tropical depression, that had developed within an unfavourable environment for further development, about 860 km (535 mi) to the northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.^[1][2] The system had a broad low level circulation centre, with unorganized deep convection located along the southern edge of the system.^[2] During that day the system gradually developed further, before the Joint Typhoon Warning centre initiated advisories and classified it as Tropical depression 19W during the next day.

By the next day, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression with the given designation of 19W.^[3] Satellite then showed that the LLCC of 19W was broad and defined with some deep convective banding.^[4] However, its LLCC became exposed, though its deep convection remained in place.^[5] Hours later, the JMA had declared that 19W had strengthened into a tropical storm, with the name Rai.^[6] Although it has strengthened, the JTWC issued its final advisory without upgrading it to a tropical storm, whilst Rai made landfall over Central Vietnam, about 94 km (59 mi) southeast of the city of Da Nang.^[7] According to the JMA, Rai reached its maximum intensity only as a weak tropical storm over land,^[8] however they issued their last advisory and was downgraded into a tropical depression six hours later.^[9] The JMA tracked the system until early on September 14 when it was near the 100th meridian east.

Preparations and impact

On late September 12, Tropical Storm Rai, known in Vietnam as Cơn bão số 4 (the 4th storm in 2016), made landfall in Quảng Nam Province and Quảng Ngãi Province in Central Vietnam.^[10] The storm killed 12 people in Vietnam.^[11] Heavy rains in Central Vietnam caused flooding and the bursting of the Bung River 2 hydroelectricity plant in Quảng Nam province of Vietnam, which released 28 million cubic meters of water and washed away 2 workers.^[12] Damage from the bursting was ₫5 billion (US$225,000).^[13] Four ships were sunk along central Vietnam's coastline and 2 others were left stranded, while 5 houses were completely destroyed and 275 others had their roofs torn off.^[14] Damage to the power grid in Quảng Nam, Vietnam reached ₫1.4 billion (US$63,000).^[15] In Triệu Phong District, Quảng Trị Province, total damage reached ₫2.2 billion(US$98,000).^[16] In Bố Trạch District, Quảng Bình Province, heavy rains caused the flooding and total damage reached ₫14 billion (US$630,000).^[17] The Treasury of Thừa Thiên–Huế Province estimated total damages by the storm had reached ₫203 million (US$9,000).^[18] In Lý Sơn District, Quảng Ngãi Province, 150 ha (370 acres) of onion field was affected by the storm; damages exceeded ₫10 billion (US$450,000).^[19] Flooding triggered by the storm in North–Central Vietnam caused severe damage. In Hà Tĩnh Province, the total damage by the flooding reached ₫47 billion (US$2.12 million)^[20] and in Nghệ An Province total damage is ₫748 billion (US$33.7 million).^[21]

On September 13, the Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning to people in 34 provinces in the North, Northeast and East to brace for heavy rain and stay tuned for weather updates, when Tropical Storm Rai moved through Laos and Thailand.^[22][23]

See also

• November 2016 Vietnam tropical depression
• Tropical Depression 18W (2013)
• Tropical Storm Vamco (2015)
• Tropical Storm Aere (2016)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tropical Storm Rai (2016).

• JMA General Information of Tropical Storm Rai (1615) from Digital Typhoon
• 19W.RAI from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Tropical cyclones of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season
	TD 01W TD TD TD Ambo TY Nepartak TD 03W TS Lupit STS Mirinae TD TD TD TD STS Nida STS Omais TD TD TS Conson TD TD STS Chanthu TD TD TS Dianmu TD TD TY Mindulle TY Lionrock TD TD TS Kompasu TD 14W TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TY Namtheun TS Malou TY Meranti TD 17W TS Rai TY Malakas TY Megi TY Chaba TY Songda STS Aere TY Sarika TY Haima TD TD TY Meari TD TD TD TD TS Ma-on TD 28W TS Tokage TD TD TS Nock-ten
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