WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
AND
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION
FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones
Thirty-fifth session
Manama, Bahrain
5 to 9 May 2008
FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY
WRD/PTC.35/Doc.12
(11.IV.2008)
______________
ENGLISH ONLY
REVIEW OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE OPERATIONAL PLAN
(Agenda item 9)
(Submitted by the WMO Secretariat)
9.1
The Panel, at its twelfth session, adopted a comprehensive cyclone operational plan
for its region. The basic purpose of the operational plan is to facilitate the most effective
tropical cyclone warning system for the region with existing facilities. In doing so, the plan
defines the sharing of responsibilities among Panel countries for the various segments of the
system and records the coordination and cooperation achieved. The plan records the
agreed arrangements for standardization of operational procedures, efficient exchange of
various data related to tropical cyclone warnings, archival of data and issue of a tropical
weather outlook for the benefit of the region, from a central location having the required
facilities for this purpose, that is RSMC - tropical cyclones New Delhi, as agreed upon by the
Panel.
9.2
The operational plan contains an explicit formulation of the procedures adopted in
the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea region for the preparation, distribution and exchange
of information and warnings pertaining to tropical cyclones. Experience has shown that it is
a great advantage to have an explicit statement of the regional procedures to be followed in
the event of a cyclone and this document is designed to service as a valuable source of
information to be readily available for reference by the forecaster and other users,
particularly under operational conditions.
9.3
The Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan was first published by the WMO Secretariat
in the TCP series of reports during 1986 as Report No. TCP-21 (WMO Technical Document
No. 84). Several supplements or new editions were subsequently published by the WMO
Secretariat, as per decisions of the Panel.
9.4
The operational plan is evolutionary in nature and, as indicated by the Panel, it is
intended that the text be updated or revised at each of its sessions. The opportunity should
also be taken to gather information from Members for updating the annexes to the plan.
9.5
The Panel at its thirty-fourth session (2007) discussed the changes necessary with
a view to issuing an updated 2007 version to replace the 2006 edition. At the request of the
Panel at the session, a new edition of the Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan was to be
finalized as early as possible after necessary amendments.
WRD/PTC.35/Doc. 12, p. 2
Actions proposed
9.6
The Panel is invited to:
(a)
Decide on new arrangements, if any, to promote the coordination of regional
cyclone operations and enhance cooperation with a view to ensuring the most
effective warning services within the limits of existing facilities, for entry in the
operational plan;
(b)
Review the operational plan and decide on amendments including additions to the
text of the plan;
(c)
Request its Members to make additions, modifications and changes as appropriate
to the annexes of the plan, to be notified at the session;
(d)
Request the Secretary-General of WMO to issue a new edition (2008) of the
Operational Plan, resulting from items (a) to (c) above.
____________________
WMO Technical Document WMO/TD-No. 84
Report No. TCP-21
Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
- 2007 Edition
Available online at:
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP21-OP2007.pdf