WRD/TC.40/2
In Malaysia,
Altogether, there are twenty-two tropical cyclones (tropical storm intensity or
higher) developed over the west Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and Philippines Island
from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007. Table 1 shows the list of the nineteen
tropical cyclones that developed over the west Pacific Ocean, two that developed over
the northern South China Sea and one that formed over the northern Philippines Island
during this period. Nevertheless, there are only six tropical cyclones, as shown with an
asterisk in this table, which caused impacts on the weather in Malaysia, particularly on
the rainfall as well as the coastal waters. These tropical cyclones tracked close to
Malaysia, within a distance of less than 700 km away. The convergence of northwesterly
and southwesterly winds over the Malaysian region caused by these tropical cyclones
had enhanced the afternoon convective activities. This winds convergence caused
heavy and sometimes widespread rains over Malaysian region and strong southwesterly
winds of 40-60 km/h and rough seas with waves up to 3.5 m over the coastal waters of
northwest and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. Tropical cyclones
that located far away from Malaysia caused no significant impacts on Malaysia. The
tracks of the six tropical cyclones that tracked close to Malaysian region are shown in
Figure 1.
Table 1: List of Tropical Cyclones and their Birth, Death and Life Time
No.
Tropical Cyclone Name
Birth
Death
Duration
(Days)
4
Cimaron
27-10-2006
04-11-2006
8
5
Chebi
09-11-2006
13-11- 2006
4
6
Durian*
26-11-2006
05-12-2006
8
7
Utor*
07-12-2006
14-12-2006
6
8
Trami
17-12-2006
18-12-2006
1
9
Kong-Rey
31-03-2007
06-04-2007
5
10
Yutu
17-05-2007
23-05-2007
5
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11
Toraji
05-07-2007
05-07-2007
0
12
Man-Yi
08-07-2007
17-07-2007
8
13
Usagi
29-07-2007
04-08-2007
6
14
Pabuk
05-08-2007
09-08-2007
4
15
Wutip
08-08-2007
09-08-2007
1
16
Sepat*
12-08-2007
20-08-2007
7
17
Fitow
29-08-2007
08-09-2007
10
18
Danas
07-09-2007
11-09-2007
4
19
Nari
13-09-2007
17-09-2007
3
20
Wipha*
16-09-2007
19-09-2007
3
21
Francisco*
23-09-2007
25-09-2007
1
22
Lekima*
30-09-2007
02-10-2007
2
WRD/TC.40/2
Figure 1: Tracks of the six tropical cyclones closest to Malaysia. The number in the
circle represents the date of occurrence of the tropical cyclones.
WRD/TC.40/2
The rain cloud clusters over the Malaysian region associated with the six tropical
cyclones, as shown in the satellite imageries in Figure 2, indicate heavy and sometimes
widespread rains over Malaysian. These heavy and sometimes widespread rains are
depicted in the daily rainfall charts of selected meteorological stations from November to
December 2006 and August to September 2007 as shown in Figures 3(a), 3(b), 3(c),
(3d) and 3(e). Some of these charts may not show significant amount of rainfall as
depicted by the corresponding satellite imageries as the heavy rains occurred not over
but in the vicinities of these stations.
30/11/06
09/12/06
DURIAN
UTOR
16/08/07
07
17/09/07
SEPAT
WIPHA
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24/09/07
30/09/07
FRANCISCO
LEKIMA
Figure 2: Satellite Imageries indicate the rain cloud clusters over Malaysian region
Rainfall (mm)
during the tracking of the six tropical cyclones
80
70
Kuching
Bintulu
Miri
Labuan
Kota Kinabalu
Kudat
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Day (November 2006)
Figure 3(a): Daily rainfall chart recorded by selected meteorological stations in Malaysia
for November 2006: Typhoon Durian (26/11/06 – 05/12/06)
Rainfall (mm)
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250
200
Kuching
Bintulu
Miri
Labuan
Kota Kinabalu
Kudat
150
100
50
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Day (December 2006)
Rainfall (mm)
Figure 3(b): Daily rainfall chart recorded by selected meteorological stations in Malaysia
for December 2006: Typhoon Utor (07/12/06 – 14/12/06)
120
100
Alor Setar
Bayan Lepas
Sitiawan
Subang
Malacca
Batu Pahat
80
60
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Day (August 2007)
Figure 3(c): Daily rainfall chart recorded by selected meteorological stations in Malaysia
for August 2007: Typhoon Sepat (12/08/07 – 20/08/07)
Rainfall (mm)
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120
100
Kuching
Bintulu
Miri
Labuan
Kota Kinabalu
Kudat
80
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Day (September 2007)
Rainfall (mm)
Figure 3(d): Daily rainfall chart recorded by selected meteorological stations in Malaysia
for September 2007: Typhoon Wipha (16/09/07 – 19/09/07)
90
80
Alor Setar
Bayan Lepas
Sitiawan
Subang
Malacca
Batu Pahat
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Day (September 2007)
Figure 3(e): Daily rainfall chart recorded by selected meteorological stations in Malaysia
for September 2007: Tropical Storm Francisco (23/09/07 – 25/09/07) and Severe Storm
Lekima (30/09/07 – 02/10/07)
WRD/TC.40/2
In comparison with the weather conditions during the previous years, the southwest
monsoon season (June to mid-September) experienced around this region for this year
was slightly abnormal. Instead of the usually dry, hot and hazy weather conditions, most
parts in Malaysia and Indonesia had received more rainfall during this period, June and
July in particular. As a result, the usual impacts of the trans-boundary haze pollution
over Malaysia were very much lessened.