Overview of Tropical Cyclones in June 2015

Overview of Tropical Cyclones in June 2015

 

        Two tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in June 2015, with Tropical Storm Kujira necessitating the issuance of the first tropical cyclone warning signal by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2015.

        Kujira formed as a tropical depression over the central part of the South China Sea about 190 km south-southwest of Xisha on the afternoon of 20 June. Moving slowly at first, it started to track generally northwards the next day and intensified into a tropical storm that night. It made landfall over the east coast of Hainan Island on the evening of 22 June and weakened slightly while crossing Hainan Island. Kujira re-organized and re-intensified after entering Beibu Wan the next morning, reaching peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 85 km/h near its centre. Moving northwestwards across Beibu Wan, Kujira made landfall over the coast of northern Vietnam on the afternoon of 24 June and weakened gradually, before finally dissipating over northern Vietnam on the morning of 25 June.

        According to press reports, Kujira severely disrupted air, sea and land transportation in Hainan Island. In Vietnam, at least seven people were killed and four were reported missing during the passage of Kujira.

        Chan-hom formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 630 km east-southeast of Guam on the night of 30 June. It moved generally westwards and intensified gradually.