Overview of Tropical Cyclones

Overview of Tropical Cyclones in December 2015

Monday, 4th January 2016

 

        One tropical cyclone, named Melor, occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in December 2015.

        Melor formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 70 km south of Yap on the afternoon of 11 December. Moving west-northwestwards, it became a tropical storm the next morning and continued to intensify, developing into a severe typhoon on the night of 13 December and reaching its peak intensity the following morning with an estimated sustained wind of 175 km/h near its centre. It then moved across the central part of the Philippines and into the South China Sea in the next couple of days, decelerating and weakening in the process. It finally dissipated over the South China Sea in the early hours of 17 December.

        According to press reports, Melor brought heavy rain and flooding to the Philippines during its passage. At least 11 persons were killed and over 700 000 people had to be evacuated.