typhoon / cyclone

[pia_69203 0]

Hei,

 

I have a question about meteology - does any know is Pattaya ever hit by a typhoon / tropical cyclone ? And/Or how about other parts of Thailand - esp the eastern Bay of Siam ??

 

Thanx !!!

[nok 0]

The USA Navy published a study of Pattaya bay about 4 years ago

 

 

Tropical cyclone activity near Pattaya is not common. Only 20 tropical cyclones (typhoons, tropical storms, and/or tropical depressions that were at least tropical storm strength (34 kt) at some time in their life history) passed within a 180 nmi radius of Pattaya during the 52-year period 1945 through 1996 (an average of one storm every 2.6 years). According to long time local residents, none caused winds of over 30 kt at Pattaya. The period of occurrence of tropical cyclones entering Pattaya's 180 nmi threat radius is limited to the months of September through December. Of the 20 tropical cyclones in the data set, 15 (75%) occurred during the months of October and November.

 

 

 

Winds at Pattaya are generally light, with increased velocities to 20 kt or so experienced during the southwest monsoon. They are measured on a hill at an unspecified elevation in the southwest part of Pattaya Bay near 12º55'N 100º52'E. Winds of 30 kt rarely occur, and are usually associated with passing thunderstorms.

 

A review of 3-hourly wind records for Pattaya during the period 1981 through 1995 revealed that the maximum wind speed recorded during the passage of a tropical cyclone within 180 nmi of Sattahip was 18 kt. There is no record of winds of 30 kt or more being caused by any tropical cyclone at Pattaya. According to local authorities the few instances of winds approaching 30 kt at Pattaya were caused by thunderstorm activity, and were of short duration.

 

Typhoon Gay is the most notable storm depicted in Figure XVI-11. In November 1989, Typhoon Gay formed as a tropical depression in the southern Gulf of Thailand near 7ºN 104ºE. It intensified to typhoon strength (64 kt) and moved northwestward across the Gulf of Thailand toward the northern end of the Malay Peninsula. As shown in Table XVI-2, the storm had center winds of 96 kt when at its CPA to Pattaya. The storm crossed the Malay Peninsula, causing extensive damage and loss of life on the eastern Thailand side of the Peninsula before weakening as it crossed over the narrow land mass. Typhoon Gay ultimately reintensified over the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal before moving onshore in India with center winds of 140 kt. Typhoon Gay is unique because it is the only tropical cyclone on record to bring typhoon strength winds to Thailand.