TawannaRiggs at 04:57, 14 August 2024

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{{Short description|Tropical cyclone}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm BOB 06
| image = 2000 Sri Lanka Cyclone.JPG
| caption = Cyclone 04B at peak intensity near landfall
| alt = Cyclone 04B viewed from Space on December 26, 2000. The storm's eye, visible near the center of the image, is making landfall on Sri Lanka.
| formed = {{start-date|December 23, 2000}}
| remnant-low = December 28
| dissipated = {{end-date|December 29, 2000}}
}}{{Infobox weather event/IMD
| winds = 90
| pressure = 970
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 65
| pressure =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 2000
| fatalities = 9 direct
| missing = 8
| damage =
| areas = [[Sri Lanka]], India
| refs =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[2000 North Indian Ocean cyclone season]]
}}
The '''2000 Sri Lanka cyclone''' (IMD designation: '''''BOB 06''''' JTWC designation: '''''04B''''') was the strongest [[tropical cyclone]] to strike [[Sri Lanka]] since [[1978 Sri Lanka cyclone|1978]]. The fourth tropical storm and the second severe cyclonic storm of the [[2000 North Indian Ocean cyclone season]], it developed from an area of disturbed weather on December 25, 2000. It moved westward, and quickly strengthened under favorable conditions to reach top wind speeds of {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. The cyclone hit eastern [[Sri Lanka]] at peak strength, then weakened slightly while crossing the island before making landfall over southern India on December 28. The storm degenerated into a remnant low later that day, before merging with another trough on the next day.

The storm was the first cyclone over Sri Lanka with winds of at least hurricane strength since a [[1978 Sri Lanka cyclone|cyclone of 1978]] hit the island in the [[1978 North Indian Ocean cyclone season|1978 season]], as well as the first tropical storm to hit the island since 1992. The storm was also the first December tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity in the [[Bay of Bengal]] since [[1996 North Indian Ocean cyclone season|1996]]. It produced heavy rainfall and strong winds, damaging or destroying tens of thousands of houses and leaving up to 500,000 homeless. At least nine people died as a result of the cyclone.<ref name="wsws"/>

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Cyclone 04B 2000 track.png}}
An area of [[atmospheric convection]] developed and persisted on December 21 in the central [[Bay of Bengal]]<ref name="gp"/> forming within an active near-equatorial [[trough (meteorology)|trough]].<ref name="wmo"/> Located within an area of weak vertical [[wind shear]], the system steadily organized, and after initially remaining nearly stationary it began to move slowly westward. Deep convection continued to develop, and on December 23 a mid-level circulation began to form. Later that day, the [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] (JTWC) issued a [[Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert]]. By the night of the December 23, a low-level circulation developed in the system, located to the south of the deep convection. The disturbance continued to organize,<ref name="gp"/> with the [[India Meteorological Department]] (IMD) classifying it as a deep depression early on December 24.<ref name="wmo"/> Later that day, the organization of the system degraded slightly, though it quickly reorganized. On December 25, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 04B while it was located about {{convert|155|mi|km}} east of [[Sri Lanka]]. On the center's first advisory, the tropical storm was drifting west-northwest at {{convert|3|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="gp">{{cite web|author=Gary Padgett|year=2001|title=December 2000 Global Tropical Cyclone Summary|access-date=January 4, 2007|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2001/summ0012.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070208/http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2001/summ0012.htm|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, the IMD upgraded the deep depression to a cyclonic storm as a [[eye (cyclone)|central dense overcast]] developed over the center.<ref name="wmo"/>

A [[subtropical ridge]] to the north of the cyclone resulted in it continuing generally westward. Deep convection continued to develop over the center of circulation, and the storm steadily strengthened as [[outflow (meteorology)|outflow]] improved throughout the circulation. By late on December 25, a [[rainband]] wrapped tightly into the center,<ref name="gp"/> and it intensified into a severe cyclonic storm as it approached the coast of Sri Lanka.<ref name="wmo"/> The next day the cyclone developed an [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] as it turned west-southwestward. On December 26, the cyclone made [[landfall]] on near [[Trincomalee]], Sri Lanka. The JTWC assessed the cyclone as attaining peak winds of {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="gp"/> However, the IMD estimated the cyclone reached a maximum intensity of {{convert|105|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, making it a very severe cyclonic storm.<ref name="wmo"/> It weakened slightly over land and emerged into the [[Gulf of Mannar]] early on December 27 as a tropical storm. Initially, forecasters predicted it to slowly re-intensify; instead it weakened as its convection degraded in organization and intensity. After turning west-northwestward, the storm struck southern India near [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]] on December 28 with winds of {{convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, with minimal convection due to land interaction and increased [[wind shear]].<ref name="gp"/> It rapidly weakened to tropical depression status over land, degenerating into a remnant low later that day. Early on December 29, the cyclone's remnants emerged into the eastern [[Arabian Sea]] and merged with another [[trough (meteorology)|trough]].<ref name="wmo">{{cite web|author=India Meteorological Department|year=2001|title=Summary for Tropical Cyclones in the RSMC New Delhi Area of Responsibility|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|access-date=May 25, 2008|url=http://ftp.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/pdf/TD1082-TCseason2000.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225132815/http://ftp.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/pdf/TD1082-TCseason2000.pdf|archive-date=February 25, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Impact==
[[Image:Cyclone 4B (2000).jpg|right|thumb|250px|Cyclone 04B near Sri Lanka landfall]]
Government officials in Sri Lanka issued a last-minute evacuation order for potentially affected areas, though few received the evacuation order. The cyclone hit the eastern and western coastlines with powerful waves, wrecking 25 fishing boats in eastern coastal towns and washing away 109 boats near [[Puttalam]]. Eight people were left missing and feared dead.<ref name="wsws">{{cite web|author=Vijitha Silva|year=2001|title=Cyclone wreaks havoc across northern Sri Lanka|publisher=World Socialist Web Site|access-date=January 4, 2007|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/jan2001/sri-j04.shtml| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061215083625/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/jan2001/sri-j04.shtml| archive-date=December 15, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> The cyclone was accompanied with a [[storm surge]] as made landfall that flooded areas up to {{convert|330|ft|m}} inland.<ref name="rw2">{{cite web |author=International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement |author-link=International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement |date=28 December 2000 |title=Sri Lanka: Cyclone Preliminary Appeal No. 36/00 |publisher=[[Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|ReliefWeb]] |url=http://reliefweb.int/node/436432 |access-date=2012-03-30}}</ref> While crossing the country, the cyclone dropped between {{convert|4|and|8|in|mm|abbr=off}} of precipitation, compounding the effects of severe [[monsoon]]al flooding from the previous month.<ref name="wsws"/> Wind gusts from the cyclone reached {{convert|110|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} near where it made landfall.<ref name="gp"/>

The area most affected by the cyclone was in and around [[Trincomalee]]: 57 people checked into the local hospital as a result of falling trees or debris, with one person killed due to a falling tree.<ref name="wsws"/> An entire fishing village was completely destroyed,<ref name="gp"/> and heavy rainfall flooded rivers, lakes, and canals,<ref name="wsws"/> covering roads and crops with floodwaters.<ref name="cbc">{{cite news |title=Cyclone cuts through Sri Lanka, heads for India |access-date=January 4, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cyclone-cuts-through-sri-lanka-heads-for-indian-coast-1.242062 |work=CBC News |date=December 27, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414064503/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cyclone-cuts-through-sri-lanka-heads-for-indian-coast-1.242062 |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The flooding destroyed about 77 square miles (200 km<sup>2</sup>) of rice fields,<ref name="gp"/> and an additional {{convert|19|mi2|km2}} of other crops. Strong winds damaged or destroyed around 83,000 houses across the country, including 2,000 houses destroyed in [[Kinnia]] and 6,600 in Trincomalee. The passage of the cyclone left up to 500,000 temporarily homeless on the island,<ref name="wsws"/> most of whom fled to churches, schools, temples, and shopping centers.<ref name="rw">{{cite web|author=Cynthia Long|year=2000|title=Thousands homeless in cyclone-battered Sri Lanka|publisher=DisasterRelief|access-date=October 25, 2007|url=http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/e0124d506dc063aec12569c4004f8f17?OpenDocument|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050109235424/https://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/e0124d506dc063aec12569c4004f8f17?OpenDocument|archive-date=January 9, 2005|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The winds blew off the roofs of several police stations and military camps,<ref name="gp"/> and flooded several refugee camps. The winds damaged electrical systems and disrupted about 3,000 telephone systems, and many roads were left impassable.<ref name="wsws"/> Large areas remained without power for several days.<ref name="rw"/> No damage reports exist for regions under control of the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]], despite the fact the storm made landfall there. Throughout the country, at least nine people died as a result of the cyclone,<ref name="wsws"/> and over 48,000 families were affected.<ref name="rw2"/>

Prior to the arrival of the storm in India, government officials there issued a severe storm warning for [[Thoothukudi District]], and also warned fishermen not to go out to sea.<ref name="cbc"/> Thousands were evacuated to emergency shelters prior to the storm's arrival.<ref name="india">{{cite web|agency=Agence France-Presse|year=2000|title=Sri Lankan cyclone peters into 'benign storm' as it hits India|access-date=October 25, 2007|url=http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/811cc960f7eb4f03c12569c80062995e?OpenDocument|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027165803/http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/811cc960f7eb4f03c12569c80062995e?OpenDocument|archive-date=October 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The cyclone produced rough surf along the southern Indian coast,<ref name="cbc"/> and heavy rainfall in and around [[Thoothukudi]], causing flooding in a few low-lying areas. The rainfall caused some damage to banana crops, uprooted several trees, and left some roads impassable,<ref name="india"/> but was largely beneficial in alleviating drought conditions. Across southern India, the cyclone damaged 749 houses and destroyed 81 more, but no deaths were reported in the country.<ref name="wmo"/>

==Aftermath==
[[Image:Ceylan-map.png|right|thumb|Map of [[Sri Lanka]]]]
Sri Lanka governmental aid was slow at first, with the media criticizing the government for its initial response. A street protest occurred in [[Trincomalee]] due to lack of aid.<ref name="wsws"/> Prime Minister [[Ratnasiri Wickremanayake]] organized a meeting of government officials to propose an increase in relief funds. A family of five or more received $5.50 a week (2000 USD, (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|5.50|2000|r=2}}}} {{#time:Y}} USD), 500 in 2000 [[Sri Lankan rupee|LKR]]) for dry rations, while the families of those who died received $183 (2000 USD$, {{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|183|2000|r=2}}}} {{#time:Y}} USD, {{Formatprice|15000}} 2000 LKR) in compensation. The government also gave $122 (2000 USD, (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|122|2000|r=2}}}} {{#time:Y}} USD, {{Formatprice|10000}} 2000 LKR)) to those whose houses were damaged or destroyed,<ref name="wsws"/> and delivered rice rations to those stranded, while state-organized radio broadcasts appealed for donations.<ref name="rw"/>

Within two days of the cyclone striking, the Sri Lankan [[Red Cross]] began an operation with 4,000 volunteers to help those most badly affected. The [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]] issued a preliminary appeal for $323,000 2000 USD (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|378000|2000|r=2}}}} {{#time:Y}} USD$, {{Formatprice|525000}} in 2000 [[Swiss franc|CHF]]) to assist about 10,000 people by making blankets, shelter, food, and kitchen utensils available. To kick-start the operation, the Federation released about $61,000 (2000 USD (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|61000|2000|r=2}}}} {{#time:Y}} USD$, {{Formatprice|100000}} in 2000 CHF)) within a few hours of the cyclone making landfall.<ref name="rw"/> After about a month, the Red Cross distributed 10 roofing sheets each to 1,720 families, and also sent a set of cooking utensils, bed sheets, and sleeping mats to 3,000 families.<ref name="ifrc">{{cite web|author=International Federation of the Red Cross|year=2001|title=Sri Lanka: Cyclone Preliminary Appeal No. 36/00 Situation Report No. 1|publisher=[[Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|ReliefWeb]]|access-date=October 25, 2007|url=http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/56ec3fdad9e3afb7c12569fc004b940a?OpenDocument|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027165759/http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/56ec3fdad9e3afb7c12569fc004b940a?OpenDocument|archive-date=October 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Relief ended on November 7, 2001, roughly 40 weeks after the cyclone struck.<ref name="final">{{cite web|author=International Federation of the Red Cross|year=2001|title=Sri Lanka: Cyclone appeal No. 36/00 final report|access-date=October 25, 2007|url=http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/e55a3480fec9b72dc1256b02004dff1d?OpenDocument|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027165817/http://reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/e55a3480fec9b72dc1256b02004dff1d?OpenDocument|archive-date=October 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[List of notable tropical cyclones]]
*[[Cyclone Burevi]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607055138/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2000atcr/ch1/chap1_page43.html JTWC report]

{{Featured article}}

{{Natural disasters in Sri Lanka}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2000 Sri Lanka Cyclone}}
[[Category:2000 in Sri Lanka|Cyclone]]
[[Category:2000 North Indian Ocean cyclone season|Sri Lanka Cyclone, 2000]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in India]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Extremely severe cyclonic storms]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 2000]]
[[Category:2000 disasters in Sri Lanka]]

2000 Sri Lanka cyclone - Revision history

TawannaRiggs at 04:57, 14 August 2024