Meteorological events during the July 2015

Department of Meteorology and Hydrology is the responsible for the early warning of the hydro-meteorological disaster such as tropical cyclone, heavy rainfall and flood warning.

During the 1^st and 2^nd decade of July 2015, due to the strong monsoon, monsoon rain distributed to widespread in the whole country. Some places occurred isolated to regionally heavy rainfall especially in the Upper, Western, Eastern and Southern parts of Myanmar and Deltaic areas. In the 3^rd decade of July 2015, intense to very intense rain occurred in the whole country especially western parts of Myanmar especially in the Rakhine, Chin State and Magway Region and also storm wind along the coastal areas of Myanmar by the influence of Cyclonic Storm "KOMEN".

            The Cyclonic Storm ‘KOMEN’ (26-31 July 2015) developed over Northeast Bay of Bengal in the evening of 26^th July. It concentrated into a Depression in the night of that day. Moving southeast wards and intensified into a Deep Depression in the early hours of 28^th July over northeast Bay of Bengal. It further intensified into the Cyclonic Storm  "KOMEN in the morning of 30^th July. It slowly moved northwards and crossed Bangladesh Coast near Northern Rakhine Coast and gradually weakens moving west wards.

Torrential rain starting from 16 July 2015 in the Northern part of Myanmar and the landfall of Cyclone Komen across Bangladesh coast has triggered severe and widespread floods and landslides across twelve states and regions in Myanmar.

New Recorded of station rainfall

            Association with strong active monsoon and Cyclonic Storm KOMEN, new recorded station rainfall observed in the Myanmar are shown in Table - 1.

 Table-2: Warning issued by Multi Hazard Early Warning Center, DMH

DMH continuously monitored, predicted and issued Heavy rainfall and Storm Warnings. Warning message is sent to higher authorities, concerned ministries/departments and the respective stations of DMH by fax, telephone or Single Side Band (SSB) transceiver. As soon as head of the regional offices receive the message of warning, he or she immediately inform the local authorities and other related departments in order to carry out the necessary action. At the same time the warnings are disseminated through the Radio, FM radios and television as well as through the Newspaper for general public.

Moreover, Heavy Rainfall and Storm Warning was also published in Newspapers in order to give the more effective disaster management activities to take necessary actions as shown in Figure – 1.

Figure – 1: Publication in Newspaper Heavy Rainfall Warning and Storm News

Needs and Gaps

Regarding the issuances of meteorological warning, Meteorological Division has issued 1 to 2 days in advanced of heavy rainfall warning and storm warning.

In order to issue the early flood warning, we have some difficulties as follows:

1. Lack of real time automatic weather observation stations.
2. 3 storm detecting radars are now under installing in Kyauk Phyu (Rakhine State), Kaba-Aye (Yangon Region) and Mandalay (Mandalay Region), there are ongoing project of JICA. In this condition, DMH lacks of radar image for rainfall and storm forecasting.
3. Meteorological Division cannot predict location specific weather forecast (We can issue only regions wise and states wise weather forecast)
4. Lack of advanced communication system.

Damages of DMH Office and Employee Housing

            During the July 2015, heavy rainfall and storm wind caused the damages of DMH regional and observatory offices and employee housing as shown in Figure-2.

Figure-2: Damages of DMH regional office, observatory station and employee housing