Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Gati
Cyclone Gati shortly after peak intensity approaching Somalia on 22 November
Meteorological history
Formed21 November 2020
Dissipated24 November 2020
Very severe cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained (IMD)
Highest winds140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg
Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds185 km/h (115 mph)
Lowest pressure967 hPa (mbar); 28.56 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities9 confirmed
Missing30
Damage"Millions"
Areas affectedSomalia, Yemen
IBTrACS
Part of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Gati (/ɡɑːtɪ/) was the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in Somalia, and one of few tropical cyclones to do so in the country. The seventh depression, third cyclonic storm, and second very severe cyclonic storm of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Gati formed from an area of low pressure in the Arabian Sea, on 21 November. The storm then explosively intensified, becoming a very severe tropical cyclone and reaching its peak intensity, the following day. Gati weakened slightly before making landfall in northeastern Somalia on 22 November. Gati was the first hurricane-force cyclone to make landfall in Somalia on record. Gati then weakened and became disorganized as it moved inland. The JTWC issued its final advisory on Gati shortly after it moved into the Gulf of Aden on 23 November. The name Gati was suggested by India, which means 'motion' in Hindi.

Gati caused heavy rainfall over Somalia, peaking at 128 mm (5.0 in) in Bosaso. An estimated 10,000 animals were killed by Gati in Ufeyn. The storm killed at least 9 people and displaced approximately 42,000 others in the country and caused millions of dollars in damages.[1] Minor impacts were also observed on the Yemeni island of Socotra and in the Ethiopian Highlands.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 17 November 2020, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted the potential for tropical cyclogenesis over the central Arabian Sea in association with an area of convection near the Maldives.[2] Convective activity was enhanced by the Madden–Julian oscillation while sea surface temperatures of 29 to 30 °C (84 to 86 °F) and low wind shear favored additional development.[3][4] By 18 November, a weak low-level circulation developed about 1,185 km (736 mi) east-southeast of Socotra.[4] Organization thereafter was stymied as it became embedded within a monsoon trough. Two additional circulations developed to the east and west of the original low; however, the original low steadily became the dominant system by absorbing the previous two circulations.[5] On 21 November, two scatterometer passes revealed a single, well-defined low with gale-force winds underneath an area of flaring convection.[6] At 18:00 UTC, the IMD classified the system as Depression ARB 04 about 410 km (250 mi) east-southeast of Socotra.[7] Similarly, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on the system as Tropical Cyclone 03A. Steered west by a subtropical ridge to the north, little intensification was expected before the cyclone's forecast landfall in Somalia.[6]

During the overnight of 21 to 22 November the small cyclone quickly organized,[8] with a well-defined eye developing.[9] The IMD upgraded the system to a deep depression early on 22 November and a cyclonic storm soon after. Upon becoming a cyclonic storm, it was assigned the name Gati.[10][11] Classified as a "midget system" by the JTWC with a core diameter of only 120 km (75 mi) and a 27 km (17 mi) wide eye, Gati explosively intensified that morning,[12] with 1-minute maximum sustained winds increasing from 110 to 185 km/h (70 to 115 mph) in only six hours. The IMD assessed Gati to have reached its peak intensity as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm around 12:00 UTC, with three-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a minimum pressure of 976 hPa (28.82 inHg).[13] Six hours later, Gati had made landfall near Hafun in northeastern Somalia with estimated one-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph).[14][15] This made Gati the first hurricane-force cyclone to strike the country since reliable records began and by default the nation's strongest.[14]

Once onshore, land friction-based shear caused convection to quickly become displaced from the storm's center.[16] The low-level circulation became completely exposed early on 23 November as it traversed northeastern Somalia; the system's upper-level circulation and associated convection detached and accelerated west ahead of the surface low.[17] The increasingly elongated circulation of Gati emerged over the Gulf of Aden by 12:00 UTC,[18] and the JTWC issued their final advisory on the system shortly thereafter.[19]

Preparations and impact

Cyclone Gati caused extensive damage in Somalia, displacing thousands, killing 9, and worsening locusts swarms in the region. Although no specific number is out, damage from Gati is expected to be in the millions.

A map of satellite derived rainfall estimates from the Global Precipitation Measurement between 21 and 23 November 2020. The darkest shades of red indicate accumulations in excess of 100 mm (4 in).[20]

Somalia

Northern Somalia, the area most heavily impacted, normally sees 100 mm (4 in) of rain annually. Cyclone Gati was forecast to produce twice this amount in two days.[14] A joint warning by the Somalia Water and Land Information Management and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warned for the potential of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding in the Puntland region.[15][21] Evacuations took place in coastal areas of Bari.[22] Concerns over food security were raised by the United Nations as the storm "compounded an already fragile humanitarian situation" stemming from a drought in 2017. In Somaliland, the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Authority alerted residents of the storm and placed the coast guard on standby for possible evacuations.[23]

Torrential rains, damaging winds, and storm surge impacted areas of northern Somalia, primarily in Puntland.[22][23] Twenty-four-hour rainfall totals reached 128 mm (5.0 in) in Bosaso and 103 mm (4.1 in) in the Balidhidhin District. Extensive damage occurred in Bari, with at least 642 homes destroyed and communication lost with several communities.[23][24][25] An estimated 180,000 people were directly affected by the cyclone, including 42,000 who were displaced from their homes.[26] Freshwater wells in Hafun, Taageer, and Qandala were inundated by flooding.[23][27] At least six people were injured in Hafun, including district commissioner Mohamud Yusuf Garow, due to collapsing buildings.[28] At least 8 fishermen were killed off the coast of Hafun while 30 others remain missing.[23][29][30] Farther inland, the desert communities of Ashira and Hordio were directly impacted by the cyclone's core.[15] An estimated 10,000 animals were killed in Ufeyn.[31] In Sanaag, roughly 950 heads of livestock were killed by Gati.[32] Flooding in Bosaso disrupted transportation.[33] A bridge was damaged between the towns of Maydh and Heis.[32]

In Somaliland to the west, rainfall was lighter and no damage was reported.[23] Accumulations peaked at 60 mm (2.4 in) in Badhan and 35 mm (1.4 in) in Erigavo.[34]

Elsewhere

Gati dropped heavy rainfall which produced flash flooding over the Yemeni island of Socotra.[35] Heavy rainfall fell across the Ethiopian Highlands from the remnants of Gati.[26]

Aftermath

On 23 November, Puntland's government convened to discuss recovery operations related to Cyclone Gati,[26] and later requested humanitarian assistance.[27] An estimated 66,000 people required "direct humanitarian assistance".[34] Initial efforts were hindered by limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies in Bossaso. Requests were made to transport WASH supplies from Mogadishu, a process that normally takes ten days, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) working with Puntland to expedite the process.[34] By 26 November, 3,000 hygiene kits were distributed to about 9,000 people in Bossaso. United Nations Health and Nutrition Cluster partners mobilized clinics to aid 10,000 households across Bossaso, Hafun, Hurdiya, and Iskushuban. The Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Cluster distributed 500 NFI kits and US$245,000 in funds for additional items and shelter.[27]

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization noted that heavy rains from the cyclone could exacerbate ongoing desert locust swarms in south/central Somalia and eastern Ethiopia.[36] This soon came true as breeding began in places that had received rains from Gati by December 2020.[37]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Global Catastrophe Recap November 2020" (PDF). Aon. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean (The Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) Valid for Next 120 Hours Issued at 0600 UTC of 17.11.2020 Based on 0300 UTC of 17.11.2020 (Report). India Meteorological Department. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  3. ↑ Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean (The Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) Valid for Next 120 Hours Issued at 0600 UTC of 18.11.2020 Based on 0300 UTC of 18.11.2020 (Report). India Meteorological Department. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  4. 1 2 Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  5. ↑ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  6. 1 2 Tropical Cyclone 03A (Three) Warning NR 001 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  7. ↑ Special Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean (The Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) Valid for Next 120 Hours Issued at 2200 UTC of 21.11.2020 Based on 1800 UTC of 21.11.2020 (Report). India Meteorological Department. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  8. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Three) Warning NR 002 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  9. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Three) Warning NR 002A Amended (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  10. ↑ Special Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). India Meteorological Department. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  11. ↑ IWB (Morning) Dated 22-11-2020 (Report). India Meteorological Department. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  12. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Gati) Warning NR 003 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  13. ↑ "Best Track of IMD from 1982 to 2020". India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Matthew S. Schwartz (22 November 2020). "Somalia's Strongest Tropical Cyclone Ever Recorded Could Drop 2 Years' Rain In 2 Days". NPR. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 Matthew Cappucci and Andrew Freedman (23 November 2020). "Cyclone Gati hits Somalia as country's strongest storm on record after explosive intensification". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  16. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Gati) Warning NR 005 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  17. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Gati) Warning NR 006 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  18. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Gati) Warning NR 008 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  19. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 03A (Gati) Warning NR 009 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 – via Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
  20. ↑ "Gati Makes Historic Landfall in Somalia". NASA Earth Observatory. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Tropical Storm Alert: Tropical Storm Gati (Issued: 22 November 2020)". United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. 22 November 2020. ReliefWeb. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  22. 1 2 "Roobab dabaylo wata oo khasaare kala duwan ka gaystay Puntland" (in Somali). Hillaac. Puntland Post. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 OCHA Somalia - Tropical Cyclone Gati Update #1, As of 23 November 2020 (PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  24. ↑ Tropical Storm Alert: Tropical Storm Gati (Issued: 23 November 2020) (PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  25. ↑ Tropical Storm GATI-20, 25 November 2020 (PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  26. 1 2 3 OCHA Somalia - Tropical Cyclone Gati Update #2, As of 24 November 2020 (PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  27. 1 2 3 OCHA Somalia - Tropical Cyclone Gati Update #4, As of 26 November 2020 (PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "Torrential rains leave a trail of destruction in Hafun". Hillaac. Puntland Post. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  29. ↑ "Xaafuun: Sideed qof oo kaluumaysato ajaaniib ah oo ku dhintay roobabkii d'ay (daawo)" (in Somali). Radio Daljir. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "OCHA Somalia - Tropical Cyclone Gati Update #5, As of 30 November 2020 - Somalia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  31. ↑ Radio Daljir [@radiodaljir] (23 November 2020). "1/2: KHASAARAHA XAAFUUN, QANDALA & UFAYN: Xaafuun waxaa dhintay 8 qof oo kalluumaysato Yemeniyiin, guryo badan waa burbureen, Isgaarsiintu hawada waa ka maqantahay Qandala waxaa ku burburey saxiimado Ufayn waxaa la soo sheegayaa in 10 kun oo neef ku le'deen duufaanta #GATI" (Tweet) (in Somali). Retrieved 23 November 2020 – via Twitter.
  32. 1 2 OCHA (30 November 2020). "OCHA Somalia - Tropical Cyclone Gati Update #5, As of 30 November 2020". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  33. ↑ Mohamed Dek Abdalla [@mdeeq16] (23 November 2020). "Businesses paralysed in #Bosaso, #Puntland's biggest commercial city following heavy rains on Sunday. The city is currently flooded thus limiting transportation and movement of people. Towns across #Somalia's coastline are receiving heavy rains in the last 24 hrs. #GATI" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 November 2020 – via Twitter.
  34. 1 2 3 OCHA Somalia - Tropical Cyclone Gati Update #3, As of 25 November 2020 (PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  35. ↑ Olivia Rosane (23 November 2020). "Cyclone Gati Threatens Somalia With Two Years of Rain in Two Days". ecowatch.com. EcoWatch. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  36. ↑ Desert Locust situation update - 24 November 2020 (Report). ReliefWeb. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  37. ↑ FAO (10 December 2020). "Desert Locust situation update - 10 December 2020". reliefweb.int. ReliefWeb. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
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