Tropical Cyclone Phet Forming Over Indian Ocean
AccuWeather.com meteorologists continue to watch Tropical Cyclone Phet forming over the northern Indian Ocean.
The storm will track toward the northwest before turning northeast by Wednesday.
Steering currents would tend to carry the system northeastward toward Pakistan and northwestern India by late week.
People in this area, as well as shipping interests should continue to keep track of developments.
Extreme heat has been baking this area in recent weeks. The heat has set world temperature records. Jacobabad, Pakistan reached at least 117 degrees on Monday, May 31, 2010.
Satellite imagery of Tropical Storm Phet on June 1, 2010 courtesy of the Navy/NRL Tropical Cyclone Page.
Clouds and some rain would not be a bad thing, provided the storm does not become too powerful, raising the risk of flooding rain and storm surge.
While this area is not as vulnerable to storm surge, as that of Bangladesh there is concern anytime a cyclone roars ashore.
Much of the region relies on the monsoon to bring rainfall. The monsoon in India and neighboring countries, a periodic flow of moisture-producing downpours from the Indian Ocean, lasts about four months spanning June through September.
The India Meteorological Department has declared that the monsoon over the Kerala coast (the southwestern of India) has begun.
People in the region are hoping for adequate rainfall in the region during this year's Monsoon to boost grain and oilseed output.
Parts of the region experienced their driest conditions last season in decades, greatly impacting agricultural production, leading to soaring food prices.
The sparse rainfall last year in the region has contributed to the abnormal heat in Pakistan and India.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 86° | Thermal, CA |
| Low | -9° | Warroad, MN |
| Precip | 0.85" | Quillayute, WA |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
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