Tropical Storm Matmo (2008) - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

Late on May 13, 2008, a tropical disturbance formed about 550 km (340 mi), to the east of Manila in the Philippines. The disturbance was located in an area of low vertical wind shear and had a low-level circulation center which had started to consolidate. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) then issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the disturbance early the next day, as deep convection was building near to the low pressure area. Later that day both the JTWC and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression, with the JTWC designating it as Tropical Depression 04W. This was because the system had become more consolidated and had a good outflow.

Early on May 15, as the storm was moving towards the northwest, the JMA upgraded the tropical depression to a Tropical Storm and named it Matmo. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) then designated the storm as Tropical Depression Dindo. Later that day Matmo rapidly tracked towards the northeastern boundary of PAGASA's area of responsibility as it had started to interact with a mid-latitude trough. The JTWC then reported that the cyclone had intensified into a tropical storm and had reached its peak intensity with winds of 75 km/h (45 mph). Early on May 16, both PAGASA and the JTWC issued their final advisories on the storm as it approached the edge of PAGASA's Area of responsibility, with the JTWC reporting that Matmo was now extratropical. However, the JMA continued to issue advisories on the storm at this time and reported that it had reached ten-minute peak wind speeds of 95 km/h (60 mph), which made Matmo a severe tropical storm. Though, within their next advisory, the JMA downgraded Matmo to a tropical storm and reported that it had weakened into a tropical depression early the next day before dissipating later that day.

Read more about this topic:  Tropical Storm Matmo (2008)

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    It may be well to remember that the highest level of moral aspiration recorded in history was reached by a few ancient Jews—Micah, Isaiah, and the rest—who took no count whatever of what might not happen to them after death. It is not obvious to me why the same point should not by and by be reached by the Gentiles.
    Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)