Tropical cyclones in 2010

2010, with only 64 named systems, was considered as one of the least active years for tropical cyclones on record. During the year, tropical cyclones formed within seven different tropical cyclone basins, located within various parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the year, a total of 111 tropical cyclones developed, with 64 of them being named by either a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC). The most active basin was the North Atlantic, which documented 19 named systems, while the North Indian Ocean, despite only amounting to five named systems, was its basin's most active since 1998. Conversely, both the West Pacific typhoon and East Pacific hurricane seasons experienced the fewest cyclones reaching tropical storm intensity in recorded history, numbering 14 and 8, respectively. Activity across the southern hemisphere's three basins—South-West Indian, Australian, and South Pacific—was spread evenly, with each region recording 7 named storms apiece. The southern hemisphere's strongest tropical cyclone was Cyclone Edzani, which bottomed out with a barometric pressure of 910 mbar (hPa; 26.87 inHg) in the South-West Indian Ocean. Nineteen Category 3 tropical cyclones formed, including four Category 5 tropical cyclones in the year. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2010 (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University was 573.8 units.

Tropical cyclones in 2010
Year summary map
Year boundaries
First systemEdzani
FormedJanuary 1, 2010
Last system08U
DissipatedJanuary 2, 2011
Strongest system
NameMegi
Lowest pressure885 mbar (hPa); 26.13 inHg
Longest lasting system
NameMegi
Duration19 days
Year statistics
Total systems111
Named systems64
Total fatalities1,553 total
Total damage$15.34 billion (2010 USD)
Related articles
Other years
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Satellite photos of the 19 tropical cyclones worldwide that reached at least Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale during 2010, from Edzani in January to Chaba in October.
Among them, Megi (center image on the final row) was the most intense, with a minimum central pressure of 885 hPa.

The strongest of these tropical cyclones was Typhoon Megi, which strengthened to a minimum barometric pressure of 885 mbar (hPa; 26.13 inHg) before striking the east coast of Luzon in the Philippines. The costliest tropical cyclone in 2010 was Hurricane Karl, which struck the Veracruz, Mexico area in September, causing US$5.6 billion in damage.[nb 1] Hurricane Alex, Tropical Storm Matthew, and Tropical Storm Agatha were the only other tropical cyclones worldwide in 2010 to accrue over US$1 billion in damage. Agatha was also the year's deadliest storm, killing 190 people primarily in Guatemala after lasting for only one day over the waters of the East Pacific.

Global atmospheric and hydrological conditions

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The previous El Niño event broke down during the first quarter of 2010.[1] The climate of the Pacific Ocean subsequently returned to neutral conditions by the end of April, while climate models used and developed by various meteorological agencies, subsequently started to show signs that a La Niña event would develop later in 2010.[1][2] Over the next month the Pacific Ocean started to show various signals that indicated a La Niña event was developing and as a result, a La Niña watch was issued by the United States Climate Prediction Center during their June 2010 ENSO diagnostic discussion.[1][3] As the ocean's surface temperature cooling progressed, more colder anomalies appeared at the International Date Line rather than over eastern Pacific, what made the event a Modoki La Nina.[4]

Season summary

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Tropical Storm OmekaCyclone JalHurricane TomasHurricane SharyHurricane RichardCyclone GiriTyphoon Chaba (2010)Typhoon Megi (2010)Hurricane PaulaHurricane Otto (2010)Tropical Storm Nicole (2010)Tropical Storm Matthew (2010)Tropical Storm Georgette (2010)Typhoon FanapiHurricane KarlHurricane Julia (2010)Hurricane IgorTropical Storm Hermine (2010)Tropical Depression Eleven-E (2010)Typhoon Kompasu (2010)Hurricane Earl (2010)Hurricane Frank (2010)Tropical Depression Five (2010)Tropical Storm Colin (2010)Tropical Storm Bonnie (2010)Typhoon Chanthu (2010)Typhoon Conson (2010)Tropical Depression Two (2010)Hurricane Alex (2010)Hurricane Celia (2010)Cyclone PhetTropical Storm Agatha (2010)Cyclone LailaCyclone TomasCyclone UluiTropical Storm HubertCyclone PatCyclone Olitropical cyclone basins

Systems

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January

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Cyclone Edzani

During the month of January, a total of twelve tropical cyclones formed, with only five receiving names by their meteorological agencies of responsibility. The most intense tropical cyclone of the month was Cyclone Edzani, peaking with 910 hPa and 150 mph in 10-minute sustained winds.

Tropical cyclones formed in January 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Edzani January 1–14 220 (140) 910 None None None
03F January 7–10 65 (40) 1002 French Polynesia, Southern Cook Islands None None [5]
04U January 14–21 Unspecified Unspecified None None None
09 January 15–16 45 (30) 1005 Réunion, Mauritius, Madagascar Minimal None
Magda January 18–24 130 (80) 975 Western Australia Minimal None
01W January 18–20 55 (35) 1006 Vietnam, Cambodia $243 thousand 3 [6][7][8]
Neville January 19–21 65 (40) 995 Queensland None None [9]
Olga January 20–30 95 (60) 983 Solomon Islands, Queensland, Northern Territory Unknown 2 [10][11]
05F January 23–28 Not specified 997 None None None
Subtropical Depression 10 January 25–31 65 (40) 995 None None None
Nisha January 27–31 75 (45) 990 Samoan Islands, Southern Cook Islands None None
Oli January 29 – February 7 185 (115) 925 Samoan Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia $70 million 1

February

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Cyclone Gelane

The month of February was quite inactive, with only seven tropical cyclones forming, with five becoming named storms. Cyclone Gelane was the most intense of the month, peaking at 930 hPa, along with 10-minute sustained winds of 125 mph. No one was killed by a tropical cyclone in the month.

Tropical cyclones formed in February 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Fami February 1 – 3 85 (50) 994 Madagascar None None
08F February 2 – 4 55 (35) 997 French Polynesia, Cook Islands None None
Pat February 6 – 11 140 (85) 960 Cook Islands $13.7 million None
Rene February 9 – 17 155 (100) 955 Samoan Islands, Tonga $18 million None
08U February 22 – 24 Not specified Not specified Northern Territory None None
Gelane February 15 – 22 205 (125) 930 Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Madagascar None None
Sarah February 17 – March 3 65 (40) 995 Cook Islands Unknown None

March

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Cyclone Ului

March was somewhat active with eight tropical cyclones forming with seven receiving names. Cyclone Ului was the most intense for March, as it was one of the fastest intensifying tropical cyclones on record. Ului was a Category 5 tropical cyclone (in 1-minute sustained winds) for a near-record breaking 30 hours. When Ului made landfall in Queensland, Brisbane, damages totaled to be US$72 million ($100 million AUD)

Tropical cyclones formed in March 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Hubert March 7 – 15 100 (65) 985 Madagascar Unknown 85
Anita March 8 – 12 85 (50) 995 Brazil None None
Ului March 9 – 21 215 (130) 915 Queensland $72 million 1
Tomas March 9 – 17 185 (115) 925 Wallis and Futuna, Fiji $45 million 3
Imani March 20–27 130 (80) 965 None None None
Omais (Agaton) March 22–26 65 (40) 998 Woleai, Fais, Ulithi, Yap $10 thousand None
Paul March 22 – April 3 130 (80) 971 Northern Territory Unknown None
15F March 30 – April 5 55 (35) 999 None None None

April

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Cyclone Robyn

April was an unusually inactive month with only three tropical cyclones forming and two of them being named. No tropical cyclones attained pressure less than 980 hPa, which makes Cyclone Robyn the most intense of the month, attaining that intensity, as well as 10-minute sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. No deaths occurred during this month.

Tropical cyclones formed in April 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Robyn April 1 – 7 110 (70) 980 None None None
Sean April 22 – 25 100 (65) 988 Northern Territory Unknown None
TD April 26 Not specified 1008 Mindanao None None
 
Cyclone Phet

May was a relatively inactive month with five tropical cyclones forming and all five received names. Tropical Storm Agatha was the deadliest and costliest of the month, killing around 204 people and inflicting $1.11 billion in damage. Cyclone Phet was the most intense tropical cyclone in the month. As Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS), Phet was the least intense for that category on record, with a high pressure of 970 hPa. Phet attained 3-minute sustained winds of 100 MPH.

Tropical cyclones formed in May 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Laila May 17 – 21 100 (65) 986 India $118 million 65
Bandu May 19 – 23 75 (45) 994 Yemen, Somalia None 1
Joël May 22 – 29 100 (65) 990 Madagascar Mozambique None None
Agatha May 29 – 30 75 (45) 1001 Mexico, Guatemala $1.11 billion 204
Phet May 30 – June 7 155 (100) 970 Oman, Pakistan, India $780 million 44

June

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Hurricane Celia

June was relatively inactive with only six systems forming all within the northern hemisphere, with four further developing into tropical storms and receiving names. Hurricane Celia was the strongest and most intense tropical cyclone of the month which became a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale; the first Category 5 in the month of June in the Eastern Pacific basin since Ava in 1973. Hurricane Alex is tied with 1957's Hurricane Audrey as the most intense hurricane in the month of June on record in the Atlantic, peaking at 946 hPa.

Tropical cyclones formed in June 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
TD June 3–5 Not specified 1002 None None None
Two-E June 16–17 55 (35) 1007 Mexico Minimal None
Blas June 17–21 100 (65) 994 None None None
Celia June 18–28 260 (160) 921 Mexico, Clipperton Island None None
Darby June 23–28 195 (120) 959 Mexico None None
Alex June 25 – July 2 175 (110) 946 Greater Antilles, Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Northern Mexico, Texas $1.52 billion 33

July

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Typhoon Chanthu

July was a very inactive month and the least active July on record for any given year, with only eight tropical cyclones forming, three of which becoming named tropical storms. Only two reached hurricane strength, with no major-hurricane equivalent tropical cyclones. Typhoon Chanthu was the most intense tropical cyclone in the month, with a minimum pressure of 965 hPa, and 10-minute sustained winds of 80 mph.

Tropical cyclones formed in July 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Two July 8–9 55 (35) 1005 Northern Mexico, South Texas Minimal None
Conson (Basyang) July 11–18 130 (80) 975 Philippines China, Vietnam $82 million 106
Six-E July 14–16 55 (35) 1006 Mexico None None
Chanthu (Caloy) July 17–23 130 (80) 965 Philippines China $818 million 19
TD July 18–20 55 (35) 1004 Japan None None
Bonnie July 22–24 75 (45) 1005 Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Florida $1.36 million 1
TD July 23–24 Not specified 1008 Taiwan None None
TD July 26–28 55 (35) 1002 China None None

August

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Hurricane Earl

August was above average, featuring 16 systems with 12 of them being named. The strongest storm was Hurricane Earl, with a minimum pressure of 927 hPa, and 1-minute sustained winds of 145 MPH.

Tropical cyclones formed in August 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Colin August 2–8 60 (95) 1005 Leeward Islands, Bermuda, Carolinas, New England Minimal 1
Domeng August 3–5 40 (65) 997 Philippines Minimal 3
Dianmu (Ester) August 6–12 95 (60) 985 South Korea, Japan $42 million 37
Estelle August 6–10 100 (65) 994 Mexico None None
Five August 10–11 55 (35) 1007 Gulf Coast of the United States $1 million None
Eight-E August 20–21 55 (35) 1003 None None None
Frank August 21–28 150 (90) 978 Mexico $8.3 million 6
Danielle August 21–30 215 (130) 942 Bermuda, East Coast of the United States Minimal 2
Mindulle August 22–25 85 (50) 985 Vietnam $43.3 million 10
Earl August 25 – September 4 230 (145) 927 Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada, Quebec $45 million 5
TD August 26–28 55 (35) 1004 None None None
Lionrock (Florita) August 27 – September 4 95 (60) 985 Philippines Taiwan, China $65.1 million None
Kompasu (Glenda) August 28 – September 2 150 (90) 960 China, Korea $58.3 million 29
Namtheun August 29–31 65 (40) 996 Taiwan, China None None
Fiona August 30 – September 3 100 (65) 998 Leeward Islands, Bermuda Minimal None
TD August 30–31 55 (35) 1008 None None None

September

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Hurricane Igor

September was fairly-above average, featuring 15 storms, with 13 of them being named. Igor was the strongest system, with a minimum pressure of 924 hPa and 1-minute sustained winds of 155 MPH.

Tropical cyclones formed in September 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Malou (Henry) September 1–10 95 (60) 985 Japan Unknown None
Gaston September 1–2 65 (40) 1005 Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico None None
Ten-E September 3–4 55 (35) 1003 None None None
Eleven-E September 3–4 55 (35) 1004 Mexico, Central America $500 million None
Hermine September 5–9 110 (70) 989 Central America, Mexico, Texas Oklahoma, Kansas $740 million 52
Meranti September 7–10 100 (65) 985 Taiwan, China $118 million 3
Geordette September 20–23 65 (40) 999 Baja California Peninsula, Mexico Minimal None
Igor September 8–21 250 (155) 924 Cape Verde, Leeward Islands, Bermuda, East Coast of the United States, Newfoundland and Labrador $200 million 4
Julia September 12–20 220 (140) 948 Cape Verde Minimal None
Fanapi (Inday) September 14–21 175 (110) 935 Taiwan, China $1 billion 105
Karl September 14–18 205 (125) 956 Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Veracruz $3.9 billion 22
Malakas September 20–25 155 (100) 945 Japan None None
Lisa September 20–26 140 (85) 982 None None None
Matthew September 23–26 95 (60) 998 Venezuela, Jamaica, Central America, Mexico $172.2 million 126
Nicole September 28–29 75 (45) 995 Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, Florida, East Coast of the United States $245.4 million 16

October

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Typhoon Megi

October was slightly-below average, featuring 15 storms, with 9 of them being named. October featured Typhoon Megi, the strongest storm of the year, with a minimum pressure of 885 hPa and 10-minute sustained winds of 145 MPH.

Tropical cyclones formed in October 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
14W October 5–10 55 (35) 1006 China None None
Otto October 6–10 140 (85) 976 Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico $22.5 million None
TD October 7–8 Not specified 1012 None None None
BOB 02 October 7 –9 45 (30) 996 India, Bangladesh Minimal 17
Paula October 11–16 165 (105) 981 Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba, The Bahamas, Florida Unknown 1
Megi (Juan) October 12–24 230 (145) 885 Philippines, Taiwan, China $709 million 69
BOB 03 October 13–16 65 (40) 995 India Minimal None
Richard October 20–26 155 (100) 977 Central America $80 million 1
Giri October 20–23 195 (120) 950 Bangladesh Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan $359 million 157
17W October 20–27 55 (35) 1004 None None None
Chaba (Katring) October 20–31 175 (110) 935 Japan Minimal None
01 October 25—29 55 (35) 997 None None None
Shary October 28–30 120 (75) 989 Bermuda Minimal None
Anggrek October 28 – November 4 74 (45) 995 Cocos (Keeling) Islands None None
Tomas October 29 — November 7 155 (100) 982 Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, Lucayan Archipelago $463.4 million 51

November

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Cyclone Abele

November was extremely inactive, featuring 5 storms and only 2 named storms. Due to this inactivity, Cyclone Abele was the strongest of the month, with a minimum barometric pressure of 974 hPa and 10-minute sustained winds of 80 MPH.

Tropical cyclones formed in November 2010
Storm name Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Jal November 1–8 110 (70) 988 Thailand, Malaysia, Andaman Islands, India $392 million 117
TD November 3–4 55 (35) 1006 Vietnam None None
18W November 12–14 55 (35) 1004 Vietnam, Laos, Thailand Unknown None
01F November 24–30 65 (40) 999 Vanuatu, Fiji None None
Abele November 28 — December 4 130 (80) 974 None None None

December

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Cyclone Tasha

December was somewhat active, however, it was very inactive in terms of named systems, with only two of the ten tropical cyclones forming, Omeka and Tasha, getting named. The month started off extremely late on December 20th, with both Omeka and Tasha forming, the latter becoming the most intense cyclone this month, with a minimum pressure of only 993hPa.

Tropical cyclones formed in December 2010
Storm names Dates active Max wind
km/h (mph)
Pressure
(hPa)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
BOB 06 December 7 –8 45 (30) 1000 India Minimal None
19W December 12–13 55 (35) 1002 Vietnam None None
03U December 15–20 65 (40) 989 Western Australia $77 million None
Omeka December 20–21 85 (50) 997 Hawaii None None
Tasha December 20–25 75 (45) 993 Queensland Unknown 1
05U December 22–24 Not specified Not specified None None None
06U December 30 – January 2 55 (35) 993 Northern Territory, Western Australia None None
07U December 30 – January 2 Not specified Not specified None None None
02F December 31 – January 2 Not specified 1004 None None None
08U December 31 – January 2 Not specified Not specified None None None

Global effects

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Season name Areas affected Systems formed Named storms Damage (USD) Deaths
2010 Atlantic hurricane season Greater Antilles, Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, Northern Mexico, South Texas, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Florida, Leeward Islands, Bermuda, The Carolinas, New England, United States Gulf Coast, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Cabo Verde, Newfoundland, Belize, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Greater Antilles, Lucayan Archipelago, Windward Islands 21 19 $7.39 billion 392
2010 Pacific hurricane season Southwestern Mexico, Central America, Clipperton Island, Western Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, Hawaii 13 8 $1.62 billion 268
2010 Pacific typhoon season 3 Vietnam, Cambodia, Woleai, Fais, Ulithi, Yap, Mindanao, Philippines, South China, Japan, Taiwan, Northern Luzon, South Korea, East China, Laos, Thailand 28 14 $2.96 billion 384
2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season India, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan, Malaysia, Andaman Islands 7 5 $3.06 billion 414
2009–10 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2 Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Mozambique 9 5 None 85
2010–11 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 3 None 2 1 None None
2009–10 Australian region cyclone season 2 Western Australia, Eastern Indonesia, Top End, Kimberley, Queensland, Papua New Guinea, Cocos (Keeling) Islands 9 8 $81 million 3
2010–11 Australian region cyclone season 3 Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia 7 1 $77 million 1
2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season 2 Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Tokelau, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Samoan islands, Wallis and Futuna 12 7 $146.7 million 6
2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season 3 Vanuatu, Fiji 2 0 None None
2010 South Atlantic tropical cyclone season Brazil, Uruguay 2 1 None 0
Worldwide (See above) 112[a] 64 $15.34 billion 1,553
  1. ^ The sum of the number of systems and fatalities in each basin will not equal the number shown as the total. This is because when systems move between basins, it creates a discrepancy in the actual number of systems and fatalities.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ All damage figures are in their respective currency's 2010 value.
5All storms occurring outside of 2010 are not counted in the death and damage figures

References

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  1. ^ a b c Record-breaking La Niña events (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. July 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  2. ^ "ENSO Wrap-Up: Neutral conditions returning to the Pacific" (PDF). Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  3. ^ El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion: June 2010 (PDF) (Report). United States Climate Prediction Center. June 3, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2016.
  4. ^ V. Platonov; E. Semenov; E. Sokolikhina (February 13, 2014). "Extreme La-Nina 2010/11 and the vigorous flood at the north-east of Australia" (PDF). EGU General Assembly/Geophysical Research. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  5. ^ "International Marine Warning — Other 2010-01-07 00z". Fiji Meteorological Service. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  6. ^ Staff Writer (January 18, 2010). "JTWC Tropical Cyclone Warning: 01W: 2010-01-18 21z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  7. ^ Staff Writer (January 19, 2010). "JTWC Tropical Cyclone Warning: 01W: 2010-01-19 09z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  8. ^ Staff Writer (January 19, 2010). "Prognostic reasoning for Tropical Depression 01W 2010-01-19 15z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  9. ^ DARWIN Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre 0708 UTC 16/01/2010
  10. ^ "Issued at 11:03 pm CST Monday 25 January 2010. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 16". Bureau of Meteorology, Darwin. January 25, 2010. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  11. ^ "Issued at 02:00 am CST Thursday 28 January 2010. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 30". Bureau of Meteorology, Darwin. January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
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