Typhoon Arlene
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| Typhoon | |
|---|---|
 Typhoon Arlene in the Great Esquarian Ocean | |
| Formed | 15 April 2014 |
| Winds | 10-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph) 3-minute sustained: 205 km/h (130 mph) 1-minute sustained: 285 km/h (180 mph) |
| Pressure | 962 hPa (mbar); 28.41 inHg |
| Fatalities | 8+ (as of 16 April) |
| Damage | $63 million (USD) |
| Areas affected | Concordia, Nautarya, Arnborg, Ainin |
| Part of the 2014 Esquarian typhoon season | |
Typhoon Arlene, known as Typhoon Ninghua in Namor, is the first system in the 2014 West Esquarian typhoon season, formed from a tropical disturbance in the Sea of Concordia on 15 April, which resulted in unusually large amounts of moisture forming in the area. Its outer portions made landfall in Northern Nautarya on 15 April at 2:30 PM (UTC-5), damaging infrastructure and killing two people, and caused large waves in Concordia, which led to mild damage in its capital city, Port Harold. On the evening of April 15, it slammed into Arnborg as a Category 2 typhoon.
Its predicted route would hit Namor over the course of the next week.
Preparations and Impact
Nautarya
The tropical storm hit the unstable north of Nautarya within a relatively short time following its formation, with authorities not being able to warn the residents of the storm's arrival, reportedly obstructed by rebel NLA and INF forces. The storm caused major damage to many coastal fishing communities, killing at least 2 men and damaging over 1,000 structures over the course of three hours. President Abdul al-Mossed declared a state of emergency over the region, in addition to the state of martial law already in effect.
Concordia
Concordia was mostly spared by the storm, but turbulent waves caused isolated and minor damage in Port Harold, along the coast. The city's small port was reportedly disabled, and Port Harold International Airport was closed due to water damage to the gravel taxiway. Governor Pierre Dulac and the Concordian Council approved a $1.2 million relief package for repairs to damaged infrastructure. No casualties were reported.
Arnborg
The hemlands of Arnborg were not given any funding to protect themselves. However, anticipating Category 2, the Arnborgese government took steps to evacuate people from the projected path except their hemlands. Thus, on April 15th, it struck the Province of Stappmark and the hemlands of Eluigwe and Agbado, virtually destroying the cities of Ojo and Uche except some strong buildings. 6 have been killed so far.
Ainin
After predictions estimated Tropical Storm Arlene would first make landfall on the southern Aininian provinces of Jaspère and Mercier on 17 April as a Category 3 typhoon, President Steven Mann signed an order-in-council decreeing a state of emergency over all coastal counties in the two provinces and ordered reserve units of the Aininian Army on standby. Voluntary evacuation orders were given for many rural coastal communities in the area. Flooding advisories were issued for the central provinces of Isle-Royale and Bounèsque, while the northwestern provinces of Linaque and West Ainin were put under typhoon watch, and several municipalities in those provinces were also subject to voluntary evacuation alerts, some as much as 50km inland. The typhoon is estimate to reach Category 4 by the time it passes over Linaque.
On 16 April, the National Meteorological Services issued a very strongly-worded bulletin.
NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
MARLANE-LA-PRAIRIE, LINAQUE
2014-04-16 - 2:16 PM AININIAN STANDARD TIME
Near-absolute damage expected in numerous areas of West Ainin and Linaque.
Warning of the utmost importance. Typhoon Arlene will be a natural phenomenon of historic and unrivalled force and destruction. Any home without a strong foundation will be completely annihilated, no chance of survival in them shall be existent. Sustained winds of up to 300 kilometres per hour will destroy all unsecured vehicles, objects and homes. All buildings damaged in 2012 by Typhoon Samuel will be ripped apart without mercy by Typhoon Arlene. Any person or animal that persons that attempt to go outside during the climax of the storm will be faced with near-certain death. Well-built homes shall face major devastation regardless, all are advised to seek refuge in designated shelters or face very likely death at the hand of the strongest storm in modern Aininian history.
Massive gale-force winds during the storm will lift mature trees, large trucks, locomotive and even small cargo vessels. Debris will be widespread, and being struck during the storm is a certain death sentence.
By the end of the storm, little to no vegetation shall remain standing, and the ones that do shall be completely stripped of their leaves, fruits and flowers. Power outages may last up to two months, and water/natural gas lines may not be restored until summer of 2014. Entire towns will be rendered unrecognisable.
All attempts to operate aircraft, motor vehicles or water vessels during the storm would be suicidal. Stay indoors and avoid windows. Even after winds and precipitations end, do not venture outside until Civil Defence gives an all-clear.
On 17 April at 10:40 local time, the Typhoon, after rapidly gaining strength in the South Aininian Sea, made landfall in Southern Jaspère as a Category 5 tropical cyclone.