Tropical Storm Aere Breaks the Ice

May 9, 2011; 11:53 AM ET

FIRST NAMED TROPICAL STORM SINCE DECEMBER 2010

The 2011 typhoon season has kicked off with its first named tropical storm, Aere. It is important to be clear: there were two early April tropical depressions (TD 01W, TD 02W), the latter of which was dubbed Amang by the Philippines weather service.

As for Aere (or Bebeng in the Philippines), the active tropical cyclone, it has been well within the ranks of tropical storm status. Highest JTWC wind estimate thus far has been 50 knots, or 90-95 km/hr.

Aere was upgraded from tropical depression to tropical storm by the JTWC on Saturday, May 7, as it spun northwestward east of the southern Philippines. The first landfall was on the island of Catanduanes; this was followed by the later brush with northeastern Luzon.

JTWC Image shows T.C. Aere, May 9, 2011.

As of 1200 hours UTC, the center of T.S. Aere was near the northeastern tip of the island of Luzon, Philippines, tracking northward at 10 mph. Owing to the stifling effect upon wind by the rugged landscape of Luzon, the top wind estimate was down to 40 knots, or about 75 km/hr.

Going forward, Aere will recurve toward the north and the northeast, thereby tracking south of the Japan mainland. Being early in the season, Aere will cross sea surface waters far too cool to support a tropical cyclone by the time it crosses the 25th parallel (near Okinawa.)

IMPACT UPON PHILIPPINES

Severe wind was not the primary weather hazard wielded by Aere. Rather, it was flooding rain and the resulting mudslides that often strike hilly areas.

Highest rainfall on the AccuWeather.com database was that of Catarman, northern Samar, which got 28.5 inches (more than 72 cm) in about three days as of Sunday. Of this amount, 377.4 mm (14.86 inches) fell within one 24-hour stretch.

Rainfall at Daet, southeastern Luzon, was about 18 inches (nearly 45 cm).

At least 13 people were reportedly killed by this storm, which triggered widespread flooding and some landslides.