- Source: Cyclone Robyn (2024)
Tropical Cyclone Robyn was a deadly tropical cyclone that contributed towards heavy rains and flooding throughout the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java in November 2024. Robyn was the first tropical system to form during the 2024–25 Australian region cyclone season.
Meteorological history
On 14 November, the Bureau of Meteorology noted that a tropical low could form west of Sumatra. Several days later, they noted that the tropical low was developing. Further consolidation due to a westerly wind burst, which also spawned a twin cyclone, prompted the Joint Typhoon Warning Center to first track it on 23 November. Despite deep convection being displaced due to moderate to high wind shear, the system's circulation became increasingly defined, prompting the JTWC to issue a tropical cyclone formation alert on the disturbance.
Preparations and impact
Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) warned of heavy rains from 01U across Sumatra and Java, and that much of Indonesia's coastline could experience waves of up to 1.25–2.5 m (4.1–8.2 ft), with waves of 2.5–4 m (8.2–13.1 ft) expected along the coastlines of western Sumatra, Banten in Java, and at the Sunda Strait.
Heavy rains killed ten people in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, including nine from one landslide alone. In Padang Lawas Regency flooding killed five people and destroyed two houses. In Sibolangit, flooding caused four deaths, injured nine and left two missing by 24 November. On 26 November, a landslide occurred in the town, killing nine and injuring 24. Severe flooding in South Tapanuli Regency killed two people, injured 76, destroyed 16 houses and damaged 345 others, with three villages recording severe damage. In Medan, floodwaters damaged 7,699 homes, affecting 24,874 residents.
In Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra, flooding killed two people and destroyed three houses. A child drowned at Subulussalam, Aceh, where 17 villages were flooded. Additionally, four people were killed by a landslide in Purworejo Regency and a man died after a river overflowed at Semarang, Central Java. Landslides also damaged 209 houses in Cianjur, West Java. The Citarum River overflowed in Bandung Regency, flooding 30 villages and damaging 2,000 homes. In Malang Regency, East Java, floodwaters killed two students, while a man died of electrocution.
See also
Tropical cyclones in 2024
Weather of 2024
Cyclone Fengal - The twin of Cyclone Robyn.
References
External links
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Météo-France at La Réunion (in French)
Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (in Indonesian)
Joint Typhoon Warning Center