Hurricane update - 22 October

Tropical cyclone Giri in the Bay of Bengal is approaching landfall in Myanmar. This storm has undergone a stunning round of strengthening, 85 knots in 24 hours. Yesterday at this time, Giri was at tropical storm strength (50 knots); the latest warning from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center quotes it at a staggering 135 knots, which is equivalent to a category V hurricane in the Atlantic. Giri will make landfall in the Hunters Bay and Combermere Bay areas of Myanmar - these are apparently low-lying marshes.