Tropical Cyclone Arola Moves Away From U.S. Air Force Base in Indian Ocean

Diego Garcia (HDW) November 12, 2004 – Tropical Cyclone Arola, was reported by the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to be located approximately 300 nautical miles south-southeast of Diego Garcia. Diego Garcia is a British Colony whose primary residents are United States Air Force personnel maintaining an air base and a bomber refueling station. Diego Garcia has been used extensively by B-52, B-1, and B-2 bombers attacking targets in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Diego Garcia is approximately 3,000 miles from Iraq and Afghanistan, which is not nearly as far away as the U.S. and European bases from where these bombers usually originate.

The picture displayed above, taken by a NASA satellite, displays the size and power of Tropical Cyclone Arola as it moves within the Indian Ocean. Arola is forecasted to move southwest, and weaken as it encounters an environment of increased vertical wind shear. The typhoon and hurricane season typically ends by November 1st for Asia and the United States, respectively, but some large storms still develop that could threaten shipping and important air traffic. The maximum significant wave height of Arola may approach 16 feet according to the JTWC.