Arrocane Arlene

Arrocane Arlene

Arlene at it's record peak intensity over the Gulf of Ardonia on May 22
Meteorological history
Formed	May 17, 2019
Extratropical	May 27, 2019
Dissipated	May 30, 2019
Category 5 major arrocane
1-minute sustained (AAWS/NWS)
Highest winds	180 mph (290 km/h) (Fastest 1-minute sustained winds ever recorded)
Lowest pressure	899 mbar (hPa); 26.55 inHg (Lowest ever recorded)
Overall effects
Fatalities	1,379 total (Deadliest tropical cyclone on record)
Injuries	15,000+
Missing	32
Damage	$158 billion (2019 AC) (Costliest tropical cyclone on record)
Areas affected	Nandosa Ridge Cydonia (Trinity Islands, Po'Hatu, Meridian, Cydonia Mines, Phaethon, Ardidia Cliffs, Crescent Beach, Kaeru, Port Kazu) Blade Island
Part of the 2019 Ardonia arrocane season

Arrocane Arlene was a catastrophic and historic tropical cyclone—the most powerful arrocane ever recorded in the Ardonia basin. Forming in mid-May 2019, the storm rapidly intensified into the earliest Category 5 arrocane on record, ultimately breaking over a dozen basin-wide records for intensity, windspeed, rainfall, storm surge, and landfall strength. Arlene reached a peak intensity of 180 mph (290 km/h) sustained winds and a central pressure of 899 mbar, making it the strongest arrocane ever observed in the region.

Arlene's path through the heart of the Gulf of Ardonia brought it directly toward the kingdom of Cydonia, where it made three destructive landfalls in rapid succession. The first struck the small island of Po'Hatu at Category 5 intensity, followed by a Category 4 landfall in the capital city of Meridian. Arlene then curved northeastward and made a third landfall in Port Kazu as a Category 3 arrocane, where it stalled for over 24 hours at Tropical Storm intensity, unleashing devastating flooding and storm surge. The prolonged assault on the city was one of the worst weather-related disasters in Ardonian history.

The storm left a trail of devastation across multiple regions including Blade Island, Kaeru, Phaethon, and the Ardidia Cliffs, and was responsible for the deaths of 1,379 people, more than 15,000 injuries, and approximately $158 billion AC in damage. Nearly every meteorological, infrastructural, and humanitarian threshold was surpassed during Arlene’s lifespan. The storm has been widely regarded as a defining event in Ardonian meteorological history, prompting widespread review of forecasting protocols, emergency response coordination, and disaster management frameworks.

While the Ardonia Meteorological Organization (AMO) has not yet formally retired the name Arlene, the agency has listed it as a 100% retirement likelihood candidate pending end-of-season review.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Ardonia arrocane wind scale

Map key

Ardonia arrocane wind scale

  Tropical depression (≤ 39 mph, ≤ 63 km/h)
  Tropical storm (40–74 mph, 64–120 km/h)
  Category 1 (75–94 mph, 121–152 km/h)
  Category 2 (95–114 mph, 153–184 km/h)
  Category 3 (115–129 mph, 185–209 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–159 mph, 210–259 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥ 160 mph, ≥ 260 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Arrocane Arlene originated from a broad area of low pressure in the southern Gulf of Ardonia on May 17. Favorable environmental conditions—including abnormally warm sea surface temperatures, deep oceanic heat content, high mid-level humidity, and low wind shear—allowed the disturbance to gradually consolidate. The system developed a well-defined low-level circulation overnight and was designated as One-A by the National Arrocane Center (NAC) on May 18. Within 6 hours, it intensified into Tropical Storm Arlene as banding features began to organize around its center.

Steered slowly northwestward by a mid-level ridge over central Ardonia, Arlene traversed an area of record-warm waters in the Gulf of Ardonia and continued to strengthen steadily. By May 20, it had reached Category 1 intensity and developed a central dense overcast and a small, ragged eye. Over the next 48 hours, the storm entered a period of explosive intensification. Arlene progressed rapidly through Categories 2, 3, and 4, ultimately achieving Category 5 status on May 21. At its peak, the storm exhibited an exceptionally compact and symmetric structure, with a distinct eye only 4.4 miles in diameter and sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) alongside a minimum central pressure of 899 mbar—making it the strongest arrocane ever recorded in the Ardonia basin.

Most intense arrocanes

Rank	Arrocane	Season	Pressure
			hPa	inHg
1	Arlene	2019	899	26.55
2	Nine	1865	911	26.90
3	Seven	1865	929	27.43
4	Six	1865	951	28.08
5	Camille	2019	973	28.73
6	Eight	1865	974	28.76
7	Ten	1865	985	29.09
8	Three	1865	986	29.12
	Four	1865
10	Eleven	1865	988	29.18
Source: NAC/NWS

Arlene making it's record breaking landfall in Po'Hatu, Cydonia.

Arlene made its first landfall on May 21 in Po'Hatu, Cydonia as a high-end Category 5 arrocane, with sustained winds of 175 mph and a pressure of 908 mbar. Despite the island’s small size, it was devastated by the direct hit. Several villages were flattened, and vegetation was shredded across the entire landmass. Just hours later, Arlene made a second landfall in the metropolitan center of Meridian at Category 4 strength, with winds of 155 mph and a pressure of 931 mbar. The storm's intense core caused widespread wind damage, uprooting trees, damaging infrastructure, and compromising major coastal defenses.

After crossing over land, Arlene weakened slightly but retained significant strength. It made a third landfall at Port Kazu as a Category 3 arrocane with 115 mph winds and a pressure of 976 mbar. Upon landfall, the storm slowed dramatically and began to stall just inland, producing extreme rainfall and storm surge across the region for more than 24 hours. The prolonged interaction with the coast and nearby terrain caused severe flooding and infrastructure collapse throughout the city and surrounding areas.

Arlene retained tropical storm strength for nearly two additional days as it meandered inland over eastern Cydonia. It gradually weakened while maintaining a well-defined core structure, thanks to strong upper-level divergence and persistent moisture inflow. The system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on May 27 and ultimately dissipated over the eastern Ardonian Ocean on May 30 after losing all tropical characteristics.

Preparations

Ahead of Arlene's landfall, the National Arrocane Center (NAC) and NWS Port Kazu issued the highest possible alerts across southern Cydonia, the Trinity Islands, and the eastern Gulf coastline. A basin-wide Level V Arrocane Emergency Declaration was enacted for the first time since 2008. Arrocane watches and warnings were issued up to 72 hours in advance for the entire southeastern quadrant of Ardonia, with special advisories targeting densely populated zones and flood-prone coastal districts.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the Trinity Islands, Po’Hatu, Meridian, Crescent Beach, and parts of Blade Island. Over 600,000 residents were urged to relocate inland, and transportation officials temporarily suspended tolls and fare collection on highways, rail systems, and ferry routes to expedite evacuation efforts. Shelters were activated in school buildings, civic centers, and fortified underground bunkers in Sendaria and Kaltaria.

The NAC coordinated with local authorities and the Cydonian Royal Guard to stage relief convoys, distribute sandbags, and position water rescue units in flood-vulnerable areas. Over 3,500 troops were placed on standby under the command of the Southern Response Corps, with assets staged in Fort Braymin and Crown Peak for logistical backup. Naval patrols were deployed along the Gulf of Ardonia to assist with offshore monitoring and early search-and-rescue readiness.

Power companies preemptively shut down vulnerable grid sections along coastal corridors to avoid electrocution hazards, and medical facilities were supplied with emergency fuel for backup generators. The Ardonian Weather Relay (AWR) broadcast continuous live coverage, with multilingual updates issued across all provinces to reach rural and isolated communities.

Local governments also activated pre-arranged agreements with private shipping companies to secure food reserves, emergency medical kits, and mobile field hospitals. In Kaeru and Phaethon, floodgates and sea barriers were reinforced with additional concrete sheeting hours before landfall. These coordinated actions were credited with preventing an even higher death toll, despite the unprecedented strength of Arlene.

Impact

Costliest Ardonia arrocanes

Rank	Arrocane	Season	Damage
1	5  Arlene	2019	$158 billion
2	4  Nine	1865	$10.2 billion
3	4  Seven	1865	$5.87 billion
4	2  Camille	2019	$2.8 billion
5	3  Six	1865	$1.04 billion
6	TS  One	1865	$520 million
7	TS  Three	1865	$62 million
8	1  Four	1865	$15.5 million
9	TS  Two	1865	$2.5 million
10	TS  Eleven	1865	$250,000

Arlene caused catastrophic damage across wide swaths of Ardonia, with its impacts felt from the outer Trinity Islands to the mountainous interior of Cydonia. The worst devastation occurred in southern Cydonia, where entire towns were flattened by extreme winds, storm surge, and flash flooding. Coastal inundation reached unprecedented levels, with surge heights peaking at 50.75 ft in low-lying areas, submerging entire districts of Port Kazu.

Rainfall totals shattered all previous records, with localized measurements of up to 250.59 inches—causing widespread river flooding, landslides, and the total collapse of transportation networks. Along the eastern coast, Kaeru experienced the highest confirmed wave height ever recorded in the basin at 99.3 ft, severely damaging port infrastructure and rendering harbors unusable.

In Po’Hatu, the first point of landfall, most structures were destroyed or swept away, leaving the island nearly uninhabitable. Meridian, struck next, suffered extreme wind damage to high-rise buildings and historical sites, along with widespread loss of communications and utilities. The most prolonged and devastating impact occurred in Port Kazu, where the storm stalled and dropped relentless rainfall over several days. The city’s flood defenses were overwhelmed, resulting in submerged metro systems, collapsed bridges, and large-scale displacement.

In total, Arlene caused approximately $158 billion AC in damage, making it the costliest arrocane in Ardonian history. The storm killed 1,379 people and left over 15,000 injured, with 32 individuals still unaccounted for as of the latest reports. Over 450,000 people were displaced from their homes, and thousands required long-term shelter assistance. Blade Island and the Ardidia Cliffs region reported severe erosion and infrastructure collapse due to wave action and ground saturation.

Critical industries across Cydonia—including mining, agriculture, and shipping—sustained long-term disruption. Crop losses in the Phaethon lowlands were described as near-total, raising food security concerns in surrounding provinces. Emergency airlifts were required to reach isolated communities in the Trinity Islands and Crescent Beach, where roads were rendered impassable.

Multiple regional airports, including the main terminal in Meridian, were forced to close due to flooding and wind damage, hampering evacuation and relief logistics. Total insured and uninsured losses are expected to rise in subsequent assessments, with damage reports still being compiled by local NWS offices and NAC field teams.

Aftermath

In the storm’s aftermath, large-scale rescue and recovery operations were mobilized by the National Arrocane Center (NAC), regional governments, and international aid organizations. Emergency supplies were airlifted to the hardest-hit areas, including Po’Hatu and Crescent Beach, which were completely cut off by floodwaters and debris. Dozens of temporary shelters were established across southern Cydonia, where over 350,000 residents had been displaced.

Infrastructure repair efforts began immediately, but progress was hampered by washed-out roads, collapsed bridges, and prolonged power outages. Port Kazu’s metro and power grid were reported to be “non-functional,” while telecommunications remained limited for days across the Ardidia Cliffs and Kaeru. Engineers from across Ardonia were dispatched to assist in restoring electricity and clearing critical highways, with a focus on reestablishing medical and supply routes.

The government of Cydonia declared a state of emergency for the entire southern half of the kingdom, triggering the deployment of national guards and disaster relief reserves. Foreign assistance arrived from nearby kingdoms, including K’arthen and Conchord, delivering food, water, and fuel via both air and sea.

Educational institutions in affected areas were closed indefinitely, with some schools converted into emergency shelters or relief coordination centers. Damage to agricultural regions, especially in the Phaethon lowlands, raised concerns about long-term food supply stability and economic recovery. In total, over 1.2 million residents across Ardonia were estimated to have been directly impacted by the storm’s effects.

The Ardonia Meteorological Organization (AMO) began reviewing the storm’s performance shortly after its dissipation. While official retirement of the name "Arlene" has not yet occurred, the AMO has placed it under active consideration, currently listing the retirement likelihood at 100%. A final decision is expected at the conclusion of the season, following a full post-season analysis and regional consultation.

In the months following Arlene, the NAC and AMO jointly initiated efforts to improve storm surge forecasting, rapid intensification detection, and urban flood response coordination. The event is widely considered one of the most significant in the basin’s history, likely to influence arrocane policy and disaster preparedness for years to come.

Records

Strongest arrocanes

Rank	Arrocane	Season	Windspeed (MPH)
1	5  Arlene	2019	180 mph (290 km/h)
2	5  Nine	1865	165 mph (266 km/h)
3	4  Seven	1865	145 mph (233 km/h)
4	3  Six	1865	125 mph (201 km/h)
5	2  Eight	1865	105 mph (169 km/h)
6	2  Camille	2019	100 mph (160 km/h)
7	1  Four	1865	80 mph (130 km/h)
8	TS  Ten	1865	70 mph (110 km/h)
9	TS  Beryl	2019	65 mph (105 km/h)
10	TS  Three	1865	60 mph (97 km/h)

Arlene broke a total of 15 records in the Ardonian basin, setting new benchmarks in nearly every category of intensity and impact:

• Earliest Category 5 arrocane on record
• Costliest arrocane on record ($158 billion AC)
• Deadliest arrocane on record (1,379 confirmed fatalities)
• Strongest sustained winds on record (180 mph)
• Lowest pressure on record (899 mbar)
• First storm to make landfall at Category 5 intensity
• Most intense landfall windspeed (175 mph at Po’Hatu)
• Most intense landfall pressure (908 mbar)
• First A-named storm to reach category 1+ strength
• Highest recorded storm surge (50.75 ft)
• Most rainfall dropped by a single storm (250.59 inches)
• Highest confirmed wave height (99.3 ft)
• Longest duration of Category 5 intensity (30 hours)
• Smallest observed eye diameter (4.4 mi)
• Fastest intensification: 70 mph increase and 69 mbar drop in 24 hours

See also

• 2019 Ardonia arrocane season
• Ardonia arrocane wind scale
• List of Category 5 arrocanes