2002 Pacific typhoon season
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| First storm formed: | January 10, 2002 | |
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| Last storm dissipated: | December 10, 2002 | |
| Strongest storm: | Fengshen - 145 knots | |
| Total storms: | 24 | |
| Typhoons: | 16 | |
| Super typhoons: | 8 | |
| Total fatalities: | 311 | |
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The 2002 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2002, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. [1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the international date line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 2002 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin are assigned a name by the Tokyo Typhoon Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.
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[edit] Notable Storms
Most of the 31 cyclones that developed this year either remained out at sea or were weak at landfall.
[edit] Tropical Depression 03W
When Tropical Depression 03W crossed the southern and central Philippines on March 21 and 22nd, it caused 35 casualties and $1.7 million in damage (2002 USD).
[edit] Super Typhoon Chataan
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| Chataan satellite image and storm track. | |
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- Main article: Typhoon Chataan
On July 2, 55 mph Tropical Storm Chataan passed through Chuuk, causing numerous mudslides on the island. The storm continued to the northwest, passing close to Guam before reaching a peak of 150 mph winds on the 7th. Chataan turned to the northeast, and became extratropical on the 11th. Chataan killed 55 and $59.8 million in damage between Chuuk and Guam, making it the first typhoon to hit the area since Typhoon Paka in 1997.
[edit] Tropical Storm Kammuri (Lagalag)
- Main article: Tropical Storm Kammuri (2002)
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| Kammuri satellite image and storm track. | |
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Kammuri was a name contributed by Japan which means 'crown'. Lagalag was a Filipino name and an adjective meaning 'wandering, or 'roving'.
Tropical Depression 16W formed at 0600 UTC on the August 2 as it tracked west-northwestward. The system turned northward the next day under the influence of a low to mid-level ridge over the East China Sea. The depression turned back to the west shortly later as it became less influenced by the southwesterly monsoon flow. The system was consolidating, and six hours later, the cyclone was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kammuri. Soon afterwards, a surge in the southwest monsoon was pushing Kammuri on an east-northeast and the cyclone started to lift out of the monsoon trough. Kammuri made landfall with winds of 60 mph (50 kts) at 2200 UTC, just east of Shanwei. The storm began to accelerate ahead of an approaching mid-latitude low-pressure system and was downgraded to a tropical depression at midday as it moved farther inland. The surface cyclone dissipated over the mountainous coastline of eastern China and its remnants linked up with a cold front by August 5.
107 people died because of Kammuri and the direct economic losses are estimated at 4.219 billion yuan. The reported number of collapsed houses was 20,182. [2]
[edit] Typhoon Rusa
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| Rusa satellite image and storm track. | |
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- Main article: Typhoon Rusa
When 80 mph Typhoon Rusa, which peaked at 135 mph winds earlier in its lifetime, hit South Korea, it caused torrential flooding, causing 113 casualties (with 71 missing) and nearly $6 billion in damage (2002 USD). The name Rusa was retired after this year.
[edit] Hurricane/Typhoon Ele
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| Ele satellite image and storm track. | |
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An eastern extension of the monsoon trough south of Hawaii organized into Tropical Depression Two-C on August 27 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Ele six hours later. Despite the nearby presence of Alika, Ele developed rapidly and strengthened into a hurricane on August 28. After contributing to the demise of Alika, Ele continued strengthening. It reached Category 2 intensity late on August 28 and became a major hurricane 6 hours later. Ele then crossed the International Date Line and became a typhoon. Typhoon Ele turned to the northwest after crossing the dateline and continued to strengthen. It reached Category 4 before turning north and weakening again. After briefly restrengthening back into a Category 4, the typhoon declined and turned to the northwest. Ele fell to a tropical storm on September 7, a depression on September 9, and dissipated shortly after that. Ele was of no threat to land.
[edit] Super Typhoon Higos
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| Higos satellite image and storm path | |
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Typhoon Higos, after weakening from a peak of 155 mph winds, hit near Tokyo, Japan on October 1 as a 90 mph typhoon, the 3rd strongest since 1945. 9 deaths and widespread flooding can be attributed to Higos.
[edit] Hurricane/Typhoon Huko
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| Huko satellite image and storm track. | |
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An area of convection formed Tropical Depression Three-C on October 24. It drifted north, strengthened into a tropical storm, and was named Huko (Hawaiian for Hugo). On October 28, it became a hurricane. Due to the proximity of Lowell, shear weakened the cyclone. After Lowell's demise, Huko again became a hurricane. It crossed the dateline and became a typhoon. Huko eventually recurved and lasted until November 7. At that time, it went extratropical, having never threatened land.
[edit] Super Typhoon Pongsona
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| Pongsona satellite image and storm track. | |
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- Main article: Typhoon Pongsona
Super Typhoon Pongsona was the third strongest typhoon to strike Guam in recorded history. Comparable to Typhoon Paka, it inflicted an estimated $700 million in damages, killed one and injured 163.
[edit] Storm names
Western North Pacific tropical cyclones are named by the RSMC Tokyo-Typhoon Center of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Names are selected from the following sequential list, there is no annual list. Names were contributed by 13 members of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, except for Singapore. The 13 nations or territories, along with Micronesia, each submitted 10 names, which are used in alphabetical order by the English name of the country. The first storm of 2002 was named Tapah and the final one was named Pongsona.
| Contributing Nation | Names | ||||
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| Cambodia | Damrey | Kong-rey | Nakri 11W | Krovanh | Sarika |
| China | Longwang | Yutu | Fengshen 12W | Dujuan | Haima |
| DPR Korea | Kirogi | Toraji | Kalmaegi 15W | Maemi | Meari |
| Hong Kong | Kai-Tak | Man-yi | Fung-wong 14W | Choi-wan | Ma-on |
| Japan | Tenbin | Usagi | Kammuri 16W | Koppu | Tokage |
| Laos | Bolaven | Pabuk | Phanfone 19W | Ketsana | Nock-ten |
| Macau | Chanchu | Wutip | Vongfong 20W | Parma | Muifa |
| Malaysia | Jelawat | Sepat | Rusa 21W | Melor | Merbok |
| Micronesia | Ewinlar | Fitow | Sinlaku 22W | Nepartak | Nanmadol |
| Philippines | Bilis | Danas | Hagupit 23W | Lupit | Talas |
| RO Korea | Gaemi | Nari | Changmi | Sudal | Noru |
| Thailand | Prapiroon | Vipa | Mekkhala 24W | Nida | Kulap |
| U.S.A. | Maria | Francisco | Higos 25W | Omais | Roke |
| Vietnam | Saomai | Lekima | Bavi 28W | Conson | Sonca |
| Cambodia | Bopha | Krosa | Maysak 29W | Chanthu | Nesat |
| China | Wukong | Haiyan | Haishen 30W | Dianmu | Haitang |
| DPR Korea | Sonamu | Podul | Pongsona 31W | Mindule | Nalgae |
| Hong Kong | Shanshan | Lingling | Yanyan | Tingting | Banyan |
| Japan | Yagi | Kajiki | Kujira | Kompasu | Washi |
| Laos | Xangsane | Faxai | Chan-hom | Namtheun | Matsa |
| Macau | Bebinca | Vamei | Linfa | Malou | Sanvu |
| Malaysia | Rumbia | Tapah 01W | Nangka | Meranti | Mawar |
| Micronesia | Soulik | Mitag 02W | Soudelor | Rananin | Guchol |
| Philippines | Cimaron | Hagibis 05W | Imbudo | Malakas | Talim |
| RO Korea | Chebi | Noguri 07W | Koni | Megi | Nabi |
| Thailand | Durian | Rammasun 09W | Morakot | Chaba | Khanun |
| U.S.A. | Utor | Chataan 08W | Etau | Aere | Vicente |
| Vietnam | Trami | Halong 10W | Vamco | Songda | Saola |
Two central pacific storms, Hurricane Ele 02C and Hurricane Huko 03C, crossed into this basin. They became Typhoon Ele and Typhoon Huko keeping their original name and "C" suffix.
[edit] Philippines
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones within its area of responsibility. Lists are recycled every four years.
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[edit] See also
- 2002 Pacific hurricane season
- 2002 Atlantic hurricane season
- 2002-03 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/may03sum.txt
- ^ http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/summ0208.txt
