Tropical Storm Kammuri (2002)
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| Severe tropical storm (JMA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
 Kammuri near peak intensity |
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| Formed | August 2, 2002 | ||
| Dissipated | August 5, 2002 | ||
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 980 mbar (hPa) | ||
| Damage | Unavailable | ||
| Fatalities | 107 direct | ||
| Areas affected |
China, Taiwan | ||
| Part of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season |
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Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri (international designation: 0212, JTWC designation: 16W, designated Tropical Storm Lagalag by PAGASA and sometimes known as just Tropical Storm Kammuri)[1] was the sixteenth tropical cyclone and twelfth named storm of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season. Kammuri was a name contributed by Japan which means 'crown'. Lagalag was a Filipino name and an adjective meaning 'wandering', or 'roving'.
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[edit] Storm History
The formative stage of Kammuri traces back to a large monsoon gyre east of Luzon in late July and early August. The disturbance was first spotted early on August 2 as an area of convection which had persisted approximately 270 nm west of Luzon in the South China Sea. The system was upgraded to Tropical Depression 16W six hours later as it tracked west-northwestward at 7 kts. The system turned northward early the next morning under the influence of a low to mid-level ridge over the East China Sea. 16W accelerated to 13 kts while turning back to the west at around midday as it became less influenced by the southwesterly monsoon flow. The system was consolidating, and by the evening of the 3rd, the cyclone was upgraded to a tropical storm and assigned the name Kammuri.
On August 4, Kammuri was moving westward at 4 kts. Soon afterwards, a surge in the southwest monsoon was pushing Kammuri on an east-northeast heading by this time and the cyclone started to lift out of the monsoon trough. Gradually turning to the north, the tropical cyclone approached the Chinese coast. Kammuri made landfall with winds of 60 mph 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 on the 5th 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 the end of the day.
[edit] Impact
A total of 107 deaths occurred as a result of Kammuri's passage, with most of the damage and casualties in southern China due to the rain-induced flooding caused by the combination of a cold front and the remnants of the tropical cyclone. Flood damage destroyed crops, bridges, tunnels and power lines. The storm, accompanied by torrential rains, ripped through the coastal cities of Shanwei, Shantou and Lufeng in the eastern part of Guangdong Province, causing extensive damage. A great deal of crop land was flooded, and many bridges, tunnels and power lines were destroyed. ater and electricity supplies in some of the storm-hit areas were also cut off. In Wuhua County alone, 10 farmers were killed when they were swallowed by a massive landslide. In Shantou, two people were electrocuted when they were repairing power facilities amid heavy rain. Torrential rains caused 28 deaths in Guangdong while four deaths were reported in Quanzhou. In Hunan Province, the death toll reached 75 persons. Direct economic losses are estimated at 4.219 billion yuan. The reported number of collapsed houses was 20,182.[2]
In Fujian province, Yongchun measured 284.3 mm of rainfall, which was a daily record for the station. Hongwuyi, in Yongchun County, reported 315 mm during the same period- which was the highest daily amount in the history of that station as well. Taiwan received 325 mm of rain at Tung Ho, in Taitung county in 27 hours. Cheng Kung, Taiwan, recorded a daily amount of 591 mm on 5 August (local time)--a new record for the station.
