Typhoon Rose (1971)
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| Category 4 (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Formed | August 10, 1971 | |
| Dissipated | August 18, 1971 | |
| Highest winds |
|
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| Lowest pressure | 952 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | unknown | |
| Fatalities | 130 direct | |
| Areas affected |
Philippines, Hong Kong, eastern China | |
| Part of the 1971 Pacific typhoon season |
||
Typhoon Rose (designated as Typhoon Uring by PAGASA and Typhoon 21W by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center) was category 4 typhoon that struck the northern Philippines and later eastern China in August 1971. Rose was most violent typhoon to strike Hong Kong since 1962 as the storm left 130 people dead (mostly in China) and severe damage although exact totals are unknown.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave, detected on August 7, strengthened and became a tropical depression on August 10. Strengthening further, it became Tropical Storm Rose on August 11 as the storm moved westward.
Rose then became a Category 3 typhoon before striking the northern Philippines and entering the South China Sea on August 14. On August 15, Typhoon Rose began to turn northeast and its eye flucuated in diameter. Data from satellites and Hurricane Hunter planes revealed that the typhoon was relatively small in size. Approaching land, Typhoon Rose reached its maximum winds of 140 mph and minimum barometric pressure of 952 millibars before making landfall west of Cheung Chau on August 17. Rose then weakened to a tropical storm and dissipated after making landfall.[1]
[edit] Preparations
A tropical storm watch (Stand By Signal in Hong Kong) was issued at 5:00 pm when Rose was located 400 miles southeast of the colony. On August 16, the tropical storm watch was changed to a warning by the Royal Observatory. As Rose was approaching to make landfall, weather forecasters issued a hurricane warning. Its unclear if any evacuations took place.[1]
[edit] Impact
While Typhoon Rose was still at sea, a ship reported winds of 100 mph and a barometric pressure of 953 millibars. Another ship reported a barometric pressure of 952 millibars seven miles away from the eye.[1]
Typhoon Rose made landfall in the Philippines and Hong Kong before becoming extatropical over eastern China. Weather stations in the Philippines reported 80 mph winds and a barometric pressure reading of 986 millibars but there were no reports of damage or deaths when the typhoon made landfall.[2]
Many weather stations in and around Hong Kong reported wind gusts up to 175 mph and rainfall totals up to 161.7 millimetres (6.3 inches). Along the coast, the typhoon generated waves of 9.5 meters and a storm surge of 1.23 feet was recorded in Lantau. Typhoon Rose also produced a fog bank before making landfall which is unusual for a tropical cyclone.[1] The storm surge and heavy waves proved dangerous to ships offshore, at least 300 boats ships sank or were badly damaged by the typhoon, killing 110 people and injuring 283. On land, the typhoon left over 5,000 people homeless, disabled communications and washed roads out. Rose also caused a considerable loss in livestock and agriculture. A fire broke out at a power substation during the typhoon, causing a blackout which left thousands of people without electricity.[3] Typhoon Rose was also responsible for the sinking of the Hong Kong-Macau ferry, Fat Shan which resulted in the deaths of 88 people and accounted for most of the 110 fatalities attributed to Rose.
