User:Storm05/Typhoon Fran (1976)
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Super Typhoon Fran (TC-17W) was a powerful Category 4 typhoon that stuck southern Japan in mid September 1976 killing 133 people and leaving $1.6 billion dollars (2005 USD) in damage.
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[edit] Storm history
An area of convectiveness was detected on September 1 northeast of Ponape and tracked for 2 days as the system became Tropical Depression 17W on September 2. The depression continued to strengthen and became Tropical Storm Fran on September 4. A weakness in a subtropical ridge over Japan allowed Fran to move northwest as it passed 20 miles southwest of Guam on September 5 while continuing to strengthen. On the 6th, Fran reached Category 1 status as it interacted with two weak high pressure systems on the 7th and then a trough later that day which cause Fran to undergo rapid intensifcation. By the evening of the 7th, Frans barometric pressure fell from 977 to 913 millibars. Fran maintained Category 4 status, reaching a peak of 155 mph before encountering wind shear and weakening to a 140 mph typhoon as it passed though the Ryukyu Islands.
By September 10, Fran stalled and drifted for 36 hours before accelerating on the 11th and making landfall at Kyushu on September 12. Fran weakened to a tropical storm as it entered the cooler waters of Sea of Japan before becoming extratropical on September 13.
[edit] Impact
60 mph (55 knot) winds were reported in Naha and there was moderate damage in Okinawa. Offshore, the storms destructive winds and wave cause one ship to run aground while another broke in two and sank. On land, Fran left $572 million dollars (1976 USD) in damage to homes and buildings. The death toll from Fran was 133 people with 32 others missing making fran the worst typhoon to strike Japan in a ten year period.
[edit] Lack of retirement
Despite the damage and death toll, the name Fran was not retired.
