Typhoon Zeb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Typhoon Zeb making landfall. |
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| Formed | October 9, 1998 | |
| Dissipated | October 19, 1998 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 872 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $834.7 million (1998 USD) | |
| Fatalities | 99 direct | |
| Areas affected |
Philippines, Taiwan, Japan | |
| Part of the 1998 Pacific typhoon season |
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Typhoon Zeb (also known as Super Typhoon Zeb or Typhoon (Iliang) in the Philippines) was a powerful Category 5 typhoon with a minimum central pressure reading of 872 millibars and 180 mph sustained winds, making it one of five Pacific storms tied for the second most intense tropical cyclone on record.
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[edit] Storm history
Zeb formed out of a low pressure system that emerged from a monsoon trough. The low then became a tropical depression south of Guam.[1] On October 10, the system reached tropical storm strength and was named Zeb. Zeb then moved westward before reaching typhoon status northwest of Palau. Overnight, the storm explosively intensified from a 70 mph tropical storm to a 180 mph supertyphoon.[2] While maintaining its strength, Zeb made landfall on the island of Luzon. Zeb then turned a north-northwesterly course while weakening to a category 2 storm.
Zeb then later recurved and brushed past Taiwan before accelerating towards Japan on the 17th. Now downgraded to a tropical storm, Zeb struck the islands of Kyūshū and Shikoku before merging with a cold front on the 18th.[3]
[edit] Impact
83 people died in the Philippines and there was severe damage on the island of Luzon. About most of the rice harvest was ruined and the town of Baguio reported 994.6 mm of rain.[4] About six provinces were declared disaster areas. [5] In Taiwan, Zeb left 25-31 people dead and $56.7 million dollars (1998 USD) in damage when it brushed past Taiwan.[6] In its dissipating stage two people were killed on Okinawa Island and six more on mainland Japan. Most of them were from mudslides. The final death toll in Japan was twelve.[7]
The final death toll was 99 dead and $834 million dollars (1998 USD) in damage.
[edit] Strength
Zeb's 872 mbar pressure reading makes it the second most intense tropical cyclone on record worldwide, tied with four other typhoons.[8]
| Rank | Name | Pressure | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Typhoon Tip | 870 mbar | Western Pacific | 1979 |
| 2 | Typhoon Gay | 872 mbar | Western Pacific | 1992* |
| 2 | Typhoon Ivan | 872 mbar | Western Pacific | 1997* |
| 2 | Typhoon Joan | 872 mbar | Western Pacific | 1997* |
| 2 | Typhoon Keith | 872 mbar | Western Pacific | 1997* |
| 2 | Typhoon Zeb | 872 mbar | Western Pacific | 1998* |
| * Estimated from satellite imagery | ||||
