User:Mitchazenia/Typhoon Wanda (1962)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Formed | August 23, 1962 | |
| Dissipated | September 4, 1962 | |
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 949 mbar (JTWC) 960 hPa (JMA) |
|
| Damage | $382 million (1962 USD) $2.5 billion (2006 USD) [1] |
|
| Fatalities | 434 w/ 34 missing | |
| Areas affected |
Hong Kong, Hainan Island | |
| Part of the 1962 Pacific typhoon season |
||
Typhoon Wanda (59W) (Internation designational: 6214) was the 59th easterly wave, 16th depression, and the fourteenth typhoon of the record-breaking 1962 Pacific typhoon season. Wanda peaked at Category and slammed into Hong Kong, killing 434 with major damage. [2]Wanda was the most destructive typhoon to hit Hong Kong since the The Great Hong Kong Typhoon of 1937.
Contents |
[edit] Storm History
A tropical wave formed on August 23 west of the island of Ponape. The wave continually changed directions and the first advisory was released on August 24 near the island of Truk. On the afternoon of August 27, the wave became Tropical Depression 59W west of Guam after merging with a 200-mbar low from the Southern Hemisphere. The depression intensified quickly into Tropical Storm Wanda at the fourth advisory on August 28. Strengthening continued and Wanda became a typhoon on August 29. [2]
An aircraft reconnaissance on August 30 indicated that further intensification had occurred and 90 mph winds were reported near the center of Wanda. On August 31, Wanda reached its peak at 110 mph winds, a category 2 typhoon, with a minimum pressure of 949 mbar just north of the Philippines. At that point, Wanda had a diameter of 1000 miles across. Wanda made landfall in southeastern China with winds of 100 mph. Wanda quickly weakened and dissipated over China because of cold air and a land strike. [2]
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories the next day. [3]
[edit] Impact
[edit] Hong Kong
In Sha Tin Village Police Post the high water mark was 17'3" above chart datum or 5' above road level. At the railway station high water was over the railway track but below the level of the platform. The water was reported to rise very quickly for 10 or 15 minutes, and the highest level lasted for 10 - 15 minutes some time between 10.30 and 11.30 a.m. At the aerodrome, there were two high water marks both about 6 feet above the level of the airstrip, which is 10 feet above chart datum. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. [4]
179 acres of low lying farm mostly at Sha Tin were still affected two months later due to breached bunds. More than 300 fishing boats out of a total fleet of just over 1000 were wrecked in the Tolo Harbour area. It is estimated that approximately 3000 huts and 5 village-type houses were damaged or destroyed in Sha Tin. This is very roughly estimated to be about one fifth of this type of accommodation in Sha Tin. Many of the huts were destroyed by boats or logs crashing into them. About 650 acres of paddy fields in the Sha Tin area were inundated with sea water and the annual rice production was reduced by nearly 20% compared with 1961. [4]
Of a total of 132 ocean-going ships, twenty-four were beached and twelve collided. The Vinkon and Haijye ran aground near the railway line at Tai Po Kau and on Harbour Island respectively. The Cronulla capsized near West Point and the Tung Feng sank near Green Island. The other ships sunk during Typhoon Wanda included the Yeni Meserret the Tai Kwong No. 1 and the tugs Dorothy and Kowloon Docks. 484 fishing vessels sunk in Hong Kong with 509 more damaged. [1] [4]
Among the 434 dead were five Royal Air Force men whose bodies were found near a camping site on a neighboring island on Sunday, September 2. [5]
Damage from trees and forests was severe as Wanda uprooted and snapped many trees. Other trees had their leaves and branches ripped off, leaving just bare tree trunks. Logs, which came adrift from a timberyard, damaged or destroyed many squatter boats in Shau Kei Wan. Wanda's damage caused 900 huts to be destroyed and over 4000 to be damaged , including numerous houses collapsing. Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, 34 missing, 72,000 homeless people and 515 injuries [6] with $2.5 billion of damage occurring. [4] [1]
[edit] Hainan Island
Wanda made landfall in Hainan Island on September 4, however no damage or produced any of the 434 fatalities.
[edit] Lack of Retirement
Even with the severe damage caused by Wanda, the name was not retired and not removed from the list of typhoon names.
[edit] Records
- Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then. [4]
