Tropical Storm Thelma
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Tropical Storm Thelma nearing the Philippines on November 4 |
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| Formed | November 1, 1991 | |
| Dissipated | November 8, 1991 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 991 hPa (mbar) | |
| Fatalities | 5,101-8,000+ direct | |
| Damage | $19 million (2002 USD) $22.8 million (2008 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
Philippines, Vietnam | |
| Part of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season |
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Tropical Storm Thelma (Philippine name: Uring) was the deadliest tropical storm of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season, killing more than 6,000 people as it crossed the Philippines.
Contents |
[edit] Storm history
A tropical disturbance developed over the eastern Caroline Islands in late October. The disturbance was in a line of future storms, including what would become Super Typhoon Seth and Tropical Storm Verne. The disturbance that would become Thelma tracked to the west-northwest, to become Tropical Depression 27W on November 1. Its convection increased as it turned westward, and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Thelma on the November 4.
Thelma was originally forecast to move northward in response to a break in the subtropical ridge, but the ridge remained strong. Thelma began a west-southwest track on November 4, reaching a peak of 50 mph (80 km/h) winds before interaction with the Philippines weakened it. The storm made landfall on the island of Samar in the eastern Philippines on the November 5, continued to the west, and weakened to a 40 mph (64 km/h) tropical storm. In the South China Sea, strong vertical shear kept Thelma a minimal storm, where it weakened to a tropical depression on November 7, hit eastern Vietnam on the 8th, and dissipated shortly thereafter.
[edit] Impact
Tropical Storm Thelma caused around 6,000 casualties in the Philippines (estimated death toll ranges from 5,101 to over 8,000), making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in Philippine history. In addition, tens of thousands were left homeless in the aftermath of the storm.
In the time Thelma crossed the Philippines, it dropped over 6 inches (150 mm) of rain in some areas, with a local maximum of 580.5 millimetres (22.85 in) falling at Tongonon Geothermal Site.[1] The city hardest hit was Ormoc City on Leyte Island. Most of the storm's death toll occurred here. Three-quarters of the city was destroyed in the flooding.
Because of the death toll and other effects of the storm, the names Thelma and Uring have been retired from future use.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Leoncio A. Amadore, Ph.D. Socio-Economic Impacts of Extreme Climatic Events in the Philippines. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
