Typhoon Karen

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This article is about the retired Pacific typhoon of 1962. For other storms of the same name, see Tropical Storm Karen

Typhoon Karen

Category 5 typhoon (SSHS)

Super Typhoon Karen on November 11th.

Formed

November 7, 1962

Dissipated

November 18, 1962

Highest
winds

295 km/h (185 mph) (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

897 hPa (mbar)

Fatalities

11 direct

Damage

$250 million (1962 USD)
$2 billion (2008 USD)

Areas
affected

Guam, Japan

Part of the
1962 Pacific typhoon season
1962 Pacific hurricane season

Super Typhoon Karen (KF6CTJ in Japan) (also known as Tropical Storm Karen in the Central Pacific) was a powerful Category 5 super typhoon that devastated Guam at near peak intensity with winds of Category 5 strength. Karen also tracked near Japan as a weak Category 2, Strong Category 1 typhoon, with the effects of Karen being felt there. Karen was possibly the most intense tropical cyclone to hit the small island in recorded history, and was a storm of epic proportions.

1 Storm History
2 Impact
- 2.1 Retirement
3 Records
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Storm History

Storm path

On November 7, the 28^th storm of the season formed, it was named Karen. It then moved north and rapidly strengthened into a category five Super Typhoon. Karen was also reported to have two eyewalls at the time it slammed Guam (this may have been due to an eyewall replacement cycle). Karen then increased its speed from about 6 mph as it moved towards the northwest at around 18 mph. November 11, brought winds of 160+ and a minimum pressure of 934 millibars, if not lower, to Guam. It maintained Category 5 intensity for 4.25 days, second only to Typhoon Nancy in length. On the 14^th, Karen then curved east-northeast and began to weaken over the colder waters of the Pacific. On November 17, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. The following day Karen crossed into the central Pacific as a tropical storm. It then became extratropical^[1] later that day.

[edit] Impact

Karen made a direct hit on Guam, bringing estimated winds of 155-190 mph (about 150 knots) with estimated gusts of 207 mph (180 knots) to the island. Most of the temporary structures (not typhoon-proof, generally wood-frame construction) were destroyed, while permanent structures suffered considerable damage. Yona village on the east side of Guam suffered the most damage. About 97% of the buildings were completely destroyed there by Karen. However, flooding wasn't as bad as expected due to the increase of Karen's forward speed right before landfall. The eye of the storm passed just south of the center of the island. Karen left about 35,000 people homeless after slamming the island.

Karen didn't do much damage to Japan, instead it was mostly a rain event, flooding was likely. However, it is possible that hurricane force winds were felt because Karen did pass to the south and east of Japen as a weak category 2, strong category 1 typhoon.

Some Gale force winds were reported, with no rain however. However, there were strong waves that were left in the Philippines as a result of the Category 5 hurricane winds from Karen.

[edit] Retirement

Due to the severe damage on the island of Guam, the name Karen was retired and replaced with Kim for storms in the Western Pacific and East China Sea. The name Karen can still be used in the Atlantic, as evidenced by Hurricane Karen in September 2007^[2], and will be available again in 2013^[3].

[edit] Records

Karen lasted longer at Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale than any other tropical cyclone recorded except Typhoon Nancy of 1961. Typhoon Karen may also hold the record of the highest gust ever recorded at 207 mph (180 knots). However, modern studies indicate that both systems' wind speeds were likely overestimated, so it is considered possible that this record is misattributed to Karen and Nancy.