Typhoon Kate (1970)
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| Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Formed | October 14, 1970 | |
| Dissipated | October 25, 1970 | |
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 938 hPa (mbar) | |
| Fatalities | 915 direct (includes 284 unaccounted for, Philippines only) | |
| Damage | $50 million (1970 USD) $277 million (2008 USD) |
|
| Areas affected |
Philippines, Vietnam | |
| Part of the 1970 Pacific typhoon season |
||
Super Typhoon Kate (designated Super Typhoon Titang by PAGASA[1]) was the second of two super typhoons to strike the Philippines within a week in October 1970, the first being Super Typhoon Joan. As a result, Kate produced heavy damage and over 631 casualties. At the time, Kate was the deadliest typhoon to strike the Philippines.[2]
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[edit] Storm history
A disturbed area of bad weather was first observed on October 7 near the Marshall Islands. Moving west, this disturbance started showing signs of convection on October 13, partially due to Typhoon Joan's effects on the waters in the Pacific. 300 miles (480 km) south of Yap on October 14, an organised area of clouds was evident, and by the time reconnaissance aircraft could reach the system on October 15, it was nearly at typhoon strength, already packing winds of 110 km/h (70 mph).[2]
Tropical Storm Kate strengthened into a typhoon at 11 a.m. UTC October 15, and continued to move westwards. Two days later, on October 17, Kate, now a typhoon, started turning to the northwest, putting Davao Gulf of Mindanao right in its path. Kate became a super typhoon 24 hours later. It made landfall 30 miles (48 km) south of Davao City on October 19, thus becoming the second super typhoon to strike the Philippines in four days.[2] However, as evidence to how concentrated the storm was, Davao City did not report sustained winds higher than 46 km/h (29 mph, tropical depression-strength winds).[2]
Despite Mindanao's mountainous terrain, Kate remained well-organised over the Sulu Sea after crossing the island. Kate, now a tropical storm again, regained typhoon strength shortly before crossing Busuanga Island. A United States Coast Guard LORAN station on the island reported a 76-knot (140 km/h, 90 mph) gust and a barometer reading of 989.9 mbar.
Kate then turned northwards, moving parallel to the Luzon coast before on October 22, conditions inhibited any further northwards motion. This forced the storm westwards, and towards to coastline of Indochina.[2] Kate made landfall on October 25 south of Da Nang, Vietnam as a tropical storm. 40 knot sustained winds, with 66-knot gusts, were reported by the airfield in Da Nang. Kate then dissipated inland.
[edit] Impact
[edit] Philippines
In southern Mindanao, over 5,000 houses and other such structures were damaged or destroyed by Kate's winds and the storm surge, heavy rains and flooding brought on by Kate.[2] Kate was the costliest typhoon of the season[2] and the 19th costliest overall in the Philippines up to 2002.[3] Damage estimates were set at $50 million (1970 USD, $252 million 2006 USD), or about 1.75 billion Philippine pesos (1970).[citation needed]
At least 631 people died in the Philippines, with 284 counted as missing, making Kate the worst killer typhoon in the country at that point.
[edit] Vietnam
Although damage estimates and reports of deaths are scarce out of Vietnam, floodwaters, considered the worst since 1964, affected an area nearly 140 square miles south of Da Nang. 900 people were evacuated the first day after Kate by Marine Aircraft Group 16, and over 9,000 South Vietnamese were rescued by the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Vietnam to fight the Vietnam War.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ unknown (unknown). Retrieved on June 5, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f g Joint Typhoon Warning Center (1971). K. TYPHOON KATE. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.
- ^ Dominic Alojado (2004). COSTLIEST TYPHOONS OF THE PHILIPPINES (1947-2002). Retrieved on 2006-06-07.
- ^ unknown (2005). UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995. Retrieved on 2006-06-05.
