1987 Pacific typhoon season

1987 Pacific typhoon season
First storm formed January 8, 1987
Last storm dissipated December 19, 1987
Strongest storm Nina – 891 hPa (mbar), 270 km/h (165 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Total storms 24
Typhoons 18
Super typhoons 6
Total fatalities At least 1442
Total damage Unknown
Pacific typhoon seasons
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

The 1987 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1987, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November.[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

A total of 24 tropical cyclones formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 23 became tropical storms. Tropical cyclones formed every month this year, outside of February, March, and May. Of the 24, 18 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 6 reached super typhoon strength. Six of the tropical cyclones this year moved through the Philippines.

Contents

Storms

A total of 24 tropical cyclones formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 23 became tropical storms. Of the 24, 18 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 6 reached super typhoon strength. Six of the tropical cyclones this year moved through the Philippines.[2]

Typhoon Orchid (Auring)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration January 8 – January 14
Intensity 175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min),  956 mbar (hPa)

On January 3, a small and persistent area of thunderstorms near the International Dateline was first detected.[3] During the next few days, it slowly increased in organization and thunderstorm activity after which a small and ragged central dense overcast formed and upper level outflow improved.[3] A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued late on January 7 for the disturbance.[3] The JTWC then issued their first warning on Tropical Depression 01W during the afternoon of January 7.[3] The next morning, on January 8, an aircraft reconnaissance mission reported tropical storm–winds and the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm and named Orchid.[3] Orchid continued to gradually strengthen until it reached its peak intensity of 110 mph (175 km/h) on January 11 as a small typhoon.[3] After reaching peak intensity, Orchid weakened rather quickly and by January 14, it had degenerated into an area of low pressure.[3]

Orchid caused "extensive damage" on Ulithi Atoll but no deaths were reported.[3] In the wake of the typhoon, the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency declared parts of the Federated States of Micronesia as a disaster area.[4]

Tropical Storm Percy

Tropical Storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration April 11 – April 13
Intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min),  1001 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Ruth

Tropical Storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 18 – June 19
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Sperry (Bebeng)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration June 27 – July 1
Intensity 140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min),  981 mbar (hPa)

Super Typhoon Thelma (Katring)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration July 7 – July 16
Intensity 240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min),  911 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Thelma, which formed on July 6, steadily intensified to a peak of 150 mph (240 km/h) winds on July 11 while east of the northern Philippines. It turned sharply northward in response to a break in the ridge, slowly weakening as it remained east of any major landmass. On July 15, 80 mph (130 km/h) Typhoon Thelma hit the south coast of South Korea, causing massive flooding amounting to 123 casualties (with 212 missing) and $124 million (1987 USD) in crop and structural damage. In addition, Thelma brought heavy wind and rough seas to the Philippines that killed 12 people.[5]

Typhoon Vernon (Diding)

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration July 16 – July 21
Intensity 120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min),  983 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Wynne (Gening)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration July 22 – August 1
Intensity 230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min),  921 mbar (hPa)

This cyclone was the fifth typhoon of 1987. It became the third midget of the year and maintained an eye for six days. The initial disturbance formed east of the International Dateline on July 20. As it moved west-northwest, it organized into a tropical depression. It became a typhoon on July 23 and passed over the northern Marianas island of Alamagan. By July 26, Wynne reached its maximum intensity of 145 mph (230 km/h). As it rounded the western periphery of the subtropical ridge, the cyclone became sheared from the north and became an exposed center. Even so, it maintained typhoon intensity until July 29. Recurving east of Honshū, Wynne continued to weaken, becoming an extratropical cyclone by the afternoon of July 31.[6]

Typhoon Alex (Etang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration July 23 – July 28
Intensity 120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min),  976 mbar (hPa)

Super Typhoon Betty (Herming)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration August 8 – August 16
Intensity 260 km/h (160 mph) (1-min),  891 mbar (hPa)

The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression on August 7 while around 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines. It drifted northwestward, becoming a tropical storm on August 9 and a typhoon on August 10. Betty turned westward, where it rapidly intensified to a 160 mph (260 km/h) super typhoon on August 11. It weakened slightly to a 155 mph (249 km/h) super typhoon before hitting the central Philippines on the 12th. Betty weakened to a 105 mph (169 km/h) typhoon over the country, but restrengthened to a 135 mph (217 km/h) typhoon over the South China Sea. Land interaction weakened Betty to a minimal typhoon before it hit central Vietnam on August 16.[7] Betty caused 94 deaths, with damage from flooding adding up to 2 billion Philippine Pesos.[8]

Typhoon Cary (Ising)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration August 13 – August 22
Intensity 155 km/h (100 mph) (1-min),  968 mbar (hPa)

Super Typhoon Dinah (Luding)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration August 21 – August 31
Intensity 240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min),  910 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Ed

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 22 – August 28
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min),  998 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Freda

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration September 4 – September 17
Intensity 230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min),  916 mbar (hPa)

The middle cyclone of a set of triplets, Freda stalled briefly after Gerald dissipated and Holly swung around its northeast side, with Freda eventually following Holly out of sea by recurving east of Japan.[9]

Typhoon Gerald (Neneng)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration September 4 – September 10
Intensity 195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min),  937 mbar (hPa)

On September 4 a tropical depression formed east of Luzon from the monsoon trough. It remained embedded within the trough, and moved erratically, drifting northward to become a tropical storm late on the 4th. Gerald turned more to the northwest, reached typhoon strength on the 7th, and continued to intensify to a peak of 120 mph (190 km/h) on the 8th. It passed south of Taiwan, disrupting the circulation and weakening it as it continued to the west-northwest. Gerald hit southeast China as a 65 mph (105 km/h) tropical storm on the 10th, and dissipated the next day. Mudslides and torrential flooding up to 16 inches (410 mm) in some locations resulted in $131 million in damage (1987 USD) and 127 fatalities.[10]

Super Typhoon Holly

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration September 5 – September 15
Intensity 260 km/h (160 mph) (1-min),  898 mbar (hPa)

The eastern member of a set of triplets, Holly recurved well out to sea, not affecting mainland Asia.[11]

Typhoon Peke

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration September 21 – October 3
Intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min),  944 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Ian

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration September 23 – October 1
Intensity 205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min),  933 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 17W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration September 24 – September 26
Intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min),  1000 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm June

Tropical Storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration September 29 – October 1
Intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min),  994 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Kelly (Oniang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration October 10 – October 18
Intensity 175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min),  950 mbar (hPa)

A tropical disturbance formed east of the southern Philippines on October 7. Moving north-northwest for much of its life cycle, the system became a tropical depression and strengthened into a tropical storm on October 11 and a typhoon on October 12. Recurving near the 26th parallel, Kelly struck southern Japan as a typhoon early on October 17 and rapidly transitioned into an extratropical cyclone later that day in the Sea of Japan. On Shikoku Island Kelly dropped 20 inches (510 mm) of rain, resulting floods and landslides killed 8 people.[12]

Super Typhoon Lynn (Pepang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration October 16 – October 27
Intensity 260 km/h (160 mph) (1-min),  898 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Lynn, having developed from the monsoon trough on October 14 over the open ocean, rapidly intensified to a 160 mph (260 km/h) super typhoon on the 19th and 20th. It crossed through the Mariana Islands, and steadily weakened as it continued westward. Lynn passed just north of Luzon on the 23rd, and upper level winds weakened it to a tropical depression before it hit southern China on the 28th. Lynn's tight pressure gradient, in combination with a large high pressure area over China, caused heavy winds over Taiwan, resulting in the formation of torrential rains of up to 68 inches (1,700 mm) in Taipei. 42 people perished from the extreme flooding, the worst in Taiwan in 40 years.[13]

Tropical Storm Maury (Rosing)

Tropical Storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration November 11 – November 19
Intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min),  991 mbar (hPa)

Super Typhoon Nina (Sisang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration November 19 – November 29
Intensity 270 km/h (165 mph) (1-min),  891 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Nina, which began its life on November 16 in the eastern portion of the Western Pacific ocean, slowly strengthened to a typhoon on the 21st. It continued to strengthen as it passed through the Caroline Islands, and reached super typhoon strength on the 25th just east of the Philippines. Nina continued to intensify, and reached a peak of 165 mph (266 km/h) winds just before hitting the central Philippines on the evening of the 25th. Nina exited the archipelago the next day as a 105 mph (169 km/h) typhoon. Nina briefly re-strengthened to a 115 mph (185 km/h) typhoon before turning to the north. The typhoon briefly threatened Hong Kong on the 28th, but vertical shear caused the low level circulation and upper level circulation to separate, leaving a rapidly weakening Nina to turn southward over the South China Sea. The storm finally dissipated on the 30th, but not after causing 1,036 casualties and extensive crop damage on its path of 1.12 billion Philippine Pesos (1987 pesos).[14]

Tropical Storm Ogden

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration November 24 – November 25
Intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Phyllis (Trining)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration December 10 – December 19
Intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min),  943 mbar (hPa)

1987 storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1987 was named Orchid and the final one was named Phyllis.

  • Andy
  • Brenda
  • Cecil
  • Dot
  • Ellis
  • Faye
  • Gordon
  • Hope
  • Irving
  • Judy
  • Ken
  • Lola
  • Mac
  • Nancy
  • Owen
  • Peggy
  • Roger
  • Sarah
  • Tip
  • Vera
  • Wayne
  • Abby
  • Ben
  • Carmen
  • Dom
  • Ellen
  • Forrest
  • Georgia
  • Herbert
  • Ida
  • Joe
  • Kim
  • Lex
  • Marge
  • Norris
  • Orchid 1W
  • Percy 2W
  • Ruth 3W
  • Sperry 4W
  • Thelma 5W
  • Vernon 6W
  • Wynn 7W
  • Alex 8W
  • Betty 9W
  • Cary 10W
  • Dinah 11W
  • Ed 12W
  • Freda 13W
  • Gerald 14W
  • Holly 15W
  • Ian 16W
  • June 18W
  • Kelly 19W
  • Lynn 20W
  • Maury 21W
  • Nina 22W
  • Ogden 23W
  • Phyllis 24W
  • Roy
  • Susan
  • Thad
  • Vanessa
  • Warren
  • Agnes
  • Bill
  • Clara
  • Doyle
  • Elsie
  • Fabian
  • Gay
  • Hal
  • Irma
  • Jeff
  • Kit
  • Lee
  • Mamie
  • Nelson
  • Odessa
  • Pat
  • Ruby
  • Skip
  • Tess
  • Val
  • Winona

One central Pacific storm, Hurricane Peke, crossed into this basin. It became Typhoon Peke, keeping its original name and "C" suffix.

See also

References

  1. ^ Gary Padgett. May 2003 Tropical Cyclone Summary. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  2. ^ 1987 ATCR TABLE OF CONTENTS
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "JTWC Report for Typhoon Orchid". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1987atcr/pdf/wnp/01w.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
  4. ^ Staff Writer (July 29, 2008). "US Pacific Storm and Flooding Disaster Declarations". FEMA. http://www.pacificrisa.org/pubs/Pacific_StormFloodingDisasterDeclarations.doc. Retrieved December 6, 2009. 
  5. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Super Typhoon Thelma. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  6. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Typhoon Wynne. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
  7. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Super Typhoon Betty. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  8. ^ Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Most Destructive Tropical Cyclones for the Month of August (1948-2000). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  9. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Typhoon Freda. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  10. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Typhoon Gerald. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  11. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Super Typhoon Holly. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  12. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Typhoon Kelly. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  13. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Super Typhoon Lynn. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  14. ^ Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomic Services Administration. Most Destructive Tropical Cyclones for Month of November (1948-2000). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.

External links