| Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Bess as a tropical storm 500 nm off Hainan Island | |
| Formed | October 7, 1974 |
| Dissipated | October 14, 1974 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 977 mbar (hPa; 28.85 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 26 direct, 3 missing |
| Damage | $9.2 million (1974 USD) |
| Areas affected | Luzon, Philippines; Hainan Island; northern Vietnam |
| Part of the 1974 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Bess (international designation: 7423, JTWC designation: 27W, PAGASA name: Susang[1]) was the twenty-third tropical storm and the ninth typhoon of the 1974 Pacific typhoon season. Though the storm was only a Category 1 typhoon at its peak, it managed to cause $9.8 million dollars worth of damage, enough to merit the name's retirement.
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The tropical disturbance that was to become Typhoon Bess formed on October 6 in the western Pacific, south of Guam. By October 9, two centres had developed. The northern centre developed further, while the southern centre dissipated, having been initially tracked for four days. This northern centre attained tropical storm strength on October 9 following the dissipation of the southern centre.
While traveling west-north-west at 12 mph, Bess became a minimal typhoon on October 10 in the Philippine Sea.
Bess swept over Luzon while retaining typhoon strength, but weakened to a tropical storm on October 12 in the South China Sea. Bess made landfall on Hainan Island on October 13 and weakened further to a tropical depression while doing so. Bess finally dissipated on October 14 over northern Vietnam.
Bess made landfall three times; Luzon, Hainan Island and north Vietnam. Its first landfall brought 75 mph winds to Luzon on October 11. Rainfall of 5–6 inches over 24 hours was reported over much of the island, with as much as 30.8 inches in Baguio. Landslides and flash flooding caused 26 confirmed deaths, with 3 missing. Damages were estimated at $9.2 million (1974 USD). Though Bess crossed mountainous terrain, it emerged relatively unscathed.
Bess's second landfall was on Hainan Island as a tropical storm on October 13. Deaths and damages for this landfall are not available.
Bess's third and final landfall was on northern Vietnam as a tropical depression on October 14. Again, deaths and damages are not available.
Typhoon Bess was presumed to be the cause of the destruction of a US Air Force Hurricane Hunter on October 12 in the South China Sea. Contact with the newly converted WC-130H of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron was lost while it was collecting data in the northern part of the typhoon. The plane and its six-strong crew were never heard from again.
Due to the damage caused in Luzon and Hainan Island, the name Bess was retired after this season and replaced with Bonnie. However, when new name lists featuring both sexes were introduced in 1979, Bess was again added to the list. In 1982, Super Typhoon Bess caused massive mudslides in Japan. The name was once again retired and this time replaced with Brenda.