1940–49 Pacific typhoon seasons
The decade of the 1940s featured the 1940–49 Pacific typhoon seasons. The seasons had no official bounds, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the international date line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1940-1949 Pacific hurricane seasons. Tropical storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. 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.
Seasons
1940 Pacific typhoon season
In Guam, a November typhoon caused great damage. It was the strongest typhoon to hit Guam since 1918.[1][1]
1941 Pacific typhoon season
In August, a major typhoon brought a great amount of damage to Guam.[1]
1942 Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Juliet formed and existed.
Nine tropical storms are reported in August.[2]
1943 Pacific typhoon season
No storms were reported this season.
1944 Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Cobra was first spotted on December 17, in the Philippine Sea. It sank three US destroyers, killing at least 790 people, before dissipating the next day.
Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 145 MPH which would classify it as a Category 4 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
1945 Pacific typhoon season
Tropical Storm Ann
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
April 19 – April 26 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Betty
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
May 13 – May 16 |
Intensity |
100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Connie
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
June 1 – June 7 |
Intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
A small, yet powerful typhoon, Connie, was first spotted on June 1 by the Weather Central Guam, moving northeast. Winds were reported to have been as high as 140 mph. But by June 7, it began to weaken. Its final fate is unknown. One officer and five men were lost or killed because of Connie.
Tropical Storm Doris
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
June 18 – June 21 |
Intensity |
85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Nancy
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 3 – July 8 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Opal
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 14 – July 22 |
Intensity |
120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Peggy
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 22 – July 23 |
Intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Edna
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 27 – July 29 |
Intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Eva
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 30 – August 4 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Queenie
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 5 – August 9 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Frances
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 9 – August 13 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Grace
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 15 – August 22 |
Intensity |
110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Ruth
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 22 – August 28 |
Intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Susan
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 23 – August 28 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Tess
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 23 – August 25 |
Intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Helen
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 29 – September 4 |
Intensity |
195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Helen formed on August 29. It moved west-northwest and strengthened into a category 3 typhoon with 120 mph winds. It weakened slightly to a category two and struck Taiwan. It briefly was over waters before it hit China as a tropical storm. It dissipated on September 4.
Typhoon Ursula
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 7 – September 14 |
Intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Ida
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 10 – September 20 |
Intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Verna
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 20 – September 22 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Wanda
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 21 – September 24 |
Intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Jean
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 25 – October 2 |
Intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Kate
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 28 – October 6 |
Intensity |
110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Louise
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 2 – October 12 |
Intensity |
120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Louise was first seen developing on October 2 in the Caroline Islands. It unexpectedly veered north and slowed down, only to intensify as it passed over Okinawa with 90 mph wind gusts and a minimum central pressure of 968.5 mbar. Shortly after, Louise began to weaken, and hit Japan as a strong tropical storm. The tropical cyclone became extratropical shortly after on October 12. In Okinawa, 36 people died, 47 people were reported missing, and 100 people were seriously injured. In Buckner Bay, 30–35 waves were reported to have crashed ashore, tearing into the Quonset huts and other building. Twelve ships were sunk, 222 ships were grounded, and another 32 were severely damaged. Eighty percent of the buildings in the bay were completely wiped out while all 60 airplanes at the local airports were damaged, but most were repairable. One 107 amphibious craft (including the wrecking of four Landing Ships, two medium landing ships, a gunboat, and two infantry landing craft) were grounded and damaged.[3]
Tropical Storm Marge
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 1 – November 4 |
Intensity |
85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Yvonne
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 14 – November 17 |
Intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Nora
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 22 – November 29 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
1945 storm names
- Ann
- Betty
- Connie
- Doris
- Nancy
- Opal
- Peggy
- Edna
- Eva
|
- Queenie
- Frances
- Grace
- Ruth
- Susan
- Tess
- Helen
- Ursula
- Ida
|
- Verna
- Wanda
- Jean
- Kate
- Louise
- Marge
- Yvonne
- Nora
|
1946 Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Barbara
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
March 27 – April 7 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Barbara formed on March 27, and moved west. It strengthened briefly to a category three with 115 mph winds. But shortly after, it began to weaken. Typhoon Barbara curved northward and then westward, in turn hitting the Philippines as a category one. After making landfall, it curved back to the east and continued to weaken until April 7, when it dissipated.
Typhoon Charlotte
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
May 11 – May 17 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Dolly
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
June 17 – June 23 |
Intensity |
205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
On June 17, Typhoon Dolly formed. It moved northwestward, only to strengthen. After passing by the Philippines, it reached its maximum intensity of 125 mph, a strong major hurricane. It rounded around Taiwan and made landfall on China's shoreline. It dissipated hours after on June 23.
Tropical Storm Elinor
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
June 23 – June 25 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Ginny
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
June 30 – July 2 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Ingrid
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 12 – July 20 |
Intensity |
220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Ingrid formed July 12, immediately moving west. After strengthening, it briefly became a category four on July 15. It weakened to a category two and struck the northern part of the Philippines. Ingrid retained its strength until it hit China. Right after it made landfall in China, it moved north and dissipated on July 20.
Typhoon Janie
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 23 – July 31 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Janie formed on July 23. It moved northwest and then curved west. It was then that she became a major hurricane with 115 mph winds. After heading westward for a while, Janie began curving the opposite direction. But that was short-lived; it began moving northwest and struck southern Japan. Janie traveled over the island and dissipated near Russia's coast on July 31.
Typhoon Lilly
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 10 – August 21 |
Intensity |
230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
On August 10, a disturbance managed to organize itself enough to be designated Tropical Storm Lilly. It moved in a generally northwest direction while intensifying at a moderate pace-becoming Typhoon Lilly shortly after its formation. Before Lilly moved over cold waters, it attained a peak intensity of 145 mph. It narrowly missed Japan's shoreline as a category two before striking Korea as a moderate tropical storm. Lilly dissipated on August 21, after eleven days of the traveling of the western Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Storm Maggie
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 22 – August 27 |
Intensity |
110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Opal
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 7 – September 14 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Priscilla
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 8 – September 19 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Querida
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 18 – September 27 |
Intensity |
220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Alma
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 18 – September 26 |
Intensity |
220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Betty
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 5 – November 11 |
Intensity |
220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Dianne
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 13 – November 20 |
Intensity |
175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
1946 storm names
- Barbara
- Charlotte
- Dolly
- Elinor
- Ginny
- Ingrid
- Janie
- Lilly
|
- Maggie
- Opal
- Priscilla
- Querida
- Alma
- Betty
- Dianne
|
1947 Pacific typhoon season
Storms
Tropical Storm Anna
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
March 19 – March 20 |
Intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Berneda
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
May 13 – May 17 |
Intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Carol
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
June 17 – June 23 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Carol formed east of the Philippines on June 17. It moved northwest. Carol skimmed right passed the most northern island as a 115 mph typhoon. After that, it began to weaken. Carol passed by Taiwan, and was about to hit mainland China, but it suddenly took a northeast track. Shortly thereafter, Carol dissipated on June 23.
Tropical Storm Donna
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 8 – July 9 |
Intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Eileen
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 17 – July 19 |
Intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Faith
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
July 26 – July 31 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Gwen
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 4 – August 9 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Helena
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 12 – August 14 |
Intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Inez
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
August 26 – August 31 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Joyce
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 8 – September 10 |
Intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Kathleen
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 10 – September 15 |
Intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Kathleen struck the Boso Peninsula and the entire Kanto Region in Japan on September 15. Heavy rains caused the Arakawa and Tone Rivers to overflow. The resulting floods killed 1,077 people and left 853 people missing.[4][5]
Typhoon Laura
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 14 – September 18 |
Intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Mildred
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 22 – September 25 |
Intensity |
140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Nanette
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
September 29 – October 2 |
Intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Olive
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 2 – October 5 |
Intensity |
205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Pauline
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 2 – October 8 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Super Typhoon Rosalind
Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 6 – October 14 |
Intensity |
240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
This is the first super typhoon ever recorded.
Typhoon Alice
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 13 – October 21 |
Intensity |
220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Beatrice
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 16 – October 31 |
Intensity |
85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Cathy
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
October 29 – November 4 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Dora
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 2 – November 10 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Elnora
Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 10 – November 12 |
Intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Flora
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 13 – November 19 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Gladys
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 17 – November 22 |
Intensity |
140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Typhoon Hannah
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
November 22 – November 23 |
Intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
Tropical Storm Irene
|
Duration |
November 30 – December 3 |
Intensity |
Winds unknown, Unknown |
Tropical Storm Irene formed on November 30 between the Philippine Islands. It strengthened to a tropical storm with 50 mph winds before it made landfall on one of the islands. It curved northeast and weakened to a tropical depression. But after exiting land, it restrengthened to a moderate tropical storm. But shortly thereafter, it became extratropical on December 3. The Japan Meteorological Agency analyzed it as a tropical depression, though it was actually a moderate tropical storm.
Typhoon Jean
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS) |
|
Duration |
December 22 – December 29 |
Intensity |
175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min), Unknown |
1947 storm names
- Anna
- Berneda
- Carol
- Donna
- Eileen
- Faith
- Gwen
- Helena
- Inez
|
- Joyce
- Kathleen
- Laura
- Mildred
- Nanette
- Olive
- Pauline
- Rosalind
- Alice
|
- Beatrice
- Cathy
- Dora
- Elnora
- Flora
- Gladys
- Hannah
- Irene
- Jean
|
1948 Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Karen, the strongest cyclone of the season, developed on January 11, well west of the Philippines. It curved westward while slowly intensifying. After a prolonged period of the slow intensification, the tropical cyclone began to rapidly strengthen. It became a super typhoon on January 16. Shortly after, it weakened and dissipated on January 19.
Ophelia formed on June 10 in the South China Sea. It moved west and struck southern China. It dissipated the next day, without attaining maximum sustained winds any higher than 45 mph.
Typhoon Ione struck Japan in mid-September killing 838 people.[6]
1948 storm names
- Karen
- Lana
- Mabel
- Nadine
- Ophelia
- Pearl
- Rose
- Annabell
- Bertha
|
- Chris
- Dolores
- Eunice
- Flo
- Gestrude
- Hazel
- Ione
- Jackie
- Kit
|
- Libby
- Martha
- Norma
- Olga
- Pat
- Rita
- Agnes
- Beverly
|
1949 Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Della struck Japan in mid-June killing 468 people.[6]
In July, tropical storm Irma killed 1,600 people and destroyed more than 63,000 houses in Shanghai, China, the worst typhoon on record in the city.[7]
Typhoon Gloria struck Okinawa on July 23. Gloria killed 38 people and destroyed 42,502 buildings on the island. Typhoon Gloria then continued westward and struck Shanghai, China killing 29 people.[8]
Typhoon Kitty struck the Tokyo/Yokohama area August 31 through September 1, 1949. From reconnaissance reports the maximum sustained winds were near 110 knots 12 hours prior to landfall, but had fallen to minimum typhoon strength by the time it reached Honshū. The death toll reached 123 due to rainfall induced flooding and landslides (NY Times, 9/3/1949), and caused about 15 billion yen in damages. As its center passed near Tokyo, the JMA's Central Meteorological Office was able to launch eight rawindsondes in the typhoon environment. Researcher Dr. Hidedoshi Arakawa was able to analyize these soundings to make a vertical analysis of the storm.[9]
1949 storm names
- Carmen
- Della
- Elaine
- Faye
- Gloria
- Hester
|
- Irma
- Judith
- Kitty
- Lise
- Madeline
- Nelly
|
- Omelia
- Patricia
- Rena
- Allyn
- Betty
- Camilla
|
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c Guam: Inarajan - Memories: Chronology
- ^ Docs.lib.noaa.gov
- ^ US Navy Historical Center. Pacific Typhoon at Okinawa, October 1945.
- ^ Google.com
- ^ Arajo.ktr.mlit.go.jp
- ^ a b Translate.google.com
- ^ Bill Savadove and Lillian Yang (2005-08-07). "Shanghai braces for powerful typhoon". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Okinawa: Sic Transit Gloria". Time. August 8, 1949. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,800515,00.html. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ^ Arakawa, H. (1950). "Vertical Structure of a Mature Typhoon Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 78 No. 11, Nov. 1950, p.197-200".