| Typhoon (JMA) | |
|---|---|
| Category 4 Typhoon (SSHS) | |
| Typhoon Rusa | |
| Formed | August 22, 2002 |
| Dissipated | September 1, 2002 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 155 km/h (100 mph) 1-minute sustained: 215 km/h (135 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 113 direct |
| Damage | $6 billion (2002 USD) |
| Areas affected | South Korea |
| Part of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Rusa (international designation: 0215, JTWC designation: 21W) was the 21st JTWC tropical depression (21W), the 15th named storm, and the 10th typhoon of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season. The name of the typhoon, which was contributed by Malaysia, is a type of sambar deer most commonly seen in secondary forests on gently sloping terrain.
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The eastern periphery of the monsoon trough spawned a tropical disturbance east of Pohnpei on August 19. The convection became better organized, and with good diffluence aloft and light to moderate wind shear, it organized into Tropical Depression 21W on August 22. It tracked northwestward under the influence of a low to mid-level ridge to its northeast. On the 23rd, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Rusa, and with more favorable outflow, Rusa became a typhoon on the 24th.
On August 25 to the 26th, Rusa rapidly intensified to a peak of 135 mph (217 km/h) winds. Dry air was entrained in the circulation, and Rusa weakened as it continued northwestward. An eyewall replacement cycle further weakened the storm, and Rusa was a 100 mph (160 km/h) typhoon 12 hours after peaking. As the new eyewall contracted, the wind field expanded, and Rusa became a 110 mph (180 km/h) typhoon. At this time, it resembled an annular typhoon, with a 120-nautical-mile (220 km) wide eye and little banding.
Rusa slowly weakened as it continued to the northwest. A low pressure system over Japan eroded the ridge, bringing Rusa to the north. There, it hit southern South Korea on August 31 as an 80 mph (130 km/h) typhoon. Rusa turned to the northeast, and became extratropical over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on September 1.
| Costliest Pacific typhoons Cost refers to total estimated property damage. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Typhoon | Season | Damages | 2012 USD | |
| 1 | Mireille | 1991 | $10 billion | $16.1 billion | |
| 2 | Songda | 2004 | $9 billion | $10.5 billion | |
| 3 | Prapiroon | 2000 | $6 billion | $7.65 billion | |
| 4 | Bart | 1999 | $5 billion | $6.59 billion | |
| 5 | Maemi | 2003 | $4.5 billion | $5.37 billion | |
| 6 | Bilis | 2006 | $4.4 billion | $4.8 billion | |
| 7 | Rusa | 2002 | $4.2 billion | $5.13 billion | |
| 8 | Flo | 1990 | $4 billion | $6.72 billion | |
| 9 | Winnie | 1997 | $3.2 billion | $4.38 billion | |
| 10 | Saomai | 2006 | $2.51 billion | $2.74 billion | |
| Source: International Disaster Database: Disaster List | |||||
Rusa brought heavy rains and flooding to South Korea, amounting to 36 inches (910 mm) in some areas. 113 people were killed in the country, making it one of the deadliest typhoons to hit South Korea. Extensive crop and property damage amounted to $6 billion (2002 USD).
Because of Rusa's death toll and damage, the name was retired and replaced with Nuri.
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