Typhoon Hagupit (2008)

Typhoon Hagupit (Nina)

Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 4 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Typhoon Hagupit strengthening off the northern coast of Luzon on September 22
Formed	September 18, 2008
Dissipated	September 25, 2008
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph) 1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure	935 mbar (hPa); 27.61 inHg
Fatalities	67 direct, 22 missing
Damage	At least $3 billion (2008 USD)
Areas affected	Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam.
Part of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Hagupit, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Nina, is recognised as the 14th Tropical Storm, the 12th Severe Tropical Storm and the 10th Typhoon of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season by the Japan Meteorological Agency who are the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the North Western Pacific. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center have also recognised Hagupit as the 11th typhoon, 16th tropical storm, and the 18th tropical depression of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season.

The name Hagupit was one of the ten original names submitted to the WMOs Typhoon Committee for use from January 1, 2000 by the Philippines. It was last used in the 2002 Pacific typhoon season to name a tropical storm and is Filipino for a lash.^[1]

At least 67 people were killed by Hagupit.^[2] Damage was estimated at around $1 billion (2008 USD).

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

On September 14 a tropical disturbance formed to the northeast of Guam,^[3][4] and over the next few days it slowly developed as it moved westwards towards the Philippines.^[3] The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) was the first to designate the disturbance as a tropical depression on September 17, with a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert being issued later that day by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).^[5][6] Late the next day the JTWC designated the depression as 18W.^[7] Early on September 19 the JMA began to issue full advisories on the depression, as it moved into PAGASA’s area of responsibility and was named Nina.^[8][9] Later that day both the JMA & the JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm. with the JMA assigning the international name of Hagupit and the international number of 0814.^[10][11]

On September 20 the JMA reported that Hagupit had intensified into a severe tropical storm while PAGASA reported that Hagupit had intensified into a typhoon. However both the JMA and the JTWC did not upgrade Hagupit to a Typhoon until early the next afternoon. On September 22 the JTWC reported that Hagupit had intensified into a Category 2 typhoon, with wind speeds of 85 knots. Hagupit then continued to intensify, with the JTWC upgrading Hagupit, into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 105 knots. Early the next day PAGASA issued its final advisory on Typhoon Nina (Hagupit) as it was moving out of PAGASA's area of responsibility. Later that day the JTWC upgraded Hagupit to a Category 4 typhoon as Hagupit was approaching southern China. Hagupit struck Kwangtung Province with this intensity, becoming the first known typhoon to hit Kwangtung province as a category 4. It moved inland afterwards, and dissipated 2 days later.

Preparations

Philippines

On September 20 PAGASA started to issue Typhoon Warnings by raising Public Storm Signal No.1 for the Catanduanes in Luzon^[12] Later that day PAGASA hoisted Signal No.2 for the Catanduanes and hoisted added Signal No.1 over other provinces of the Philippines.^[13][14] On September 21 as Hagupit moved towards the north-east PAGASA revised their warnings by lowering the signals for Samar.^[15] Later that day PAGASA placed further provinces under storm signal No.2 and hoisted Storm Signal No.3 over various provinces in Luzon including the Calayan Group of Islands, Cagayan & Babuyan.^[16] However late the next day the Signal No.3's were downgraded to Signal No.2 as Hagupit moved further away from the Philippines.^[17] PAGASA then removed Signal No 2 within their next advisory, PAGASA then issued their final advisory as Hagupit moved out of PAGASAs Area of Responsibility.^[18][19]

Taiwan

On September 21 Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a Sea warning for Ships sailing in the seas to the south and southeast of Taiwan.^[20] Early the next day the CWB issued Land Warnings for southern Taiwan as Hagupit moved past Taiwan.^[20] Also, the President has been forced to order that a navy marine landing drill was cancelled as a result of this storm.^[21]

China

On September 22, Chinese officials in Fujian Province requested the return of all fishing vessels in the Taiwan Strait.^[22] In Shenzhen airport, 33 domestic flights were cancelled due to the approach of Hagupit. Officials in Yangjiang City evacuated 17,324 people from dangerous areas and checked over all the dams and reservoirs.^[23] More than 100,000 people were evacuated to safer locations from coastal regions in southern China by September 23.^[24]

Hong Kong

On 22 September 2008, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issued the Standby Signal 1 for Hong Kong.^[25] The HKO kept this signal in force for 18 hours before issuing the Strong Wind Signal No.3 the next day.^[25] Later on 23 September 2008, as Hagupit moved closer to Southern China, the HKO announced at 1600 (HKT) that the Gale or Storm Signal 8 will be issued by 1800 (HKT).^[25] The HKO then issued the Gale or Storm Signal 8 Northeast at 1800 (HKT).^[25] It was replaced by the Gale or Storm Signal 8 Southeast soon after midnight that evening due to change in wind direction. Six hours later at 0630 (HKT), the HKO lowered the warning to the Strong Wind Signal 3. Because of the heavy rain brought by Hagupit,^[25] the HKO issued the Amber rainstorm warning at 1100 (HKT).^[25][26] All Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals was cancelled at around 1300 (HKT)^[25] Later that day, the HKO removed the Amber rainstorm warning at 1620 (HKT).^[26]

Effects

Philippines

The typhoon has so far killed eight people in the Philippines, and left 13 miners trapped in a flooded mining tunnel.^[27] 4 of the deaths were caused by drowning, 3 by landslides, and the last by electrocution. 5,000 people were also displaced because of the storm.^[27] During the storm, ferries and fishing craft in Luzon were recalled to port.^[28] 15 still remain missing from the storm,^[29] and 19 were injured.^[30] All in all, about 10,000 in 47 villages were affected by the storm.^[30] The estimated total cost of damages caused by Hagupit in the Philippines is currently put at 29.5 Million Php.^[31]

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, 61 flights at Hong Kong International Airport were cancelled, 87 were delayed,^[32] and more were delayed because of the typhoon.^[33] Schools and courts in the territory were also closed.^[33] Tai O experienced heavy flooding, while the foundations of several houses in Cheung Chau were severely damaged. Sewers overflowed with seawater in various parts of the territory. 58 were injured during the storm. Damage to buildings and other structures was particularly heavy as the storm's arrival coincided with high tide.^[32]

Taiwan/ROC

In Taiwan, at least 1 person was killed and many thousands of people stranded as a result of the depredations of Typhoon Hagupit. Furthermore, several buildings, including a prominent hotel were damaged by the storm.^[34]

People's Republic of China

Typhoon Hagupit made landfall near Maoming in Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China at 6:45 a.m. local time on September 24.^[35] 10 were killed,^[36] and 2 remain missing after the storm,^[36] mostly in Guangdong province. 14,333 houses were destroyed and caused ¥5.772 billion (US$824 million) in damages.^[35] More than 28 thousand people were evacuated because of the storm,^[37] 17,324 people from Yangjiang, and about 11,000 from Xuwen County.^[32] Trees and billboards near Maoming sustained damage, and 51,000 ships carrying 200,000 crew were recalled back to port.^[32] Schools were also closed in Zhanjiang.^[32]

Vietnam

Vietnam began stockpiling food and medicine in preparation for the typhoon.^[37] 550 tourist and fishing boats were recalled back to port in Hạ Long Bay, and rescue equipment was positioned in nine northern provinces.^[38] The government said that "...there will be very heavy torrential rains, significantly raising the risk of flash floods and land slides in the nine mountainous provinces in the eye of the storm."^[39] As of September 29, 2008, the flooding left behind by the typhoon left 41 people dead, and at least 60 injured.^[40] Damages exceeded ₫1 trillion (US$72.49 million).^[40] 1,300 houses were completely destroyed with about 10,000 more damaged.^[41] Though the storm did not directly hit Vietnam,^[42] heavy rains caused heavy flooding, especially in the provinces of Sơn La, Lạng Sơn, Bắc Giang and Quảng Ninh.^[41] Hoang Thi Luu, a farmer from Tuan Dao, said, "The waters came really quick, coming down the mountains and from the rising rivers and streams. ... No one had enough time to save their property; they just ran for their lives."^[42]

See also

• Typhoon Vicente (2012)
• Typhoon Rammasun (2014)
• Typhoon Hagupit (2014)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon Hagupit (2008).

• JMA General Information of Typhoon Hagupit (0814) from Digital Typhoon
• JMA Best Track Data of Typhoon Hagupit (0814) (Japanese)
• JTWC Best Track Data of Typhoon 18W (Hagupit)
• 18W.HAGUPIT from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
• Typhoon Hagupit impact on Hong Kong, including Cheung Chau and Lantau - includes video and photos showing storm surge (1m and more) and its aftermath

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