Attachments
- TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARIES FOR 1985
In 1985 twenty-nine tropical cyclones formed over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea (i.e. the area between the equator and 45°N and between l00°E and 180°). Sixteen of them attained typhoon intensity, which was slightly above the average number of 15 per year. Ten tropical cyclones landed over China, six crossed or passed close to the Philippines, four landed over Japan, seven affected Korea, four affected Taiwan and another three landed over Viet Nam. Two tropical cyclones came close to Hong Kong.
The monthly distribution of the frequency of first occurrence of tropical cyclones is shown in Figure 1 and a brief summary is contained in Table 1. Six-hourly positions of these tropical cyclones together with_ their e'stimated minimum central pressures and maximum sustained surface winds are tabulated in Section 5. The monthly mean frequency of first occurrence of tropical cyclones during the years 1946-1984 is given in Figure 2.
During the year there were fifteen tropical cyclones in Hong Kong's area of responsibility for tropical cyclone warnings for shipping, (i.e. the area bounded by 10°N, 30°N, 105°E and 125°E) compared with an annual average of seventeen over the past 39 years. Ten tropical cyclones moved into this area and five developed within it. Altogether 371 warnings for shipping were issued by the Royal Observatory in connection with these tropical cyclones.
Tropical cyclone warning signals were displayed in Hong Kong for five tropical cyclones. Gale signals were hoisted during the passage of Typhoon Hal (8505) in June and Typhoon Tess (8516) in September.
The total tropical cyclone rainfall (defined as the total rainfall recorded at the Royal Observatory, Hong Kong from the first day when a tropical cyclone was centred within 300 nautical miles of Hong Kong to the end of the third day after the tropical cyclone has dissipated or moved outside 300 nautical miles of Hong Kong) during the year 1985 amounted to 875.6 mm, which is 54 per cent above the annual average value of 566.9 mm (1884-1939 and 1947-1970). It accounted for 40 per cent of the year's total rainfall of 2 191.4 mm. Typhoon Nelson (85 l l ), Tropical Storm Winona (8518) and Typhoon Andy (8519), for which no warning signals were hoisted in Hong Kong, brought 210.0 mm, 76.1 mm and 49.3 mm respectively.
In January, two tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific. Tropical Storm Fabian (8501) developed about 600 nautical miles west of Guam on 6 January and remained slow-moving. Tropical Storm Elsie (8502) formed near the Caroline Islands on 7 January. It moved northwestwards and passed close to Guam during the evening of 9 January. Under the influence of Elsie, Fabian moved southeastwards on 9 January. Elsie recurved northeastwards away from Fabian and dissipated about 560 nautical miles northeast of Guam on 11 January. Fabian then weakened into an area of low pressure when it moved near Yap on 13 January but re-intensified into a tropical depression later in the same day. It then remained almost stationary about 650 nautical miles southeast of Manila and finally dissipated early on 14 January.
There were no tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific during February and March. Only one tropical cyclone occurred during April. A tropical depression formed about 460 nautical miles east of Luzon on 22 April. It moved east-northeastwards and dissipated about 480 nautical miles north-northwest of Guam on 24 April.
Typhoon Gay (8503) was the only tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific during May. It formed about 630 nautical miles east-southeast of Manila on 21 May. It moved north-northwestwards for the next three days and then recurved near the Ryukyu Islands on 24 May. Gay finally became an extratropical cyclone about 280 nautical miles south of Tokyo on 26 May.
In June, three tropical cyclones developed. A tropical depression formed over the South China Sea about 40 nautical miles southeast of Xisha on 17 June. It remained almost stationary for the first two days and landed over Hainan early on 20 June. It dissipated about 60 nautical miles southwest of Haikou the same day.
Typhoon Hal (8505) formed about 860 nautical miles east of Manila on 19 June. It moved west-northwestwards and passed close to the north of Luzon on 22 June. It crossed the northern part of the South China Sea and turned north-northwestwards early on 24 June. Hal landed near Shanwei, about 65 nautical miles east-northeast of Hong Kong around 2 p.m. on 24 June. It finally dissipated about 140 nautical miles north of Hong Kong on 25 June. Hal caused widespread damage in the central and northern Philippines, Taiwan, Guangdong and Fujian.
Typhoon Irma (8506) developed about 880 nautical miles southeast of Manila on 25 June. It moved northwestwards at first but turned northwards on 27 June over the Pacific to the east of the Philippines. Irma brought active southwest monsoon winds heavy rain and floods to the Philippines. 65 people were reported dead or missing and about half a million people were affected. Damage to property was estimated at US$ l 9 million. Irma took a more northeasterly track near the Ryukyus on 29 June and skirted the coast of southern Honshu on 30 June. It passed over Tokyo early on I July and became an extratropical cyclone to the southeast of Hokkaido later in the day. Irma left 22 persons dead or missing in Japan. 56 persons were injured. More than 20 000 houses were damaged or destroyed and about 50 000 hectares of farmland were devastated. Many roads, river embankments, bridges, railway lines and telecommunication lines were damaged. Property damage was estimated to be more than US$61 million.
Altogether three tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea during July. A tropical depression formed about 650 nautical miles east-southeast of Manila on 4 July. It moved westnorthwestwards and crossed the central Philippines on 5 July. The tropical depression entered the South China Sea on 6 July. It turned northwards in the evening of 7 July and dissipated on reaching the south China coast about I IO nautical miles east-northeast of Hong Kong late on 8 July.
Typhoon Jeff (8507) developed about 450 nautical miles north of Guam on 22 July and moved northnortheastwards. It turned west-southwestwards on 24 July when it was centred about 560 nautical miles southwest of Tokyo. Jeff crossed the Ryukyus on 29 July and passed about 110 nautical miles northeast of Taibei early on 30 July. It turned northwestwards and crossed the China coast about 180 nautical miles south of Shanghai late on 30 July. Jeff weakened into a tropical storm and recurved about 50 nautical miles west of Shanghai late on 31 July. Jeff entered the Yellow Sea on 1 August and moved north-northeastwards. It crossed the China coast again close to Dandong, near Korea, on 2 August and dissipated overland the same day. Jeff caused extensive damage in Zhejiang and the northeastern provinces of China and in the Soviet Far East. In Zhejiang, 177 people were killed and about 1 400 others were injured. In Shanghai, Jeff brought the heaviest rain in 23 Years, flooding 50 000 houses and killing 4 people. In Dandong, Jeff left 64 people dead in the worst flood in 25 years.
During August, altogether nine tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific but none affected the South China Sea. Tropical Depression Kit (8508) formed about 290 nautical miles south-southeast of Kagoshima on 4 August and intensified to a typhoon on 6 August. It remained slow-moving at first but later tracked west-northwestwards and passed about 50 nautical miles south-southwest of Kagoshima on 8 August. Kit recurved near Cheju and moved across southern Korea on 10 August, where 12 people were missing or killed. Property damage was estimated at US$2.2 million. Kit also affected Japan with damage to property estimated at US$1.5 million. Kit finally became an extratropical cyclone over the Sea of Japan west of Hokkaido on 11 August.
Severe Tropical Storm Lee (8509) formed about 290 nautical miles south-southeast of Okinawa on 11 August. It moved north-northwestwards and passed about 40 nautical miles east-northeast of Okinawa on 12 August. It took a northerly course over the Yellow Sea west of Korea on 14 August and passed about 90 nautical miles west of Seoul the same day. Lee finally became an extratropical cyclone over Heilongjiang Province on 15 August. In southern Korea, 26 people were killed or missing during the passage of Lee. 71 ships were damaged or lost. property damage was estimated at about US$3.9 million.
Tropical Storm Mamie (8510) developed about 90 nautical miles west of Okinawa on 16 August and intensified into a severe tropical storm on 17 August. It moved northwestwards and skirted the China coast from Shanghai to Shandong on 18 August. Mamie crossed Shandong Peninsula on 19 August and passed close to Dalian. It weakened into an area of low pressure overland in Liaoning Province early on 20 August. Heavy damage was inflicted in Shandong. In Qingdao, 19 people died and about 200 people were injured. 5 300 houses were damaged. In Yantai in the northern part of Shandong Peninsula, 16 people were killed and about 120 000 houses were destroyed. More than 200 ships were damaged or sunk. Heavy rain brought by Mamie inundated 300 000 hectares of farmland in Liaoning and affected 38 counties in Jilin. In southern Korea, Mamie left 9 people dead or missing. More than 50 000 people were affected. Many river embankments and irrigation facilities were damaged and numerous landslips occurred. Property damage was estimated at about US$13.7 million.
Typhoon Nelson (8511) formed about 450 nautical miles north-northwest of Guam on 18 August. It moved west-northwestwards and passed about 30 nautical miles north of Taibei on 23 August. Nelson, which killed at least 7 people in Taiwan, was the strongest typhoon to hit the island since Typhoon Vera in 1977. Nelson crossed the China coast close to the city of Fuzhou late on 23 August and dissipated about 160 nautical miles west of Fuzhou on 24 August. Nelson was the worst typhoon to hit the Fujian Province in 16 years. 48 people were killed and more than 300 people were injured. 6 000 houses were seriously damaged or collapsed. Heavy rain associated with the remnant of Nelson caused severe flooding in Hunan Province and killed at least 147 people.
Typhoon Odessa (8512) developed about 210 nautical miles north-northwest of Guam on 24 August. It moved northwards and passed about 70 nautical miles east of Iwo Jima on 26 August. It took a westerly track near the Ogasawara Islands on 27 August and moved towards the East China Sea.
Typhoon Pat (8513) developed about 320 nautical miles south-southwest of Okinawa on 27 August. It moved northeastwards during the first two days but changed to a northerly course on 29 August. Pat passed about 20 nautical miles west of Kagoshima early on 31 August and then turned northeastwards over the Sea of Japan. It crossed southern Hokkaido on I September and became an extratropical cyclone just east of Hokkaido in the evening.
Under the influence of Pat, Odessa moved west-northwestwards south of Kyushu on 29 August. Odessa made a sharp turn towards the northeast on 31 August when it was centred about 210 nautical miles east-southeast of Shanghai. It passed about 40 nautical miles northwest of Nagasaki late on 31 August. Odessa moved over the Sea of Japan on 1 September and dissipated about 110 nautical miles north of Tokyo early on 2 September.
Severe Tropical Storm Ruby (8514) formed about 200 nautical miles south-southeast oflwo Jima on 28 August. It moved north-northwestwards, recurved south of Honshu and passed about 10 nautical miles east of Tokyo on 30 August. It moved north-northeastwards over the eastern part of Honshu and re-entered the Pacific Ocean about 10 nautical miles southeast of Sendai on 31 August. Ruby became an extratropical cyclone on 1 September about 480 nautical miles east of Hokkaido. The three tropical cyclones, Odessa, Pat and Ruby, caused extensive damage in Japan. 29 people were reported killed or missing, 177 people were injured. 9 700 houses were damaged or destroyed. 1 645 ships were damaged or sunk. Many roads, river embankments, telecommunication lines were also damaged. Property damage was estimated at US$14 million.
Severe Tropical Storm Skip (8515) formed near the date-line east of the Marshall Islands on 31 August and moved northwestwards.
There were nine tropical cyclones in September. Skip (8515) recurved about 740 nautical miles southwest of Midway Island on 4 September. It became a typhoon three days later and continued moving northeastwards. On 8 September, Skip crossed the date-line into the central Pacific about 540 nautical miles north of Midway Island.
Two tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea during November. Tropical Storm Faye (8524), which moved east-northeastwards over the ocean to the east of the Ryukyu Islands late in October, dissipated over the Pacific about 420 nautical miles south of Tokyo in the evening of I November.
Tropical Depression Gordon (8525) formed over the South China Sea about 120 nautical miles southwest of Nansha on 23 November. It moved in a generally northwestward direction at first, turning southwestwards on 25 November near the Viet Nam coast and dissipated about 140 nautical miles east of Ho Chi Minh City in the evening.
In December, two tropical cyclones developed over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea. Tropical Depression Hope (8526) formed about 80 nautical miles east of Yap on 17 December. It moved northwestwards and became a typhoon about 220 nautical miles northwest of Yap two days later. Hope turned westwards on 20 December and recurved northeastwards about 280 nautical miles east-northeast of Manila on 22 December. It weakened on encountering the northeast monsoon and dissipated over the ocean about 610 nautical miles east-northeast of Manila on 24 December.
Irving (8527) formed over the South China Sea about 210 nautical miles south of Nansha on 17 December. It was slow-moving at first and intensified into a tropical storm on 18 December. It took a northwesterly course on 19 December. Influenced by the northeast monsoon, Irving turned southwestwards on 20 December about 110 nautical miles off the Viet Nam coast. It dissipated about 260 nautical miles south of Ho Chi Minh City early on 22 December.