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Royal Observatory Hong Kong: Meteorological Results 1984 - Part III: Tropical Cyclone Summaries

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China - Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)
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2. TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARIES FOR 1984

In 1984 twenty-eight 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 100°E and l 60°E). Thirteen of them attained typhoon intensity, which was close to the average of fifteen per year. Eight tropical cyclones landed over China but none seriously affected Hong Kong. Four tropical cyclones crossed the Philippines, four affected Taiwan, and another four crossed Vietnam. Only two tropical cyclones affected Japan.

The monthly distribution of the frequency of first occurrence of tropical cyclones is shown in Figure I and a brief summary is contained in Table 1. Six-hourly positions of these tropical cyclones together with their estimated 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 1946-1983 is given in Figure 2.

During the year there were fourteen 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 38 years. Seven tropical cyclones moved into this area and seven developed within it. Altogether 412 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. Two tropical cyclones came within 100 nautical miles of Hong Kong but there was only minor damage. The Gale Signal was hoisted for 2 hours and 40 minutes during the passage of Severe Tropical Storm Wynne (8402), the shortest duration for a single tropical cyclone since 1946.

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 1984 amounted to 370.4 mm, which is 35 per cent below the annual average value of 566.9 mm (1884-1939 and 1947-70). It accounted for only 18 per cent of the year's total rainfall of 2 017.0 mm.

In 1984, there were no tropical cyclones during the first five months over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea. The same situation had only occurred twice before since 1946, that is, in 1973 and 1983.

In June, two tropical cyclones developed over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea. Tropical Storm Vernon (8401) was the first tropical cyclone of the year. It formed near Nansha on 8 June and dissipated about 60 nautical miles southeast of Vientiane on 11 June. Severe Tropical Storm Wynne (8402) developed about 730 nautical miles southeast of Taibei on 19 June. It skirted the southern tip of Taiwan on 24 June and passed about 70 nautical miles south of Hong Kong early on 25 June. Wynne crossed the China coast near Zhanjiang in the evening of 25 June and brought heavy rain to neighbouring areas. Many paddy fields were inundated, and more than 1 000 houses were damaged. Wynne dissipated near Hanoi on 26 June.

There were five tropical cyclones during July. Typhoon Alex (8403) formed near Luzon on I July and crossed Taiwan on 3 July. It recurved and became an extratropical cyclone near Shanghai on 4 July, and finally dissipated over Korea the next day. Severe Tropical Storm Betty (8404) formed about 220 nautical miles east of Manila on 5 July. It passed about 120 nautical miles southwest of Hong Kong early on 9 July and dissipated overland near Zhanjiang in the evening. Typhoon Cary (8405) originated near the Mariana Islands on 7 July. It recurved about 270 nautical miles southeast oflwo Jima on lO July and then moved northeastwards. It dissipated over the Pacific east of Japan on 14 July. Typhoon Dinah (8406) developed about 900 nautical miles northeast of Guam on 24 July. It recurved to move northeastwards and became an extratropical cyclone south of the Aleutian Islands on 2 August. Typhoon Ed (8407) formed about 250 nautical miles southeast of Kagoshima on 25 July. During the next few days, it remained to the south of Japan as it moved round a loop in an anticlockwise direction. Ed eventually took a westward course and passed about 100 nautical miles south of Kagoshima late on 29 July. A I 200-tonne South Korean ship 'Ilsin Glory' sank in the Korea Strait near Nagasaki on the same day. One person was killed and 11 were missing. A 4 800-tonne Singaporean container ship, 'Gloria Express', ran aground in southern Kyushu and one person'was missing. The passage of Typhoon Ed also caused the postponement of the launching of the Japanese weather satellite GMS-3. On 31 July, Ed passed about 60 nautical miles northeast of Shanghai and moved northwestwards along the coast during the night. Ed finally dissipated over Shandong on 2 August.

Altogether eight tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea during August. Severe Tropical Storm Freda (8408) formed about 250 nautical miles east of Luzon on 5 August. It passed close to Taibei on 7 August and dissipated near Fuzhou on 8 August. In Taiwan, 2 people were drowned and 4 were missing in extensive floods caused by Freda. A tropical depression formed about 400 nautical miles east of Luzon on 11 August. It moved northwestward and weakened into an area of low pressure two days later over the coastal waters east of Taiwan. However, on the same day, a new circulation centre developed from the low pressure area and reintensified into a tropical depression. It moved round the southern coast of Taiwan and dissipated near Tainan on 15 August. Severe Tropical Storm Gerald (8409) and Typhoon Holly (8410) both formed on 16 August. Gerald formed over the South China Sea about 110 nautical miles east-southeast of Dongsha. It moved in a generally westward direction at first, but owing to the influence of Typhoon Holly centred near the Ryukyus, Gerald slowed down late on 19 August and recurved towards the northeast. Gerald passed about 25 nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong early on 21 August but caused only minor damage. It dissipated about 70 nautical miles northwest of Shantou during the night. Typhoon Holly (8410) formed south of Japan and crossed the Ryukyus near Okinawa on 18 August and stranded an estimated 15 000 holiday-makers. It passed the Korea Strait on 21 August and brought torrential rain to Kyushu and southern Korea. In Korea, 9 people were killed or missing and hundreds were made homeless. At least 10 fishing boats were destroyed, hundreds of hectares of farmland were flooded and some roads were damaged. Holly became an extratropical cyclone over the Sea of Japan near Hokkaido on 23 August. A tropical depression formed near Iwo Jima on 24 August but dissipated the next day. Typhoon Ike (8411) originated about 120 nautical miles south of Guam on 27 August and moved westwards towards southern Philippines. Severe Tropical Storm June (8412) developed about 420 nautical miles east of Luzon on 27 August. It crossed Luzon on 29 August and caused heavy rain and floods in northern Philippines. 72 people were killed, 222 injured and more than 11 000 were made homeless. A total of about 340 000 people were affected. June crossed the south China coast close to Shantou early on 31 August and dissipated overland north of Hong Kong in the evening. Active southwest monsoon winds associated with the remnant of June brought heavy rain in eastern Guangdong and caused the inundation of 66 000 hectares of farmland and the damage of 1 500 houses.

Four tropical cyclones occurred during September. Typhoon Ike (8411) crossed the northeastern tip of Mindanao on 2 September. 1 426 people were killed and 1 161 were missing in the Philippines. More than 200 000 were left homeless and 1.66 million people were severely affected. Most of the casualties were in Surigao del Norte, the worst hit province on Mindanao Island. The total damage to property in the Philippines amounted to about US$1 l 1 million. Ike was the worst typhoon to hit the Philippines since Typhoon Amy in December 1951. Ike moved northwestward over the South China Sea and crossed northeastern Hainan on 5 September. On Hainan Island, all power and communications lines were severed. Vast fields of rice paddies, rubber trees and sugar cane were ruined. Ike passed close to Beihai and Nanning on 6 September and became the most devastating tropical cyclone to hit Guangxi since 1954. 14 people were killed and 6 were missing. Homes, factories and boats were destroyed and communications lines were broken. Sugar cane and vegetables were ruined. Ike finally dissipated about 180 nautical miles northwest of Nanning early on 7 September. Tropical Depression Lynn (8414) developed over the South China Sea about 240 nautical miles east-northeast of Xisha on 24 September. It moved westwards and dissipated about I 40 nautical miles north-northeast of Xis ha on 26 September. Tropical Storm Nina (8415) formed about 150 nautical miles south-southwest of lwo Jima on 27 September and Tropical Storm Maury (8416) formed about 590 nautical miles east of Iwo Jima on 28 September. Maury moved northwards while Nina recurved to move northeastwards. Maury dissipated over the ocean east of Japan on I October, about 150 nautical miles north of Nina which in turn became an extra tropical cyclone later the same day.

There were nine tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea during October. Severe Tropical Storm Ogden (8417) formed about 540 nautical miles northeast of Guam on 7 October. It moved north-northeastwards and became an extratropical cyclone on IO October. Typhoon Phyllis (8418) developed on 10 October around the same area where Ogden formed. It moved northwards and dissipated about 650 nautical miles east of Tokyo on 14 October. Tropical Storm Roy (8419) formed near Guam on 11 October and dissipated about 400 nautical miles north of Guam two days later. Tropical Storm Susan (8420) developed near Nansha on 12 October. It crossed the Vietnam coast in the evening and weakened into an area of low pressure about 80 nautical miles north of Ho Chi Minh Ville early on 13 October. Heavy rain and floods brought by Susan caused major crop losses and the destruction of facilities in central Vietnam. Typhoon Thad (8421) originated about 240 nautical miles east-southeast of Guam on 19 October. It recurved near Iwo Jima on 21 October and became an extratropical cyclone over the Pacific on 24 October. Typhoon Vanessa (8422) developed near the Caroline Islands on 23 October. It passed near Guam on 24 October and recurved south of the Ryukyus on 28 October. It finally became an extratropical cyclone tracking towards the Aleutian Islands on 31 October. Severe Tropical Storm Warren (8423) formed over the South China Sea on 23 October. It moved north-northwestwards at first but became slow-moving about 200 nautical miles southeast ofXisha between 25 and 27 October. Under the influence of Typhoon Vanessa, Warren moved eastwards on 28 October towards the Philippines. 44 people were killed in floods and landslips. A Philippino ferry boat carrying 240 people sank in heavy seas on 28 October. 18 people were drowned and 207 were rescued. Warren reverted to a westward course across the South China Sea on 29 October as Vanessa recurved and moved away northeastwards towards the Ogasawara Islands. Warren finally dissipated after crossing over Vietnam on 2 November.

Altogether four tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea during November. Typhoon Agnes (8424) originated near the Caroline Islands on l November. It hit the central Philippines on 5 November, bringing a death toll of at least 727. Several hundred people were reported missing and about 600 000 were made homeless. After crossing the South China Sea, Agnes landed over Vietnam on 7 November and weakened into an area of low pressure over Thailand on 8 November. Typhoon Bill (8425) developed to the east of the Mariana Islands on 9 November. It moved towards the Philippines at first but turned northwestwards on 14 November. On the same day, Typhoon Clara (8426) formed near the Caroline Islands and moved west-northwestwards. Bill became slow-moving northeast of Luzon on 17-18 November. It weakened on 19 November and moved southeastwards under the influence of Clara. At the same time, Clara recurved to the northeast about 640 nautical miles east of Manila. Clara became an extra tropical cyclone about 620 nautical miles southeast of Tokyo late on 21 November. Bill dissipated about 360 nautical miles east of Manila on 22 November.

Typhoon Doyle (8427) was the only tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific during December. It developed near Yap on 5 December, recurved about 430 nautical miles east of Luzon on 9 December and moved northeastwards. It dissipated over the ocean south of Japan two days later.