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Meteorological history | |
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Formed | 24 August 1937 |
Dissipated | 4 September 1937 |
Typhoon | |
Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 953 hPa (mbar);28.14 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | At least 11,000 |
Damage | $300,000 (1937 USD) |
Areas affected | Southern China,especially Hong Kong |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1937 Pacific typhoon season |
The 1937 Great Hong Kong Typhoon was one of the deadliest typhoons in Hong Kong history,with a death toll estimated between 11,000 and 13,000. Part of the 1937 Pacific typhoon season,the tropical cyclone originated on 24 August to the south of Guam,which proceeded generally to the west-northwest. On 1 September the storm entered the South China Sea,and early the next day,the typhoon passed just south of Hong Kong before making landfall in southern China. It weakened after moving ashore,dissipating on 3 September.
Ahead of the storm's landfall,the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) [nb 1] issued warning signals and set off explosives,known as a typhoon bomb,to warn the public. During its closest approach,the typhoon produced wind gusts of at least 201 km/h (125 mph),although its true intensity was unknown,as the gusts surpassed the capacity of the anemometer. Unofficial nearby observations recorded gusts as high as 268 km/h (167 mph). The typhoon also produced heavy rainfall and high tides,with a high water mark at Tai Po estimated at 6.25 metres (20.5 ft). The typhoon killed at least 11,000 people,possibly as many as 13,000,many of them fishermen,with 1,855 fishing boats wrecked,as well as 28 ships bound for the ocean. Across the territory,the storm damaged houses,factories,roads,and rail lines,with damage estimated at HK$1 million (US$300,000). Nearby Macau lost 21 people.
Ahead of the typhoon,Victoria Harbour was described as "crowded" in newspapers,amid a naval blockade of eastern China amid the Second Sino-Japanese War. [1] Time described the harbour as the "seventh busiest in the world... always alive with yachts,junks,ferries,sampans,freighters,liners,men-of-war." [2] The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) was established in 1883,and a year later,the agency began issuing public warnings of approaching typhoons using a gun. The system was replaced with bomb detonations,beginning in 1907. A decade later,the HKO introduced a numbered warning system to the public,with No. 1 as standby. The highest rating,No. 10,signified the potential for typhoon conditions,or maximum sustained winds of at least 118 km/h (74 mph). [3] [4]
The origins of the typhoon were from a storm located 320 km (200 mi) south of Guam on August 24. The September 1937 issue of the Monthly Weather Review described that "there was little evidence of its potentialities",as the storm moved west-northwestward across the western Pacific Ocean. At 08:00 UTC on August 28, [nb 2] the USS Ramapo encountered the storm,observing an barometric pressure of 1,003 mbar (29.61 in Hg),and sustained winds of 61 km/h (38 mph). These observations suggested that the storm passed just south of the ship,although the intensity of the system was unknown at that point. Around August 30,the storm turned more to the northwest,causing it to remain north and east of majority of the Philippines. On September 1,it went through the Balintang Channel,passing 48 km (30 mi) south of Basco,Batanes. A station there recorded a pressure of 986 mbar (29.102 in Hg),as well as a force 11 on the Beaufort scale,indicating a strengthening storm with winds of at least 105 km/h (65 mph). Thereafter,the typhoon entered the South China Sea,passing just north of Pratas Island,where a pressure of 993 mbar (29.327 in Hg) was recorded. [5] [6]
As the typhoon moved across the northern portion of the South China Sea toward the southern Chinese mainland,it intensified rapidly. [5] On September 2 around 21:00 UTC the typhoon made landfall just west of Hong Kong,after passing only 12 km (7 mi) south of the British colony. [6] [7] The lowest pressure recorded at the HKO was 958 mbar (28.298 in Hg),while at the harbour,the SS Shuntien observed a pressure of 953 mbar (28.15 in Hg). [8] [7] The typhoon's exact intensity was unknown,as its squalls of winds surpassed the capacity of the anemometer,which was greater than 201 km/h (125 mph). [7] The observations suggested that the typhoon struck with winds equivalent to a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale,or sustained winds of at least 180 km/h (112 mph). [9] The typhoon continued inland and weakened,dissipating over southern China on September 3. [5] [6]
Late on 31 August [nb 3] the HKO issued warning signal No. 1,or standby. The following day, [nb 4] the warning signal was raised to No. 5,which meant that gale force winds were expected for the territory. [5] The issuance prompted larger vessels to leave the harbour and seek shelter in nearby bays. [10] Fishermen and travelers left their ships for typhoon shelters. [11] The HKO upgraded the warning further to No. 10,meaning that typhoon-force winds were expected,at 17:58 UTC on September 1. [nb 5] . Twelve minutes later,officials fired typhoon bombs to warn the public. [5] This marked the last occasion that typhoon bombs were used. [3] The No. 10 warning signal was issued overnight,and less than two hours before the typhoon made its closest approach. [5] As a result,the typhoon's ferocity was largely unexpected. [7]
As it moved ashore southern China,the typhoon produced a variety of damaging effects. Wind gusts were estimated to have reached at least 241 km/h (150 mph) in Hong Kong,although the anemometer was only able to record gusts as high as 201 km/h (125 mph). [10] [7] However,a private anemometer 3.2 km (2 mi) east of the HKO recorded a wind gust of 268 km/h (167 mph). [12] The mean hourly wind average in the territory reached 109 km/h (68 mph). [13] Along the coast,the powerful typhoon increased tides,with waves estimated at 9.1 m (30 ft) in Tolo Harbour. [7] The high water mark at Tai Po was estimated at 6.25 m (20.5 ft),corresponding to a storm surge of 3.81 m (12.5 ft). Victoria Harbour experienced a storm surge of 1.98 m (6.5 ft). [14] During its passage,the typhoon also dropped heavy rainfall,totaling 128.4 mm (5.055 in). [5]
The typhoon killed thousands of people in Hong Kong,with a death toll between 11,000 and 13,000. This accounted for roughly 1% of the territory's population of 1 million. [13] [9] However,many of the bodies were washed away and never found,with roughly 500 corpses found in the days after the typhoon. Fishermen accounted for majority of the deceased,after the typhoon capsized 1,855 fishing boats,and the fishermen were unable to seek shelter. The destroyed boats included sampans,or houseboats,as well as 28 ships bound for the ocean. Other sailors were unaware of the approaching storm. [13] High tides washed many boats ashore and broke other vessels from their moorings, [8] [2] including the Asama Maru ,the Conte Verde ,and the Van Heutsz . The steamer An Lee broke from its moorings and struck HMS Suffolk ,causing 12 people to jump ship,one of whom missed and drowned. The An Lee later hit HMS Duchess . Twenty ships sent out SOS distress signals. [10]
In mainland Hong Kong,the typhoon swept away an entire village in Tai Po Market,resulting in an estimated 300 fatalities. [15] About half of Sha Tau Kok was wrecked, [13] with 30 people killed there. [15] Across Hong Kong,the storm damaged houses and factories while also resulting in power and telephone outages. The winds uprooted trees and knocked down branches. During the height of the storm,nine buildings caught fire and were destroyed,resulting in dozens of deaths,after the fire brigade faced difficulty reaching the area. [10] The high winds tore through roofs,signs,and lampposts,littering the road with debris. [2] The high tides washed away nearly a mile of the Kowloon–Canton Railway. [16] [15] British officials estimated the total damage at around HK$1 million (US$300,000). [2]
Outside of Hong Kong,newspapers described the effects in nearby Macau as having "suffered severely", [17] with 21 fatalities in the territory. [18] In nearby Canton,there was a "less severe buffeting" according to newspapers. [17]
Police and other officials used rope to attempt to rescue people caught by the floods. [2] At the harbour,tugs had to assist beached or stranded vessels,although it took six months for the Asama Maru to be moved. [11] The storm occurred concurrently with a cholera outbreak in Hong Kong amid the stagnant floodwaters. To prevent a larger outbreak,officials set up 50 clinics for vaccinations. Emergency resources were strained due to the ongoing war and naval blockade,although British and American air shipments helped with the supply. [11] Flooded or blocked roads and railroads disrupted transport,leaving people in Hong Kong stranded for several days. [16] Damage at Kai Tak Airport delayed international flights. [15]
In 1938 the HKO published a report assessing the costs of typhoon damage over the preceding ten years. The 1937 typhoon accounted for 39% of these costs,with the repairs reaching HK$$585,734. [13] [nb 6]
The 1964 Pacific typhoon season was the most active tropical cyclone season recorded globally, with a total of 39 tropical storms forming. It had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1964, 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.
Typhoon Saomai, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Juan, was considered the most powerful typhoon on record to strike the east coast of the People's Republic of China. It was the eighth tropical storm, fifth typhoon, and third super typhoon of the 2006 Pacific typhoon season recognized by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Saomai was the seventh tropical storm and fifth typhoon of the season. The name "Saomai" was submitted by Vietnam, and is from the Vietnamese word for "morning star", a reference to the planet Venus.
Typhoon Wanda was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record in Hong Kong. It was the 59th disturbance in the record-breaking 1962 Pacific typhoon season, forming in August east of the Philippines. Typhoon Wanda reached peak winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) in the South China Sea, and it made landfall on Hong Kong on September 1, producing gusts of 261 km/h (161 mph) which, in combination with a high storm surge, damaged thousands of huts and left 72,000 people homeless. Wanda left a total of 434 deaths, and it is estimated that an identical typhoon striking today would cause HK$2.6 billion in losses.
Typhoon Andy, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Iliang, was an intense tropical cyclone that made landfall in Taiwan. Andy formed along the northern edge of the monsoon trough south of Guam on July 22, 1982. It became a tropical storm the next day, although this system was initially poorly organized. Andy moved steadily west during the first few days of its life. After looping south of Guam, the cyclone moved northwest and strengthened. Andy turned westward near the 18th parallel on July 25. The system became a strong typhoon for a prolonged period on July 27 and July 28 while attaining a peak intensity of 185 km/h (115 mph). However, the typhoon struck Southern Taiwan on July 29. Continuing westward through the Formosa Strait, the storm made its final landfall in southern China on July 30 and dissipated inland two days later.
Typhoon Clara, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Rubing, left flooding in the northern Philippines and southern China during September 1981. An area of disturbed weather was first detected on September 11 near Ponape. After moving westward, the system gradually became better organized and thunderstorm activity increased. On September 16, the system attained tropical storm status. Two days later, Clara attained typhoon intensity and subsequently began to deepen at a faster rate. On September 19, Clara reached maximum intensity, before making landfall along the northern tip of Luzon. Clara steadily weakened after interacting with land, but by late on September 20, Clara leveled off in intensity over the South China Sea. The next day, Clara moved ashore to the east-northeast of Hong Kong while still at typhoon intensity before rapidly dissipating over land.
Typhoon Rita, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Kading, was the most powerful tropical cyclone during the 1978 Pacific typhoon season and one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record. A long-lived and destructive tropical cyclone, Rita began its journey east of the Marshall Islands and rapidly moved westwards, becoming a typhoon on October 20. Rita continued rapid intensification and attained super typhoon status and later an atmospheric pressure of 878 mbar (25.9 inHg) on October 25. Rita struck the Philippines overnight on October 26 and entered the South China Sea as a minimal typhoon. Rita caused extreme damage and more than 300 deaths.
Typhoon Ellen, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Herming, was considered the worst typhoon to hit China since 1979. Typhoon Ellen was first noted as a tropical disturbance east of the International Date Line on August 26, 1983, and became a tropical storm soon after crossing the dateline on the morning of August 29. Initially, strong wind shear inhibited development over the next five days, and the cyclone began to track south of west. On September 2, conditions aloft finally improved and the cyclone strengthened into a typhoon on September 4 as it tracked west-northwest. Approaching Luzon late on September 5, Ellen intensified rapidly into a strong typhoon with winds of 200 km/h (125 mph) before interaction with Luzon began to weaken the cyclone. Its final landfall was at Portuguese Macau on the morning of September 9 as a minimal typhoon. The next day, Ellen ceased to exist.
Tropical Storm Toraji was a short-lived and minimal tropical cyclone that brought inundating rainfall to areas of Southeast Asia in July 2007. The name Toraji was contributed to the western Pacific typhoon naming list by North Korea and stands for a broad bell flower. The third named storm of the annual typhoon season, Toraji developed from an area of disturbed weather within the South China Sea on July 4. As a result of its northwesterly track, the tropical depression moved over Hainan shortly after tropical cyclogenesis. Upon its emergence into the Gulf of Tonkin on July 5, Toraji quickly intensified into a tropical storm with winds of 65 km/h (40 mph); this would be the tropical cyclone's peak intensity for its entire duration. However, the JMA indicated that tropical storm intensity had been reached a day earlier. On the evening of July 5, Toraji made its final landfall on Dongxing, Guangxi before rapidly deteriorating inland and degenerating into a remnant low-pressure area by the following day.
Typhoon Sally, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Maring, was an intense tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage across southeastern Asia, particularly in China, in September 1996. Forming well east of the Philippines on 5 September, Sally quickly intensified as it tracked westward within favorable conditions. The system reached tropical storm intensity several hours after tropical cyclogenesis was completed, and strengthened further into typhoon intensity the following day. On 7 September, Sally reached super typhoon status shortly before attaining its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and a barometric pressure of 940 mbar. Quickly moving across the South China Sea, Sally substantially weakened but remained a strong typhoon before making its first landfall on the Leizhou Peninsula on 9 September. The tropical cyclone's trek brought it briefly over the Gulf of Tonkin before making a final landfall near the border of China and Vietnam. The typhoon rapidly deteriorated inland and dissipated later that day.
Typhoon Nancy, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Weling, was a destructive typhoon that moved through Vietnam and the Philippines during October 1982. The typhoon originated from an area of convection and was first classified as a tropical cyclone on October 10. The system attained gale-force winds the next day, and slowly deepened thereafter. Although Nancy initially moved west, the system maintained a general westward course for much of its duration, striking Luzon on October 14 at peak intensity of 215 km/h (130 mph). It weakened to tropical storm strength overland, but re-intensified to typhoon intensity over the South China Sea. Nancy hit northern Vietnam on the October 18, and weakened almost immediately thereafter, before dissipating on October 20 inland over Vietnam.
Typhoon Kim, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Osang, was the second typhoon in a week to directly affect the Philippines during July 1980. Like Typhoon Joe, Kim formed from the near equatorial monsoon trough in the northwestern Pacific Ocean on July 19. The disturbance tracked quickly westward-northwest underneath a subtropical ridge, reaching tropical storm strength on the July 21 and typhoon strength on July 23. After developing an eye, Kim began to rapidly intensify, and during the afternoon of July 24, peaked in intensity as a super typhoon. Several hours later, Kim made landfall over the Philippines, but the storm had weakened considerably by this time. Throughout the Philippines, 40 people were killed, 2 via drownings, and 19,000 others were directly affected. A total of 12,000 homes were destroyed and 5,000 villages were flooded. Less than a week earlier, the same areas were affected by Joe; however, Kim was considered the more damaging of the two typhoons. Land interaction took its toll on Kim, and upon entering the South China Sea, the storm was down below typhoon intensity. Kim continued northwestward but its disrupted circulation prevented re-intensification, and it remained a tropical storm until hitting southern China July 27 to the northeast of Hong Kong, where only slight damage was reported. Later that day, Kim dissipated.
Typhoon Ruby, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yoning, was a strong tropical cyclone that struck Hong Kong, Macau, and southern China in early September 1964. The precursor disturbance to Ruby was first identified on August 29 over the Philippine Sea, and this system organised into a tropical cyclone by September 1. Ruby intensified as it moved west, becoming a typhoon the next day and subsequently passing over the Babuyan Islands of the Philippines. After reaching the South China Sea, Ruby turned northwest and intensified further, attaining peak ten-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (121 mph) before making landfall at the peak intensity near Hong Kong on September 5. The typhoon weakened after moving inland and dissipated on September 6 over southeastern China.
Typhoon Mary, also nicknamed "Bloody Mary" by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), was an extremely damaging storm that was part of the 1960 Pacific typhoon season. It began as a circulation in a trough in the South China Sea. A tropical depression formed on June 2, as it was traveling clockwise. It became a tropical storm on the next day, and received the name Mary. It slowly moved across the sea, strengthening to a typhoon. Mary made landfall in Hong Kong on June 8, and moved through Guangdong and Fujian. It reemerged back to the Pacific Ocean, and restrengthened into a typhoon temporarily. It then traveled east, weakening and becoming extratropical on June 12.
Typhoon Dot was a strong tropical cyclone that made landfalls on Luzon and near Hong Kong in October 1964. It was the fifth typhoon to impact Hong Kong during the active 1964 Pacific typhoon season, and prompted the issuance of the No. 10 typhoon signal from the Royal Observatory in Hong Kong—the highest warning possible. The storm's precursor disturbance formed west of Pohnpei on October 3 and tracked towards the west, becoming a tropical storm by October 6. Gradually strengthening, Dot moved towards the west-northwest, northwest, and then curved west, leading to a landfall at typhoon intensity on Luzon on October 9. A freighter with 32 crewmembers went missing west of the island after passing through the typhoon and was never recovered.
Typhoon June, also known in the Philippines as Typhoon Maring, was the first of two tropical cyclones to affect the Philippines in a one-week time span in August 1984. June originated from an area of convection that was first witnessed on August 15 in the Philippine Sea. Despite initial wind shear, the area intensified into a tropical storm three days later as it tracked westward. After tracking over Luzon, June entered the South China Sea on August 30. Despite remaining poorly organized, June re-intensified over land, and it was estimated to have briefly attained typhoon intensity before striking China, just to the east of Hong Kong, at maximum intensity, although its remnants were last noticed on September 3.
Typhoon Joe, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Nitang, affected the Philippines, China, and Vietnam during July 1980. An area of disturbed weather formed near the Caroline Islands on July 14. Shower activity gradually became better organized, and two days later, the system was upgraded into a tropical depression. On July 18, the depression was classified as Tropical Storm Joe. Initially, Joe moved northwest, but began to turn to the west-northwest, anchored by a subtropical ridge to its north. Joe started to deepen at a faster clip, and attained typhoon intensity on July 19. The eye began to clear out, and the next day, Joe reached its highest intensity. Shortly thereafter, Joe moved ashore the Philippines. There, 31 people were killed and 300,000 others were directly affected. Around 5,000 homes were destroyed, resulting in an additional 29,000 homeless. Damage in the nation was estimated at $14.5 million (1980 USD).
Typhoon Irving, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ruping, was a mid-season tropical cyclone that affected the Philippines and China during September 1982. An area of disturbed weather developed within the monsoon trough during early September 1982 near Guam. Following an increase in organization, a tropical depression developed on the morning of September 5. Later that day, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Irving. Irving tracked westward, nearly becoming a typhoon before hitting the central Philippines. There, Irving uprooted trees, downed power and telephone lines, triggered landslides, and forced the cancellation of several domestic airline flights. Irving damaged 7,890 houses in Albay and Sorsogon provinces alone, resulting in 138,500 people homeless. Nation-wide, 65 people were killed, 26 others were hurt, and 29 were rendered missing. A total of 44,383 families or 248,040 residents sought shelter. Moreover, 18,488 homes were damaged and 5,599 others were demolished. Damage in the country was assessed at US$23.3 million, including US$14.2 million in crops. While crossing the island chain, Irving turned northwestward. After entering the South China Sea, Irving continued generally northwest, and became a typhoon on September 11. After developing a well-defined eye, Irving attained its peak intensity of 160 km/h (100 mph) the following day. Land interaction with Hainan Island resulted in a weakening trend, and Irving was downgraded to a tropical storm before striking the southern coast of China on September 15. Across the Leizhou Peninsula, 90% of homes were damaged. Onshore, Irving rapidly weakened and the storm dissipated on September 16.
Typhoon Warren, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Huaning, struck the Philippines and China during July 1988. An area of disturbed weather developed within the vicinity of the Caroline Islands during the second week of July. A tropical depression developed southeast of Guam on July 12, and on the next day, intensified into a tropical storm. Tracking generally west-northwest, Warren deepened into a typhoon on July 14. The storm subsequently entered a period of rapid intensification, commencing with Warren reaching its highest intensity on July 16. The following evening, the typhoon brushed Luzon, resulting in a weakening trend, although Warren was still a typhoon when it made landfall near Shantou. Warren rapidly dissipated inland.
Typhoon Zeke, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Etang, was the first of two typhoons to make landfall in China within a week during mid-July 1991. An area of disturbed weather developed east of the Philippines towards the end of the first week of July. Tracking west-northwestward, the disturbance organized into a tropical depression on July 9. After tracking across the Philippines, where it left two people missing and injured three others, the depression intensified into a tropical storm on July 10. The storm steadily deepened as it moved across the South China Sea, and on July 12 it strengthened into a typhoon. While at its peak intensity of 120 km/h (75 mph), Zeke moved onshore at Hainan, where it began to weaken. The system tracked across Vietnam on July 13, and dissipated within two days after moving inland.
In 1937, there were 25 tropical cyclones across the northwestern Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. There were at least 17 typhoons, which are tropical cyclones with sustained winds of at least 119 kilometres per hour. The year's strongest observed typhoon was in November, when a barometer in the eastern Philippines observed a barometric pressure of 951 mbar (28.1 inHg). The typhoon was the second in a series of three to make landfall in the eastern Philippines between November and December, resulting in a collective 289 fatalities, as well as causing an outbreak of dysentery. However, the deadliest storm of the season was a typhoon that struck Hong Kong in September, killing at least 11,000 people, mainly fishermen.