List of typhoons on Guam

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Guam lies in the path of typhoons and it is common for the island to be threatened by tropical depressions and storms, and occasional typhoons during the wet season. The highest risk of typhoons is from August through November. They can, however, occur year-round. This is a list of typhoons that caused deaths, injuries and/or severe damage on Guam.

DateName Category Atm. pressure Wind speedDeathsComments
1671-10-07-"Eye passed directly over island, with most of the homes on the island toppled, as well as the church and the rectory suffering the same fate. A great many people were killed by falling debris and inadequate shelter while the damage to agriculture crops was a serious loss to the people." [1] : 20 
1680-11-11-"It lasted two days and caused frightful disorder. Almost all the houses were toppled over, canoes smashed, trees and crops ruined. To add to the disaster, the sea became so swollen that the people were obliged to flee to the mountains" [1] : 20 
1693-11-20-14"It began at dusk on the night of November 20 with a deluge of rain. The wind moved from north to south and whipped up the sea to such a manner that it seemed as if the island of Guam would be submerged. The sea broke its bounds and spread inland taking trees, houses and churches with it. Even the fortress at Agana toppled and was washed away. Not a house nor building remained standing on the island. Inland from the shore, the soil was covered with sand and stones left there by the subsiding sea." [1] : 20 
1733-12-"severely damaged all trees and food crops. In Agaña it destroyed all buildings that had remained standing after the town fire of March of the same year." [1] : 20 
1822-09-09-"damaged the Palacio and other Spanish administration buildings, among them the government store" [1] : 20 
1848-08-10-"described as a devastating typhoon that caused extensive damage" [1] : 22 
1853-09-23-"causing widespread devastation" [1] : 22 
1872-09-19-"caused damage to buildings and agricultural production, and also wrecked a Spanish mail ship. [...] Damage to Spanish buildings includes roof damage to the Palacio in Agaña, as well as the Casa Reál (former palace) in Umatac." [1] : 22 
1900-05-26-"severely affecting the southern part of the island by demolishing structures in Sumay, Agat, Merizo and Inarajan. Damage to vegetation was substantial, with all crops destroyed. The vessel USS Brutus was torn off her moorings in Apra Harbor and blown onto a reef" [1] : 23 
1900-11-13 Typhoon of 1900 926 mbar (27.3 inHg)100"A typhoon devastates Guam Island, destroying towns and 100 lives; the cruiser Yosemite founders." [2]
1940-11-03999 mbar (29.5 inHg)200 km/h (120 mph)5The storm destroyed a majority of the island's crops, caused extensive damage to many military structures, and destroyed thousands of residential homes. Governor George McMillin requested $50,000 (1940 USD, $967,1022023 USD) in aid from the American Red Cross. [3]
1962-11-11 Typhoon Karen 5932 mbar (27.5 inHg)272 km/h (169 mph)11Regarded as the worst typhoon to ever impact Guam. 95 percent of homes were destroyed, [4] and those left standing were damaged. [5] Approximately 45,000 people, mostly Guamanians, were left homeless. [6] 11 people lost their lives and about 100 others were injured. [4] [7] Losses across the island amounted to $250 million (1962 USD, $2.24 billion2023 USD). [4] [7] The damage across Guam was described as "'much more serious" than it had been during the second Battle of Guam, when American troops retook the island from the Japanese. [8] The U.S. Navy described the damage as equal to that of an indirect hit from a nuclear bomb. [9] Acting governor Manuel Guerrero said that the recovery effort of the previous 17 years had been "completely wiped out". [10]
1976-05-21 Typhoon Pamela 4220 km/h (140 mph)1Typhoon-force winds – greater than 118 km/h (73 mph) – for 18 hours. An estimated 80% of the buildings on the island were damaged, including 3,300 houses that were destroyed. Pamela's slow motion produced 856 mm (33.7 in) of rainfall, making May 1976 the wettest on record in Guam.
1992-08 Typhoon Omar 4185 km/h (115 mph)1Caused one death and $457 million (1992 USD, $882 million2023 USD) in damage. Strong gusts up to 248 km/h (154 mph) left nearly the entire island without power for several days. Omar damaged or destroyed 2,158 houses, leaving 3,000 people homeless. In response, the island's building codes were updated to withstand winds of 250 km/h (155 mph), and insurance companies discontinued new policies for structures not made of concrete.
1997-12-17 Typhoon Paka 5948 hPa (28.0 inHg)277 km/h (172 mph)Around 1,500 buildings destroyed on the island, [11] of which 1,160 were single-family homes. [12] A further 10,000 buildings sustained damage to some degree. [11] In all, about 5,000 people were left homeless due to the typhoon. An estimated 30–40% of the public buildings received major damage. [12]
2002-12-08 Typhoon Pongsona 4938 mbar (27.7 inHg)278 km/h (173 mph)1Third lowest recorded atmospheric pressure, after the Typhoon of 1900 and Karen. Typhoon Pongsona also left 65% of the island's water wells inoperable, [13] with most of Guam left without water service following the storm. [14] Officials estimate the typhoon destroyed 1,300 homes, severely damaged 1,825, and lightly damaged 4,800. [15] Damage totaled over $700 million (2002 USD, $1.05 billion2023 USD).
2023-5-24 Typhoon Mawar 4924 mbar (27.3 inHg)220 km/h (140 mph)Unknown
Note: Only greatly damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Paka</span> Pacific typhoon in 1997

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Pacific hurricane season</span> Hurricane season in the Pacific Ocean

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Pacific typhoon season</span> Typhoon season in the Western Pacific Ocean

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Pacific typhoon season</span> Typhoon season in the Pacific Ocean

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Pongsona</span> Pacific typhoon in 2002

Typhoon Pongsona was the last typhoon of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season, and was the second costliest United States disaster in 2002, only behind Hurricane Lili. The name "Pongsona" was contributed by North Korea for the Pacific tropical cyclone list and is the Korean name for the garden balsam. Pongsona developed out of an area of disturbed weather on December 2, and steadily intensified to reach typhoon status on December 5. On December 8 it passed through Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands while near its peak winds of 175 km/h (109 mph) 10-min). It ultimately turned to the northeast, weakened, and became extratropical on December 11. Typhoon Pongsona produced strong wind gusts peaking at 290 km/h (180 mph) 1-min), which left the entire island of Guam without power and destroyed about 1,300 houses. With strong building standards and experience from repeated typhoon strikes, there were no fatalities directly related to Pongsona, although there was one indirect death from flying glass. Damage on the island totaled over $730 million, making Pongsona among the five costliest typhoons on the island. The typhoon also caused extreme damage on Rota and elsewhere in the Northern Mariana Islands, and as a result of its impact the name was retired.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1963 Pacific typhoon season</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Omar</span> Pacific typhoon in 1992

Typhoon Omar of 1992, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Lusing, was the strongest and costliest typhoon to strike Guam since Typhoon Pamela in 1976. The cyclone formed on August 23 from the monsoon trough across the western Pacific Ocean. Moving westward, Omar slowly intensified into a tropical storm, although another tropical cyclone nearby initially impeded further strengthening. After the two storms became more distant, Omar quickly strengthened into a powerful typhoon. On August 28, it made landfall on Guam with winds of 195 km/h (120 mph). The typhoon reached its peak intensity the next day, with estimated 1‑minute winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), making it a "super typhoon" according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). Omar weakened significantly before striking eastern Taiwan on September 4, proceeding into eastern China the next day and dissipating on September 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Pacific typhoon season</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Karen</span> Pacific typhoon in 1962

Typhoon Karen was the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike the island of Guam, and has been regarded as one of the most destructive events in the island's history. It was first identified as a tropical disturbance on November 6, 1962, well to the southeast of Truk. Over the following two days, the system tracked generally northward and quickly intensified. Karen became a tropical storm late on November 7, and within two days it explosively intensified into a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Turning westward, the typhoon maintained its intensity and struck Guam with winds of 280 km/h (170 mph) on November 11. Once clear of the island, it strengthened slightly and reached its peak intensity on November 13 with winds of 295 km/h (183 mph) and a barometric pressure of 894 mb. The storm then gradually turned northward as it weakened, brushing the Ryukyu Islands on November 15, before moving east-northeastward over the open waters of the Pacific. Karen continued to weaken and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on November 17 before losing its identity the following day between Alaska and Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Pamela (1976)</span> Pacific typhoon in 1976

Typhoon Pamela was a powerful typhoon that struck the U.S. territory of Guam in May 1976, causing about $500 million in damage (USD). The sixth named storm and third typhoon of the 1976 Pacific typhoon season, Pamela developed on May 14 from a trough in the Federated States of Micronesia in the area of the Nomoi Islands. It executed a counterclockwise loop and slowly intensified, bringing heavy rains to the islands in the region. Ten people died on Chuuk due to a landslide. After beginning a steady northwest motion toward Guam, Pamela attained its peak winds of 240 km/h (150 mph).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Joan (1959)</span> Pacific typhoon in 1959

Typhoon Joan was an intense typhoon that caused minor damages in relative to the strength of the typhoon. Joan was the strongest typhoon of 1959 Pacific typhoon season, and one of the most intense Pacific typhoons on record. Joan formed from a surface center to the northeast of Guam on August 23, in which Japan Meteorological Agency began to track and classify the system as a tropical depression on the next day. A reconnaissance aircraft was sent to investigate the surface center and in 03:25 UTC on August 25 the surface center was classified as a tropical storm by Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm rapidly intensified into a typhoon in the same day it was formed. By the next three days as Joan tracks towards Taiwan, Joan explosively intensified to attain peak intensity with the pressure of 885 millibars (26.1 inHg), which is tied with Nina as the most intense Pacific typhoon on the record at the time. Shortly afterwards, Joan attained peak strength as a Category 5 equivalent typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale with winds of 165 knots (190 mph) before making landfall in Taiwan as a 160 knots (180 mph) typhoon, which was according to JTWC is the strongest landfall in the recorded history at the time. After making landfall, Joan weakened into a 110 knots (130 mph) typhoon before making landfall on Fujian, China as a Category 2 equivalent typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale with winds of 95 knots (109 mph). Once onshore, Joan did not degenerate quickly as Joan remained as a tropical cyclone for about one day before transitioning into a extratropical cyclone in 18:00 UTC of August 31. Extratropical remnants of Joan quickly traversed through South Korea and Japan before being last noted on 18:00 UTC, September 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Sally (1964)</span> Pacific typhoon in 1964

Typhoon Sally, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Aring, was a powerful tropical cyclone that brought widespread impacts during its week-long trek across the western Pacific in September 1964. The strongest tropical cyclone of the 1964 Pacific typhoon season and one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, and among the strongest typhoons ever recorded, with one-minute maximum sustained winds of 315 km/h (196 mph) as estimated by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Sally first became a tropical cyclone near the Marshall Islands on September 3, organizing into a tropical depression and then a tropical storm later that day. On September 4, Sally intensified into a typhoon and struck southern Guam the next day. Widespread agricultural damage occurred in the island's southern regions, with the banana crop suffering the costliest losses; the damage toll from crops and property exceeded $115,000. Sally continued to intensify on its west-northwestward trek, and reached its peak strength on September 7 over the Philippine Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typhoon Alice (1979)</span> Pacific typhoon in 1979

Typhoon Alice was an unusual West Pacific tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage in the Marshall Islands in January 1979. The first tropical cyclone and the first typhoon of the 1979 Pacific typhoon season, Alice formed on December 31, 1978 from a tropical disturbance at both an atypically low latitude near the equator and during a time of year climatologically unfavorable for tropical cyclogenesis. The system strengthened as it tracked northwest, reaching tropical storm strength on January 1, 1979. Alice then began to move erratically through the Marshall Islands, causing heavy rainfall and gusty winds that destroyed crops throughout the archipelago. Significant damage occurred in Majuro and Enewetak Atoll, where gusts of 80 mph (130 km/h) were reported and one person was injured. Nuclear cleanup operations on Enewetak in the wake of postwar nuclear tests there were disrupted, with repair of cleanup facilities lasting several months. The damage toll was estimated at between US$50,000–$500,000.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Spennemann, Dirk H.R. (October 2004). "Typhoons in Micronesia. A history of tropical cyclones and their effects until 1914". ResearchGate. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Division of Historic Preservation. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3940.6249/1 . Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac. New York: Buckley, Denton & Company. 1901. p. 615.
  3. ↑ "Typhoon Spreads Wreckage Across Guam; Plea to Red Cross". The New York Times . 4 November 1940. p. 1.
  4. 1 2 3 John A. Rupp & Mark A. Lander (May 1996). "A Technique for Estimating Recurrence Intervals of Tropical Cyclone-Related High Winds in the Tropics: Results for Guam". Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 35 (5): 627–637. Bibcode:1996JApMe..35..627R. doi:10.1175/1520-0450(1996)035<0627:ATFERI>2.0.CO;2.
  5. ↑ "Six Dead In Guam Typhoon: Damage by Karen Set at Hundreds Of Millions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Honolulu, Hawaii. Associated Press. November 13, 1962. pp. 1, 20. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Typhoon Karen Wreaks Dreadful Guam Toll". The Windsor-Star. Honolulu, Hawaii. Associated Press. November 13, 1962. p. 2. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: Typhoon Karen" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1963. pp. 202–216. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Typhoon Slams Guam Harder Than War". The Miami News. Honolulu, Hawaii. Associated Press. November 13, 1962. p. 3A. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  9. ↑ Cunningham, p.301
  10. ↑ Australian Associated Press (November 14, 1962). "Typhoon Toll Six Dead". The Age. Honolulu, Hawaii. p. 4. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  11. 1 2 EQE International (1998). "Typhoon Paka – December 1997" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  12. 1 2 National Climatic Data Center (1997). "Event Report for Typhoon Paka". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  13. ↑ "Pacific" (PDF). Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena with Late Reports. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 44 (12): 119–121. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  14. ↑ Federal Emergency Management Agency (2003). "Update on Recovery Efforts in Guam and Rota following Super Typhoon Pongsona". Archived from the original (DOC) on September 30, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
  15. ↑ Bonnie Gillespie (2002). "Hope Prevails Amid Complex Recovery in Guam". RedCross.org. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
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