Typhoon Halong (2025)

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Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On October 3, a broad area of convection developed about 264 nautical miles (489 km; 304 mi) southeast of Iwo Jima, Japan, with flaring convection along its eastern periphery but no discernible low-level circulation center (LLCC). At that time, the system was situated in a marginally favorable environment, characterized by low to moderate wind shear of 15–20 knots (28–37 km/h; 17–23 mph), warm sea surface temperatures of 28–29 °C (82–84 °F), and moderate outflow aloft. [1] The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) [α] began monitoring the system the following day, classifying it as a tropical depression and locating it at 24.8°N 143.9°E. [2] [3] Its LLCC later became obscured, caused by persistent convection located directly over the center. [4] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) later issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) at 06:00 UTC, citing a high chance of development. [5] The JTWC subsequently followed suit nine hours later at 15:00 UTC and designated the depression as 28W. [6] The depression intensified into a tropical storm early on October 5 and was named Halong by the JMA. [7] As at 18:00 UTC it was located near 24.9°N 142.5°E. [6] The storm later intensified into a severe tropical storm by the JMA, whilst JTWC further upgraded it into a minimal typhoon on the following day as it slowly tracks northwestwards, with a developing eye and defined cirrus filaments extending poleward. [8] That day, it rapidly intensified to Category 4 strength, developing a clear eye. [9] Halong tracked northeastward on October 8, maintaining intensity despite a less symmetrical eye. [10] It began weakening the next day due to 25–30 knots (46–56 km/h; 29–35 mph) wind shear and dry air. [11] JTWC issued its final advisory on October 10 as Halong transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. [12] The JMA continued monitoring it until declaring it extratropical at 22:10 JST (13:10 UTC). [13] Halong moved northward over the next day and was located just south of the Aleutian Islands on October 11. [14] The cyclone then moved into the southern Bering Sea that afternoon, [15] and then moved north along the western coast of Alaska on October 12. [16] It made landfall near Buckland later that day. [17] On October 13, Halong entered the Arctic Ocean near Banks Island and began rapidly weakening. [18]

Preparations

Typhoon Halong
Halong 2025-10-07 1637Z.jpg
Halong near peak intensity over the open waters on October 7

In Western Alaska, flood and high wind watches were issued ahead of the storm's expected intensification as an extratropical storm in the North Pacific and Bering Sea, where winds up to hurricane force were expected. [19]

Impact

Japan

Halong generated strong waves that left one person dead in Japan. [20] On the island of Hachijojima, wind speeds were measured at 107 knots (198 km/h; 123 mph) and record rainfall amounts of 349 millimetres (0.191 fathoms; 13.7 in) were observed. [21] Over 2,700 customers lost water on the island and another 2,200 customers lost power. About 20 customers also lost power on Aogashima. Several roads were left impassible on these islands due to flooding and downed trees. [22]

Alaska

In Western Alaska, flood and high wind watches were issued ahead of the storm's expected intensification as an extratropical storm in the North Pacific and Bering Sea, where winds up to hurricane force were expected. [23] These were later upgraded to warnings, with comparisons made to Ex-Typhoon Merbok in 2022, which caused severe flooding in some coastal communities in September 2022.

The remnants of Halong brought significant impacts to Alaska, with the worst of the impact in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Wind speeds of 98 knots (181 km/h; 113 mph) were measured in the Kusilvak Mountains. [24] The storm caused record flooding in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok where several people went missing after numerous houses were floated off their foundations. The Coast Guard rescued approximately 20 persons from their homes after the buildings had floated out to sea. [25] A roof detached from a home and a school boardwalk was damaged in Kongiganak. [26]

Water levels in Kipnuk reached record heights of 168 millimetres (0.092 fathoms; 6.6 in) above mean higher high water. [27] Boardwalks and roads were submerged across the Yukon-Kuskokwim region, while debris blocked the runway at Bethel Airport and a barge in Bethel broke from its mooring and struck a bridge. [28] [24] Elsewhere in Western Alaska, strong winds occurred, resulting in roof and siding damage, airborne debris, and extensive tree damage. Several power outages occurred, including to the KSKO radio station in McGrath which was knocked off the air. [29]

In response to impacts from the storm, parts of western Alaska were placed under a disaster declaration by Governor Mike Dunleavy. [30] On October 13 after the storm, Alaska State Troopers confirmed there was one fatality in Kwigillingok, with two others missing; they confirmed that all were accounted for from Kipnuk. They also said a search helicopter from Fairbanks was sent to the area to deliver generators and fuel, with additional search and rescue efforts conducted jointly by the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Army National Guard, and Alaska Air National Guard. [31]

It resulted in 1 woman dead along with thousands displaced. [32]

Aftermath

In addition to the fatalities, over 51 people required rescue after the storm, [33] with over a thousand people displaced. A thousand emergency meals were also distributed along the coast. [34]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The JMA is the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for the Western North Pacific.

References

  1. ↑ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans, 15Z 3 October 2025 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Warning and Summary 040000". Japan Meteorological Agency. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ "気象庁｜天気図" (PDF). Japan Meteorological Agency. October 4, 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans, 03Z 4 October 2025 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 94W) (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Tropical Depression 28W (Twenty-eight) Warning No. 1". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Warning and Summary 041800". Japan Meteorological Agency. October 5, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 28W (Halong) Warning No. 8". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 28W (Halong) Warning No. 12". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 28W (Halong) Warning No. 16". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 28W (Halong) Warning No. 18". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Typhoon 28W (Halong) Warning No. 22". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Warning and Summary 101200". Japan Meteorological Agency. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service. October 11, 2025. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service. October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ "Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service. October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service. October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ Aadland, Chris (October 9, 2025). "Incoming coastal storm looms as Northwest Alaska evacuees return home amid receding floodwaters". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Tokyo's Izu islands see record rainfall as strong typhoon nears". Kyodo News. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  21. ↑ Jessica Speed (October 9, 2025). "Typhoon Halong brings strong winds and heavy rain to southern Izu islands". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Jessica Speed (October 13, 2025). "Water outages persist on Tokyo's Hachijojima as second typhoon approaches". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ Aadland, Chris (October 9, 2025). "Incoming coastal storm looms as Northwest Alaska evacuees return home amid receding floodwaters". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Remnants of Typhoon Halong bring widespread damage to Western Alaska". Western Alaska Public Radio. October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Race on to find shelter for hundreds from remote Alaskan villages slammed by typhoon's remnants". CBS News. October 15, 2025.
  26. ↑ Adeola Adeosun (October 12, 2025). "Alaska Storm Leaves 20 Missing as Homes Float Away in Delta Villages". Newsweek. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  27. ↑ Eric Stone; Liz Ruskin (October 13, 2025). "Officials say storm 'completely devastated' Western Alaska communities". KYUK. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Alaska hit by severe flooding that carries away homes". Associated Press. CBS News. October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  29. ↑ Morrison, Aaron (October 13, 2025). "Meteorologist Aaron Morrison's Post". Alaska's Weather Source. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  30. ↑ Mari Kanagay (October 11, 2025). "Governor declares disaster as storm floods west and north Alaska communities". Juneau Empire. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  31. ↑ Klecka, Joey (October 13, 2025). "1 dead, 2 still missing in Bering Sea storm aftermath, authorities say". Alaska's News Source. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  32. ↑ Gilbert, Hanna Park, Mary (October 13, 2025). "1 killed, dozens rescued after storm slams western Alaska leaving thousands displaced". CNN. Retrieved October 16, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ↑ "1 person dead, 2 missing and 51 rescued after massive storm hits Western Alaska". Alaska Public Media. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  34. ↑ "One dead, dozens rescued and roughly 1,000 displaced in western Alaska communities hit by ex-typhoon". Alaska Beacon. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
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