Typhoon Oscar

Last updated
Map key
  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

About almost a month without any tropical cyclones reaching tropical storm strength, with Tropical Storm Nina being the most recent, a new tropical depression, designated Tropical Depression 17W by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), formed over the Pacific about 380 kilometers (240 miles) east-northeast of Guam on the early morning of September 12. Tracking northwestwards and intensifying over water, Oscar attained typhoon strength on September 14. [4]

Typhoon Oscar reached its maximum intensity of high winds with 260  kilometres per hour (160 miles per hour) and a minimum central pressure of 925  millibars (hPa; 27.32  inHg) on September 14. The eye was well-developed, and it headed towards Japan.

Oscar recurved northeastwards two days later, skirted past Honshū on September 17 and started weakening. Oscar was downgraded to a tropical storm, then the system became extratropical on September 18. In Japan, Oscar claimed nine lives and injured at least 13 people. Six people were reported missing and about 600 houses were damaged by high winds and flood water. [4]

Preparations and impact

Typhoon Oscar approaching Japan on September 16 Oscar 1995-09-16 0500Z.png
Typhoon Oscar approaching Japan on September 16

Dozens of domestic flights and sea ferries were canceled. Storm and flood warnings were issued across most of Japan's eastern coastal and central areas. [3]

As the typhoon's center moved north, the most powerful area near its center touched coastal areas southeast of Tokyo. At 6 A.M. on September 17, the typhoon was centered almost directly over Aoga Island, 225 miles south of Tokyo, moving north-northeast at 21 miles per hour. Forecasters predicted that Tokyo would receive up to 12 inches of rain over 36 hours. Seven major train lines and subways in and around Tokyo reduced service. [3] There were no immediate reports of injuries, but wind-carried objects, such as tree branches, hurt at least 20 people and sudden wind gusts knocked people down. [5]

Typhoon Oscar's winds reached 174 kilometres per hour (108 miles per hour), making it comparable to Typhoon Ida that killed 1,269 people in 1958 and 5,098 from Typhoon Vera in 1959 in the Tokyo-Yokohama area. [3] It was one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Japan since World War II, dealing the east coast a glancing blow before veering out to sea. Two people were killed, and three were missing. [6]


See also

References

  1. "Typhoon Oscar injures 20 from debris" The Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved 12-1-5.
  2. "NEWS:Typhoon Oscar threatens Japan". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "At least 2 killed and 3 injured by Typhoon Oscar"". The New York Times. 18 September 1995. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Typhoons of 1995" (PDF). Hong Kong Royal Observatory . Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  5. "日本の台風ブラシ海岸" The Cavalier Daily. September 1995. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  6. "台風ブラシ日本". The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
Typhoon Oscar
Oscar 1995-09-15 0800Z.png
Oscar at peak intensity on September 15