Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | October 19,1991 |
Extratropical | October 31,1991 |
Dissipated | November 3,1991 |
Violent typhoon | |
10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
Highest winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 895 hPa (mbar);26.43 inHg |
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 270 km/h (165 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 892 hPa (mbar);26.34 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 82 |
Missing | 22 |
Damage | $151 million (1991 USD) |
Areas affected | |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season |
Typhoon Ruth,known in the Philippines as Typhoon Trining, [1] was an intense,destructive,and deadly typhoon which impacted the Philippines during October 1991. Originating from a tropical disturbance located between Chuuk and Pohnpei,Ruth developed into a depression on October 19,Steadily intensifying,after Ruth tracked west-northwestward across the Philippine Sea,it undergone rapid intensification,peaking as a violent typhoon with sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph) and a minimum pressure of 892 hPa (26.3 inHg) just a few days later. However,soon after,Ruth began weakening as it neared northern Luzon. Tracking northwestward then west-southwestward due to the interaction between a mid-tropospheric trough and the subtropical ridge,Ruth made landfall in northern Luzon with winds of 155 km/h (100 mph) before weakening into a tropical storm due to it interaction land. Ruth later recurved south of Taiwan,becoming an extratropical low on October 31. This low weakened as it interacted with a frontal low,dissipating several days later,on November 3.
Ruth prompted the evacuation of 13,600 residents living near Mount Pinatubo due to fears of mudslides,while authorities issued Public Storm Warning Signals,including the first instance of PSWS #4. Due to the typhoon,82 people died,55 were injured,and a further 22 went missing. Major cities like Baguio experienced heavy damage,with several fatalities occurring due to falling trees and mudslides. The capital,Manila,suffered extensive power outages which affected over 6 million residents,while heavy rainfall led to catastrophic flooding and landslides,notably on Kennon Road. The typhoon's remnants later contributed to adverse weather conditions in the Ryukyu Islands. Elsewhere,offshore Taiwan,a cargo ship sank,causing the loss of 18 crew members. In response to the disaster,President Corazon Aquino declared a state of calamity in affected regions and initiated relief efforts. Overall,the typhoon caused approximately USD$150.7 million in damages.
The system that later became Typhoon Ruth originated from a tropical disturbance which was located between the islands of Chuuk State and Pohnpei on October. Steadily deepening throughout the next few days, convective activity associated with the disturbance began increasing as it moved west-northwestward, crossing the Caroline Islands. [2] As a result, at 12:00 UTC on October 19, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated this system as a tropical depression. [3] Further development prompted the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the tropical depression on 01:00 UTC the next day, with a Dvorak intensity estimate of 45 km/h (30 mph) alongside increasing convective activity causing it to be designated as Tropical Depression 25W later that day. [2]
Intensifying steadily as it moved northwestward between Guam and Ulithi, [2] the depression was named Ruth on October 22 as it had produced 1-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph). [4] [2] However, the JMA noted that the depression did not developed into a tropical storm for six more hours. [3] [4] Developing into a severe tropical storm at 06:00 UTC on October 22, [3] as Ruth tracked westwards, later that day, satellite imagery indicated that an eye was forming, showing that it intensified into a typhoon. [2] [3] On October 23, the typhoon crossed into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to name it Trining. [1]
As Ruth moved west-northwestwards across the Philippine Sea, the typhoon underwent rapid intensification, becoming a super typhoon around 30 hours after its eye first cleared, later peaking with 1-minute sustained winds of 270 km/h (165 mph) at 06:00 UTC on October 24. [4] [2] Around that time, the JMA designated Ruth as a violent typhoon, noting it peaked with 10-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph). [3] Steadily weakening soon after, as the typhoon neared northern Luzon, Ruth's eye weakened, expanding to have a diameter of 110 km (69 mi) as a result of this. [2] On October 25, an eastward-moving mid-tropospheric trough interacted with the subtropical ridge, causing the latter to temporarily weaken, causing Ruth to recurve northwestward. [2] However, after the ridge began restrengthening a few hours later, [2] Ruth weakened back into a very strong typhoon and recurved west-southwestward. [2] [3]
Soon after, on 12:00 UTC on October 27, Ruth made landfall in northern Luzon with 1-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and 10-minute sustained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph), [4] making it the strongest typhoon to strike the region that year. [2] A deeper mid-tropospheric trough picked up Ruth, making it recurve south of Taiwan. [2] As this occurred, Ruth exited the PAR on October 30, causing PAGASA to stop tracking it. [1] Significant weakening occurred as the Ruth tracked northeastward, [2] causing both the JTWC and JMA to last monitor Ruth on 00:00 UTC the next day. [3] [2] Transitioning into an extratropical low soon after, [3] the remnants of Ruth interacted with a frontal low prior to dissipating on November 3. [5] [3]
Due to concerns about potential mudslides, authorities evacuated 13,600 people who were living less than 10 km (6.2 mi) from Mount Pinatubo to safer areas. [6] Philippine Airlines suspended domestic flights from October 27 to 28. [7] Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) were issued throughout Luzon, with PSWS #3 being hoisted for Cagayan, Batanes, and Isabela. [8] PAGASA tested its modified PSWS by issuing the first instance of PSWS #4 on October 27 due to the typhoon. [9] In Baguio, a family of three were killed after their house was crushed by a falling tree. [10] In total, 16 people died in the city due to either being trapped in their homes or being crushed by mudslides or fallen trees. [7] Kennon Road was closed due to landslides caused by Ruth. [11]
Elsewhere in Baguio, three people were injured due to falling trees, with heavy winds causing the city to lose power. [12] A bus station and small hotel sank below ground level due to Ruth's heavy rainfall. [13] Ruth's winds destroyed over 30% of the tobacco crop and many of the barns where the crop was processed. [14] The PAGASA station in Basco recorded 616.4 millimetres (24.3 in) of rain, which made Ruth the wettest cyclone in the city until Typhoon Krathon produced 727.8 millimetres (28.7 in) of rainfall in Basco on October 1, 2024. [15] In La Union, three people drowned. Elsewhere, in Abra and Ilocos Sur respectively, a person died when they were hit by flying debris. [7] In Manila, a sailor died when he was smashed by huge waves into the wall of his tugboat. Many power lines were snapped due to Ruth, causing massive traffic jams and stalling factories for hours. [7] These caused the city to temporarily lose power, affecting over 8 million people. [16] The power supply in Manila was also interrupted while large areas of farmland were ruined by floods and landslides. [17]
At least a hundred houses were destroyed throughout the Philippines, with many more having their roofs ripped off due to the typhoon's strong winds. [17] The province of Isabela received a maximum rainfall of 120.6 mm (4.75 in) on October 27 due to Ruth. [18] Heavy rain from Ruth triggered lahars on the southwestern flank of Pinutabo, with one travelling down the Marella River and another observed on the Santo Tomas River. Additonally, a debris dam in Mapanuepe Lake was swept away. More lahars were also seen in the Pasig-Potrero River, peaking at 3 m (9.8 ft) at 16:54 UTC on October 28. [19] In total, 82 people died, 55 were injured, and 22 went missing. [1] Later estimates by the National Disaster Coordinating Council revealed that, Ruth caused P3.072 billion (USD$120 million) in damage. [1]
The remnants of Ruth stimulated a stalling frontal low south of the Ryukyu Islands, primarily impacting the islands of Ishigaki and Miyako-jima. This system produced heavy rainfall, peaking in Ohara, which received 152 mm (6.0 in), and Hateruma, which received 122 mm (4.8 in). Flooding from the system damaged a forest road and ten farm roads, causing 18.44 million yen (USD$137 thousand) in damage. [5]
On October 28, a spokesman for the Taiwanese government noted that the typhoon caused them to lose contact with the cargo ship Tung Leng and its crewmen of 21, south of Penghu. [7] A later report by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center stated that the freighter sank near Taiwan, killing 18 of the crewmen. [2] Elsewhere, the 14 Filipino and 4 Japanese sailors of the Southern Cross were saved after the freighter sank northeast of Taiwan due to heavy seas produced. [2] [16] Enhanced by the winter monsoon, Ruth caused NT$650 million (USD$24.25 million) in agricultural and fishery damage. [17]
President Corazon Aquino declared a state of calamity for portions of Luzon. [20] This proclamation covered the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Benguet, Abra, Kalinga-Apayao, and the cities of Laoag, Baguio, and Dagupan. [21] The government spent P180 million (USD$6.55 million) to repair Kennon Road, which was later closed due to landslides in May 1992. [22] The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, headed by American ambassador Frank G. Wisner, donated USD$25,000 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to be used for relief supplies. [13]
The 2004 Pacific typhoon season was an extremely active season that featured the second-highest ACE ever recorded in a single season, second only to 1997, which featured 29 named storms, nineteen typhoons, and six super typhoons. It was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones form in the western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout 2004, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The season's first named storm and also the first typhoon, Sudal, developed on April 4, later was reached typhoon status two days later, and became the first super typhoon of the year three days later. The season's last named storm, Noru, dissipated on December 22.
The 2003 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly below average yearlong period of tropical cyclogenesis exhibiting the development of 45 tropical depressions, of which 21 became named storms; of those, 14 became typhoons. Though every month with the exception of February and March featured tropical activity, most storms developed from May through October. During the season, tropical cyclones affected the Philippines, Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, Indochina, and various islands in the western Pacific.
The 2001 Pacific typhoon season was an average season with twenty-six named storms, sixteen typhoons and three super typhoons, with a near normal Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) of 307.3 units. It ran year-round in 2001, with most tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean tending between May and November.
The 1998 Pacific typhoon season was the least active Pacific typhoon season on record, until it was surpassed 12 years later. It would produce 16 tropical storms, 8 strengthening into typhoons. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1998 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west Pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.
The 1996 Pacific typhoon season was a relatively active season, producing 30 tropical storms, 16 typhoons and six super typhoons. It has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1996, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. However the first named storm, Ann, did not develop until April 3. The final named storm, Greg, dissipated on December 27.
The 1991 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly above-average season with 29 tropical storms, 17 typhoons and five super typhoons forming. It was quite a catastrophic season – Typhoon Yunya impacted the Philippines in mid June while in the same time experiencing a volcanic eruption, Typhoon Mireille severely impacting Japan, which became known for being the costliest typhoon on record until it was surpassed by Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, and Tropical Storm Thelma on November which became one of the deadliest storms to strike the Philippines, killing at least over 5,000 people.
The 1987 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season, though it featured a relatively high amount of typhoons. It had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1987, but most tropical cyclones formed between May and November. Tropical storms that formed in the entire basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.
The 1980 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly-below average season when compared to the long-term average, though it featured several intense storms. It ran year-round in 1980, but most tropical cyclones formed between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. A total of 28 tropical depressions formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 24 became tropical storms and were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Beginning in March, tropical cyclones formed in each subsequent month through December. Of the 24 named storms, 15 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 2 reached super typhoon strength.
The 1978 Pacific typhoon season was a very active season that produced 31 tropical storms, 16 typhoons and one intense typhoon. It ran year-round in 1978, 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.
The 1976 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1976, 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.
The 1970 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1970, 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.
The 1974 Pacific typhoon season was the first season on record to not feature a Category 5 equivalent super typhoon; a feat later repeated by the 1977 and 2017 seasons. Even so, the season was overly active, with 32 tropical storms and 16 typhoons being developed this year. It has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1974, 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 Bess, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Susang, was responsible for the disappearance of a United States Air Force weather reconnaissance aircraft. Developing out of a poorly organized system on October 8 to the east of the Philippines, Bess featured two centers of circulation. Initially the southern low was monitored; however, a low to the north soon became the dominant center. Tracking generally west-northwestward, the storm gradually intensified before striking northern Luzon as a minimal typhoon on October 11. Temporary weakening took place due to interaction with land. After moving back over water the following morning, Bess regained typhoon intensity. This was short-lived though, as conditions surrounding the cyclone soon caused it to weaken. Now moving due west, the weakening storm eventually struck Hainan Island as a tropical storm on October 12 before diminishing to a tropical depression. The depression briefly moved back over water before dissipating in northern Vietnam on October 14.
Typhoon Xangsane, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Milenyo, was a typhoon that affected the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand during the 2006 Pacific typhoon season. The name Xangsane was submitted by Laos and means elephant.
Super Typhoon Kent, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gening, was a powerful Category 4-equivalent typhoon that formed in late August during the 1995 Pacific typhoon season.
Typhoon Kujira, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Dante, was first reported by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on April 28. It was the fourth depression and the first typhoon of the season. The disturbance dissipated later that day however it regenerated early on April 30 within the southern islands of Luzon. It was then designated as a Tropical Depression during the next morning by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), with PAGASA assigning the name Dante to the depression. However the JTWC did not designate the system as a depression until early on May 2 which was after the depression had made landfall on the Philippines. Later that day Dante was upgraded to a Tropical Storm and was named as Kujira by the JMA. The cyclone started to rapidly intensify becoming a typhoon early on May 4, and then reaching its peak winds of 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min), 215 km/h (135 mph) (1-min) later that day after a small clear eye had developed.
Severe Tropical Storm Utor, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Feria, was a large and deadly system that caused heavy rains and landslides throughout the Philippines, Taiwan, and China. The eighth tropical depression and fourth named storm of the 2001 Pacific typhoon season, Utor formed on July 1 and intensified into a tropical storm shortly after. Utor was upgraded to a typhoon by the JTWC on July 3, and a day later, Utor was estimated to have peaked with 10-min winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), with the JTWC estimating 1-min winds of 150 km/h (95 mph). After passing just north of Luzon, Utor began to weaken, before making landfall on the district of Dapeng as a minimal typhoon. Utor caused 203 deaths, of which 168 were in the Philippines, 23 were in the province of Guangdong, 10 were in the province of Guangxi, and 2 were in Taiwan. Total damages from the storm amounted to $2.78 billion.
Typhoon Koppu, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Lando, was a powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that struck Luzon in October 2015. It was the twenty-fourth named storm and the fifteenth typhoon of the annual typhoon season. Similar to Goni earlier in the year, Koppu originated from a tropical disturbance east of the Mariana Islands on October 10. Moving briskly west, the system consolidated into a tropical depression the following day and further into a tropical storm on October 13. Situated over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea, Koppu quickly deepened. The storm reached its peak intensity on October 17 with ten-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed Koppu to have been a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon with one-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). The storm subsequently made landfall at this strength near Casiguran, Philippines. Rapid weakening ensued due to interaction with the mountainous terrain of Luzon and the disheveled core of Koppu emerged over the South China Sea on October 19. Unfavorable environmental conditions inhibited reorganization and the system diminished to a tropical depression on October 21.
Typhoon Betty, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Aring, was the strongest typhoon to strike the Philippines in ten years. An area of disturbed weather developed on October 27, 1980, near Truk Atoll. After turning east from south, the disturbance was classified as a tropical storm on October 29 as it passed near Guam, causing only minor damage. Following a turn to the west-northwest, Betty attained typhoon intensity the next day. On November 4, Betty peaked in intensity. Later that day, Betty moved ashore over Luzon, introducing a rapid weakening trend. Over land, Betty then began to turn north due to a weakening subtropical ridge to its north and a trough offshore Taiwan. By November 8, Betty, after moving offshore, had completed its transition into an extratropical cyclone, and dissipated that same day.
Typhoon Maggie, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Etang, was a large and powerful typhoon that affected the Philippines and southeast Asia. The sixth tropical cyclone and second typhoon of the 1999 Pacific typhoon season, Maggie developed from a monsoon trough over the Philippine Sea on June 1. Quickly intensifying to tropical storm strength the following day, Maggie followed a northward course as it continued to intensify, reaching typhoon strength at 18:00 UTC as it turned northwestward. Maggie rapidly intensified to reach its peak intensity as a Category 3 equivalent typhoon on June 5 as it passed through the Luzon Strait. The typhoon brushed Taiwan on June 6 and began to weaken, making landfall near Hong Kong as a minimal typhoon on June 7. Afterward, Maggie weakened to a tropical storm as it briefly moved offshore. The storm moved back onshore the following day and quickly weakened, degenerating into a remnant area of low pressure on June 8.
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