Typhoon Toraji (2001)

Map key

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

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The JMA issued a bulletin on July 24 for a developing area of convection that persisted to the west of Hagåtña, Guam. ^[1] The convection was embedded in a monsoon trough in a marginally favorable environment. Slow development continued, and the JTWC soon issued a TCFA on the system later the next day. ^[2] On the same day, the JTWC issued their first warning on Tropical Depression 11W, with its center located approximately 650 nm east-southeast of Luzon's northeastern tip. ^[1] The depression soon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early on July 26, assigning the name Isang from the PAGASA. ^[3] The depression was moving north-northwestward at that time, with a partly exposed core underneath the deep convection's eastern edge. ^[2] Due to the moderate wind shear impacting the newly formed system, the development was slow; however, the overall environment of Isang was favorable. On 18:00 UTC on July 26, the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm, naming the system Toraji. ^[3] On July 27, the JMA, JTWC, and the PAGASA all upgraded Toraji to a typhoon. ^[1] It continued moving northwestward as it continued to approach Taiwan. On 18:00 UTC of July 29, the center of the typhoon made landfall, just south of Taipei as a Category 2 typhoon. ^[4] By 0600 UTC on July 30, Typhoon Toraji had tracked through Taiwan and had passed out into the Formosa Strait. The storm was still classified as a typhoon by JTWC, but Toraji had been downgraded to a tropical storm by the other warning centers. ^[5] Around 19:30 UTC on the next day, the weakening Toraji made landfall near Lianjiang ^[6] and was subject to weakening. ^{[7] [ failed verification ]} The last warning was given by JTWC on August 1, as it transitioned to an extratropical storm near Shanghai. ^[2]

The final warning for Toraji by the JTWC on August 1

Impact

According to different agencies and media reports from Taiwan and China, Typhoon Toraji left over 200 deaths and about 150 people missing. ^{[5] [8]}

Taiwan and China

Over 340,000 people were without electricity due to the typhoon. ^[9] Twenty-one people are killed and about 30 persons are missing in the town of Kuang Fu, in eastern Hualien County, Taiwan. ^[10] The most badly affected areas in Taiwan were Hualien and Nantou's mountainous central district. Mudslides and floods swept houses, bridges, and mountain highways clear. ^[11] The Agriculture Council of Taiwan reported that there could be $4 million in damage to land, livestock, and agricultural districts. ^[5]

Despite Toraji striking Fuzhou City in China as a tropical storm, the damages, and fatalities attributed to the storm are unknown. ^[7]

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal

• Other tropical cyclones named Toraji
• Other tropical cyclones named Isang
• Typhoon Chebi (2001) – a typhoon that also made landfall, very near where Toraji made its final strike
• Tropical Storm Trami (2001) – a tropical storm that made a direct hit on Taiwan
• Typhoon Morakot (2009) – the deadliest typhoon to impact Taiwan in recorded history
• Typhoon Kong-rey (2024) – a stronger typhoon which had a similar trajectory to Toraji

References

1. "Monthly Global Summary of July 2001" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
2. "WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN TROPICAL CYCLONES" (PDF). Retrieved March 4, 2021.
3. "JMA Best Track Data" (PDF). Retrieved February 16, 2021.
4. "Typhoon Toraji hits Taiwan" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
5. "Timeline – Major typhoons to hit Taiwan" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
6. "Typhoon Toraji Lands in East China Province". People's Daily . July 31, 2001.
7. "Taiwan airlifts supplies to thousands after floods" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
8. "Typhoon Toraji causes 50 deaths in Taiwan, 150 missing" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
9. "A Modeling Study of Typhoon Toraji (2001): Physical Parameterization Sensitivity and Topographic Effect" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
10. "Taiwan mops up after deadly storm" . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
11. "TIMELINE-Major typhoons to hit Taiwan (Reuters)". Reuters. 14 August 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

Typhoon Toraji (Isang)

Toraji strengthening prior to landfall over Taiwan on July 28

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2001 Pacific typhoon season
	TD Auring TD Barok TD TD STS Cimaron TD Darna TY Chebi STS Durian STS Utor TS Trami TD 08W TD TD TY Kong-rey STS Yutu TY Toraji TY Man-yi TD TD TD TD TS Usagi TY Pabuk TD Jolina TD TD TD TD TD 15W VSTY Wutip TS Sepat TS Fitow VSTY Danas TY Nari TD TD TD TD TD TD TY Vipa VSTY Francisco TY Lekima TY Krosa TY Haiyan VSTY Podul TD TD VSTY Lingling TD Ondoy TD Pabling TS Kajiki TS 31W VITY Faxai TS Vamei
Category