Typhoon Thelma (1987)

Super Typhoon Thelma (Katring)
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 4 (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Thelma at peak intensity
Formed July 6, 1987
Dissipated July 16, 1987
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph)
1-minute sustained: 240 km/h (150 mph)
Lowest pressure 915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg
Fatalities Over 300 total
Damage $124 million (1987 USD)
Areas affected Philippines, Korea, Japan
Part of the 1987 Pacific typhoon season

Super Typhoon Thelma was a very powerful and intense super typhoon that formed in the 1987 Pacific typhoon season. Forming on July 6, Thelma steadily intensified to a peak of 150 mph (240 km/h) winds on the 11th while east of the northern Philippines.[1] It turned sharply northward in response to a break in the ridge, slowly weakening as it remained east of any major landmass. On the 15th, 80 mph (130 km/h) Typhoon Thelma hit the south coast of South Korea, causing massive flooding amounting to 123 casualties (with 212 missing) and $124 million (1987 USD) in crop and structural damage. In addition, Thelma brought heavy wind and rough seas to the Philippines that killed 12 people.[2]

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

Typhoon Thelma originated from the monsoon trough situated within the Philippine Sea . Although it was initially not well organized, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started monitoring the system at 0600 UTC on July 6 due to its well defined circulation.[3] By that afternoon, organization Situated within a favorable environment of upper-level divergence, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started tracking the system early on July 7.[4][nb 1] Shortly thereafter, a Hurricane Hunter aircraft was successfully able to close off a circulation. Based on this, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for the system. At 1800 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system into a tropical depression, based on an increase in both convection and organization. Initially, the JTWC predicted the depression to move north near a weakness in a subtropical ridge, and then turn west as the ridge built back in.[3]

Shortly after becoming a depression, the system quickly became elongated and lost organization. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft at 0000 UTC on July 8 suggested that the depression had degenerated an open wave. Thirteen hours later, the system passed roughly 110 km (70 mi) north of Guam. After turning west while accelerating, the system began to organize, and the JTWC upgraded the depression into a tropical storm midday on July 8.[3] Meanwhile, the JMA increased to intensity estimate to 45 mph (70 km/h).[6][nb 2]

Despite being forecast by the JTWC to re-curve out to sea, Thelma veered west while[3] slowly intensifying.[4] Midday on July 9, a banding eye began to develop. Due to a combination of a Hurricane Hunter aircraft pass that estimated surface winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and satellite-based Dvorak estimates, the JTWC upgraded Thelma into a typhoon at 0000 UTC on July 8.[3] Six hours later, the JMA followed suit.[4] Over the next 36 hours, Thelma entered a period of rapid deepening,[3] and by 1800 UTC July 10, the JMA increased the intensity to 100 mph (160 km/h).[4] During the following afternoon, the JTWC upgraded Thelma to a super typhoon, the first of the season, based on Dvorak-based satellite intensity estimates.[3] At this time, the JMA estimated that Thelma attained its peak intensity, with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h)[4] while the JTWC assessed the peak intensity of Thelma to 150 mph (240 km/h).[3]

Typhoon Thelma on July 10, 1987.

Shortly after attaining maxinium intensity, could tops surrounding the eye began to warm and poleward outflow became restricted to its north. On the evening of July 11, an aircraft reconnaissance flight noted an open eyewall and an increasingly elliptical eye. After abruptly turning north-northwest on July 12,[3] steady weakening ensured.[4] After traversing the East China Sea, Thelma passed near Okinawa on July 14 and then made andfall over southern Korea about 180 km (110 mi) west-southwest of Pusan on the evening of July 15.[8] At the time of landfall, the JMA estimated winds of 90 km/h (55 mph).[4] It then weakened rapidly while moving northeastwards across Korea. Early on July 16, Thelma entered the Sea of Japan and according to the JTWC, dissipated near Vladivostok,[8] although its remnants were followed by the JMA for two more days.[4]

Preparations, impact, and aftermath

Although Thelma stayed offshore the Philippines, storm surge associated with its circulation swept away some 500 houses in the southern islands of the Philippines, leaving over 3,500 people homeless.[8] Four people, including two women, drowned after their fishing boat capsized in the swollen San Jose River in Namolan.[9] Offshore Negros, a vessel sunk, resulting in 130 people rescued and at least eight fatalities.[10]

Across Japan, Thelma brought heavy rains, resulting in property damage in 19 states.[11] Three people were killed.[12] A young woman died when her car was inundated, and a middle school student died in a landslide, while a 41-year-old man perished after his automobile drowned. Overall, three people were hurt and over 1,000 homes were flooded.[11]

South Korea

Initially, local meteorologists predicted Thelma would only brush the southern portion of the peninsula. As a result, many residents were unprepared when the storm struck. According to government officials, the lack of warning resulted in increased casualties and damage.[13]

Although Thelma had weakened considerably prior to landfall, the typhoon was considered by press reports to be the worst to strike South Korea since 1959.[14] Rainfall across the nation varied, but peaked at 10.8 in (27 cm) in Kangnung,[14] resulting in rivers overflowing their banks.[15] Damage was widespread, with the North Kyongsang and Kangwon provinces sustaining the worst effects of the system. In Pusan, the country's second-largest city, 16 people were killed[16] and 50 boats sunk or were damaged due to storm surge by the city's port.[17] Roughly 150 seamen and fishermen were initially reported as missing,[18] including 23 from a 999-ton freighter, Hanjin-ho, that capsized offshore,[19] but by July 18, authorities had called off searches for the missing.[20] Moreover, another 3,000-ton freighter also sunk due to the typhoon.[18]

Offshore Sinan, two people were confirmed to have perished, along with 23 other presumed dead after a large fishing trawler sunk.[21] Elsewhere, four members of the same family died when their home was buried by a mudslide in Milyang.[17] Seven members of one family were killed when their house was demolished by a mudslide in Kwangju,[22] where 18 others were rescued due to flooding.[21] At least 6,600 people had been displaced and 993 structures were demolished in South Kyongsang,[21] where damage was estimated at $13 million.[23] Along the southeastern portion of the nation, five casualties occurred due to a landslide.[12]

Overall, 8,881 structures were damaged or destroyed across the nation.[24] Approximately 6,500 dwellings were destroyed,[8] and around 29,000 people were left homeless by the typhoon.[13] In addition, about 62,000 hectares of farmland were inundated.[8] A total of 3,879 vessels were damaged by the system,[25] 2,829 of which were destroyed or seriously damaged.[26] This represented around 4% of the country's fishing fleet.[24] In all, 123 people were killed, 212 were rendered missing, and 114 were injured. Nationwide, damage totaled $272 million,[27] of which property damage totaled $222 million,[25]

As a result of the impact, over 167,000 government workers,[28] including thousands of military reserves, were mobilized to search for survivors, as well as repair roads, waterways, buildings,[19] and power lines.[29] Most of the homeless were Approximately 100 angry farmers blocked a road with vehicles near the southern town of Sanchong to complain that they were not getting emergency aid faster enough and also demanded full compensation for destroyed homes and crops.[18] In response, the government agreed to provide $237 million in aid, $25 million of which came from the federal government, and the rest was raised via bonds. Fishermen and farmers who suffered property losses were allowed to borrow up to a $3,720-interest free loan from banks and were also awarded a tax break. The government also paid $3,720 to the families of those who died.[30]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Japan Meteorological Agency is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.[5]
  2. ↑ Wind estimates from the JMA and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10 minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1 minute. 10‑minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1‑minute winds.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Thelma wind speed track Digital Typhoon. Retrieved 12-01-07.
  2. ↑ Super Typhoon Thelma. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (1988). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1987 (PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Japan Meteorological Agency (October 10, 1992). RSMC Best Track Data – 1980–1989 (.TXT) (Report). Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000" (PDF). Japan Meteorological Agency. February 2001. p. 3. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1987 THELMA. The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ Christopher W Landsea; Hurricane Research Division (April 26, 2004). "Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?". Frequently Asked Questions:. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Tropical Cyclones of the 1987 Typhoon Season (PDF) (Report). Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "International News". United Press International. July 13, 1987.
  10. ↑ "Typhoon Thelma leaves 12 dead". United Press International. July 13, 1987.
  11. 1 2 "International News". United Press International. July 15, 1987.
  12. 1 2 "International News". United Press International. July 16, 1987.
  13. 1 2 "Death toll reaches 207 in South Korea". United Press International. July 18, 1987.
  14. 1 2 "International News". United Press International. July 17, 1987.
  15. ↑ "Massive Rescue and Relief Effort in Typhoon's Wake". Associated Press. July 17, 1987.
  16. ↑ Associated Press (July 17, 1987). "Storm Kills 68 in South Korea". New York Times.
  17. 1 2 "Typhoon Kills 42; 66 Reported Missing". United Press International. July 16, 1987.
  18. 1 2 3 "Typhoon Death Toll Rises to 111; Dispute Over Forecasting". Associated Press. July 18, 1987.
  19. 1 2 Renfrew, Barry (July 16, 1987). "Nation Launches Massive Rescue Effort after Typhoon Kills Dozens". Associated Press.
  20. ↑ Renfrew, Barry (July 18, 1987). "Hope Runs Out For Scores of Missing Fishermen, Seaman". Associated Press.
  21. 1 2 3 Renfrew, Barry (July 16, 1987). "Typhoon Lashes South Korean Coast, More than 100 Feared Killed". Associated Press.
  22. ↑ "Over 100 feared dead from violent Typhoon Thelma". Kentucky New Era. July 15, 1987. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  23. ↑ "33 die as Typhoon Thelma batters Korea". New Straits Times. July 17, 1987. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Death Toll Rises, Rehabilitation Work Continues". Associated Press. July 19, 1987.
  25. 1 2 "Death toll from Typhoon Thelma rises". United Press International. July 19, 1987.
  26. ↑ "Forecasters Accused of Mischarting Typhoon As Search Pressed For Bodies". Associated Press. July 17, 1987.
  27. ↑ "Death Toll Rises". Associated Press. July 21, 1987.
  28. ↑ "Typhoon Off Coast of Philippines". Associated Press. July 19, 1987.
  29. ↑ "Massive rescue underway". Ludington Daily News. July 17, 1987. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Government to Provide $237 Million in Aid to Typhoon Victims". Associated Press. July 20, 1987.
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