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Typhoon Bess (1974)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Bess was the twenty-third tropical storm and the ninth typhoon of the 1974 Pacific typhoon season
. Though the storm was only a Category 1
typhoon at its peak, it managed to cause $9.8 million dollars worth of damage, enough to merit the name's retirement.
. By October 9, two centres had developed. The northern centre developed further, while the southern centre dissipated, having been initially tracked for four days. This northern centre attained tropical storm strength on October 9 following the dissipation of the southern centre.
While traveling west-north-west at 12 mph, Bess became a minimal typhoon on October 10 in the Philippine Sea
.
Bess swept over Luzon
while retaining typhoon strength, but weakened to a tropical storm on October 12 in the South China Sea
. Bess made landfall on Hainan Island on October 13 and weakened further to a tropical depression while doing so. Bess finally dissipated on October 14 over northern Vietnam
.
, Hainan Island and north Vietnam
. Its first landfall brought 75 mph winds to Luzon on October 11. Rainfall of 5–6 inches over 24 hours was reported over much of the island, with as much as 30.8 inches in Baguio. Landslides and flash flooding caused 26 confirmed deaths, with 3 missing. Damages were estimated at $9.2 million (1974 USD
). Though Bess crossed mountainous terrain, it emerged relatively unscathed.
Bess's second landfall was on Hainan Island as a tropical storm on October 13. Deaths and damages for this landfall are not available.
Bess's third and final landfall was on northern Vietnam as a tropical depression on October 14. Again, deaths and damages are not available.
Typhoon Bess was presumed to be the cause of the destruction of a US Air Force Hurricane Hunter on October 12 in the South China Sea
. Contact with the newly converted WC-130H of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron was lost while it was collecting data in the northern part of the typhoon. The plane and its six-strong crew were never heard from again.
caused massive mudslides in Japan
. The name was once again retired and this time replaced with Brenda.
1974 Pacific typhoon season
The 1974 Pacific typhoon season 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...
. Though the storm was only a Category 1
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
typhoon at its peak, it managed to cause $9.8 million dollars worth of damage, enough to merit the name's retirement.
Meteorological history
The tropical disturbance that was to become Typhoon Bess formed on October 6 in the western Pacific, south of GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. By October 9, two centres had developed. The northern centre developed further, while the southern centre dissipated, having been initially tracked for four days. This northern centre attained tropical storm strength on October 9 following the dissipation of the southern centre.
While traveling west-north-west at 12 mph, Bess became a minimal typhoon on October 10 in the Philippine Sea
Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea east and north of the Philippines occupying an estimated surface area of 2 million mi² on the western part of the North Pacific Ocean...
.
Bess swept over Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
while retaining typhoon strength, but weakened to a tropical storm on October 12 in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. Bess made landfall on Hainan Island on October 13 and weakened further to a tropical depression while doing so. Bess finally dissipated on October 14 over northern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Impact
Bess made landfall three times; LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Hainan Island and north Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Its first landfall brought 75 mph winds to Luzon on October 11. Rainfall of 5–6 inches over 24 hours was reported over much of the island, with as much as 30.8 inches in Baguio. Landslides and flash flooding caused 26 confirmed deaths, with 3 missing. Damages were estimated at $9.2 million (1974 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
). Though Bess crossed mountainous terrain, it emerged relatively unscathed.
Bess's second landfall was on Hainan Island as a tropical storm on October 13. Deaths and damages for this landfall are not available.
Bess's third and final landfall was on northern Vietnam as a tropical depression on October 14. Again, deaths and damages are not available.
Typhoon Bess was presumed to be the cause of the destruction of a US Air Force Hurricane Hunter on October 12 in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. Contact with the newly converted WC-130H of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron was lost while it was collecting data in the northern part of the typhoon. The plane and its six-strong crew were never heard from again.
Retirement
Due to the damage caused in Luzon and Hainan Island, the name Bess was retired after this season and replaced with Bonnie. However, when new name lists featuring both sexes were introduced in 1979, Bess was again added to the list. In 1982, Super Typhoon BessTyphoon Bess (1982)
Typhoon Bess was the eleventh tropical storm, sixth typhoon, and first super typhoon of the 1982 Pacific typhoon season. A powerful super typhoon, Bess reached peak winds of 160 mph over the open waters of the western Pacific Ocean...
caused massive mudslides in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The name was once again retired and this time replaced with Brenda.