Typhoon Megi (2010)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Megi was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, attaining the lowest atmospheric pressure (885 hPa) since Vanessa in 1984 and the highest 10-minute sustained winds (230 km/h, 145 mph) since Bess
in 1982 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
. Megi, which means catfish
in Korean
, was the only super typhoon in 2010 and the first since Nida
in 2009
. Early on October 18, Megi made its first landfall over northeastern Luzon
. After passing Luzon, Megi weakened but quickly regained strength in the South China Sea
, before weakening and losing its eyewall
in the Taiwan Strait
. Megi made its second landfall over Zhangpu
in Fujian
, China
on October 23.
Megi killed 31 people and wrought catastrophic damage over Luzon, making it one of the costliest typhoon in the Philippines
. After moving to the South China Sea, the outflow of Megi and a weather front
together brought torrential rainfall and killed 38 people in Yilan, Taiwan
, making Megi the deadliest typhoon of 2010 in Taiwan.
(JTWC) on October 12 as a tropical disturbance roughly 90 km (55 mi) southeast of Guam
. Radar
imagery from the island depicted a developing low pressure area
and a surface circulation. There were favorable environmental conditions, such as low wind shear
, good upper-level divergence
and poleward outflow
. The system quickly developed throughout the day, prompting the issuance of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
at 09:00 UTC
. Several hours later, the Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMA) began monitoring the low as a tropical depression. Early on October 13, the JTWC also classified the system as a tropical depression, giving it the identifier 15W. Hours later, well-defined convective
banding features
developed around the system and thunderstorm activity over the center of circulation increased. Sea surface temperature
above 28 °C (82.4 °F) and high oceanic heat content allowed for further strengthening. Situated to the southwest of a subtropical
ridge
, the system slowly tracked west-northwest towards the Philippines
. Around 12:00 UTC, the system further intensified into a tropical storm, earning the name Megi from the JMA.
Late on October 13, Tropical Storm Megi became quasi-stationary, but a mid-latitude trough
moving from the west caused the storm to resume a northwestward track around the periphery of the subtropical ridge. Throughout the morning of October 14, a central dense overcast developed over the center of Megi, allowing for intensification. According to data from a hurricane hunter aircraft, the system had attained winds just below typhoon status and the barometric pressure had decreased to 986 hPa
at 04:36 UTC. Later that day, an eye
appeared on satellite imagery, resulting in the JMA upgrading Megi to a severe tropical storm and the JTWC upgrading it to a category one typhoon. On October 15, the JMA upgraded Megi to a typhoon. Later that day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) began to mention the typhoon and named it Juan.
Typhoon Megi continued strengthened and started to turned westward on October 16. Early on October 17, Megi started to turned west-southwest and strengthened to a category five super typhoon, becoming the only super typhoon in 2010
and the first since Nida
in 2009
. Late on October 17, Megi attained the lowest atmospheric pressure (885 hPa) since Vanessa in 1984 and the highest 10-minute sustained winds (230 km/h, 145 mph) since Bess
in 1982 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
, becoming one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record. Maintaining peak strength, Typhoon Megi made landfall over Isabela, Philippines at 03:25 UTC
(11:25 PST) on October 18. After traversing Luzon
, Megi weakened to a category two typhoon but started to increase its eye diameter due to higher vertical wind shear in the South China Sea
. Megi slowed in forward speed due to the arrival of another trough over the South China Sea extending over the Taiwan Strait
and breaking the ridge, turning the typhoon northwest, then north.
Early on October 20, Megi strengthened back to a category four typhoon. On October 21, the JMA reported that Typhoon Megi regained its second but weaker peak strength by the atmospheric pressure decreasing to 935 hPa
and the 10-minute sustained winds reaching 175 km/h (110 mph). Later that day, Typhoon Megi turned north-northeastward and started to weaken because of colder sea surface temperature
in the northern South China Sea. Late on October 22, Megi lost its eyewall
structure and weakened to a severe tropical storm in the Taiwan Strait
, before making landfall over Zhangpu
in Fujian
, China
on the next day. After moving into mainland China
, Megi weakened to a tropical storm and further weakened to a tropical depression late on October 23. On October 24, the remnant of Megi dissipated completely.
being filled. As Typhoon Megi neared Luzon
, the Philippine National Red Cross
established centers for evacuees fleeing the typhoon.
In response to orders from President Benigno Aquino III
, PAGASA posted hourly tropical cyclone updates. Inhabitants of the Isabela and Cagayan
provinces were advised to bring in their harvests before Megi arrived, while fishermen in the Ilocos
region were advised to seek shelter. Late on October 16, PAGASA issued Storm Signal 1 for Cagayan, Isabela, Babuyan and Calayan islands in the northern Philippines, while President Aquino called for cooperation from all concerned government and private sector groups to prevent fatalities.
On October 17, evacuations began with hundreds of people fleeing from Luzon as Megi intensified into a super typhoon and Storm signal number 3 raised. Over 18 provinces had been placed under alert for the typhoon as it approached the Philippines. Later on that day, all state schools and colleges were suspended. PAGASA declared public storm warning number 4 announcing that over 7 million people could be affected. The storm warning was later raised to the highest level over Cagayan and Isabela as tropical storm force winds began blowing throughout Cagayan province.
By October 18, all state schools and colleges in Cagayan, the Ilocos and the Cordilleras were closed for the day in preparation. Isabela province was placed under a state of calamity when the typhoon made landfall and moved further inland.
, Guangxi
, Guangdong
and Fujian
provinces to prepare for relief operations. The government ordered all fishing vessels to return to port by midnight on October 19 as Typhoon Megi entered the South China Sea
. The following day, China railways suspended all trains in and out of Hainan in preparation for Typhoon Megi. Equipment used in relief operations from heavy rains the previous month were kept in preparation for Typhoon Megi. As the typhoon approached, over 150,000 residents from coastal areas of Fujian
province were evacuated and tens of thousands of fishing vessels were ordered to seek shelter in port. Warnings were also issued to prepare for storm surges when the typhoon arrives. Rail services to and from Hainan Island were resumed while tonnes of food and other supplies were brought in for disaster relief.
had been tracking the location of Megi and issuing advisories since October 14. The Hong Kong Observatory issued Standby Signal No. 1
at 16:35 HKT (08:35 UTC) on October 20 . The Government had already informed the Travel Industry council and the Hong Kong International Airport
to make plans in case of passengers being stranded at the airport. The Observatory subsequently issued Strong Wind Signal No. 3
at 05:40 HKT (21:40 UTC) on October 21 (October 20 UTC).
As of 8:40pm on October 22 all Signals were cancelled by the Hong Kong Observatory.
, at 11:25 a.m. (local time) on October 18 preceded by torrential rain and flash flooding forcing residents of the area to seek shelter. A reported total of 3,687 individuals from the northern Philippines were evacuated to schools, churches, halls and other sturdier structures but over 200,000 people were rendered homeless. Although at little risk of being struck by the departing typhoon, classes throughout Metro Manila were suspended on October 19 as a precaution.
Initial estimates were reported that Philippines could lose over 600,000 metric tons of the rice crop as the typhoon swept through some of the biggest agricultural areas, such as Isabela and Cagayan, in the northern Philippines. Official estimates following the passing of the typhoon placed agricultural losses at around US$34 million with tens of thousands of tons of rice and corn lost. Fears of a rice shortage in the next few weeks were allayed by the National Food Authority which announced that sufficient food had been stockpiled.
Megi inflicted substantial damage to much of the infrastructure as it crossed Luzon. Communication infrastructure in Cagayan and Isabela suffered extensive damage during the typhoon with an estimated 90% of regional communications lost. Officials believe that it would take five days to restore them. Electricity in the northern provinces of Cagayan
, Kalinga
, Apayao
, Northern Isabela
, the Mountain Province
, parts of Benguet
, Ilocos Norte
, la Union
, Nueva Ecija
, Aurora, parts of Tuguegarao was disrupted by Megi. The National Grid Corp. announced that eleven towers along one transmission line suffered extensive damage, which also affected power supplies to the capital leading to outages of up to 3 hours.
Many domestic and international flights by carriers such as Cebu Pacific
and Philippine Airlines
bound for the northern Philippines were cancelled because of the impact of the typhoon, but as the typhoon leaves the islands, many flights were restored. Many roads in Luzon remained closed as of October 18 and bus operators have cancelled trips to Cagayan and Isabela due to the poor weather. The departure of Megi will leave large quantities of debris as well as unsanitary conditions that could bring outbreaks of disease if not cleared.
The Philippine Red Cross dispatched a water search and rescue team to Cagayan to aid rescue operations. UNICEF announced that the organisation was monitoring the event and that relief supplies were being prepared should the Philippines Government request aid. The United Nations Office for the Coordination on Humanitarian Affairs have also committed to helping with disaster relief . Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on standby, along with helicopters with one retired army general describing the operations as "preparing for war". Search and rescue operations for survivors was hampered by winds that were still reaching 210 kilometres (130.5 mi) throughout the region. According to official reports, the province of Isabela bore the brunt of the storm with the towns of Palanan and Divilacan suffering extensive damage and Maconacon reportedly being completely destroyed.
PAGASA lowered storm signals as the typhoon weakened when it crossed into the mountains in northern Luzon.
Casualties
One person drowned near Tuguegarao, Cagayan during the afternoon of October 18 after being swept away in a river that had overflowed its banks. The body of another man who had drowned in Ilocos Sur province was recovered. Another five people died during the storm: one man after being pinned by a falling tree, a mother and her two children when a tree fell on their house and a fifth when struck by lightning. Three people were killed in Isabela province by a storm surge while another drowned attempting to cross a river in Nueva Ecija
province. A further nine people have been injured, some by falling debris. The president made a statement expressing his sympathy and condolences for the bereft families, while also declaring that despite the strength of Megi, the loss of life was significantly less than during Typhoon Basyang
and Tropical Storm Ondoy. As of October 20, the death toll stood at 19.
Juan becomes the second supertyphoon, 21 years after its first storm, Supertyphoon Tasing
passed this area in 1989.
, Taitung
, Pingtung
, Taipei
, Keelung
, and New Taipei. At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and 23 others are missing. Early damage estimates placed losses to agriculture at NT$45 million ($1.5 million USD). Later reports on October 22 indicated that seven people were killed when the temple they were sheltering in was buried by a landslide. Near Suao, multiple landslides struck a major highway stranding more than 400 people. Torrential rainfall caused a 500 m (1,640.4 ft) section of a nearby mountain to collapse, burying a bus carrying 19 people, whom officials fear may have all perished. Air force helicopters have been called in to aid in the search for the bus and any survivors.
By the morning of October 24, 13 fatalities had been confirmed and 25 people were reported missing. After more than ten days of search-and-rescue operations, all missing persons across the island were declared legally deceased.
, a Seattle-based non-profit which provides disaster relief in Asia, was on standby to provide assistance to families left homeless by the typhoon. Their relief operation began October 18 in the Philippines, with supplies already in-country being prepared for immediate delivery to the disaster site, and additional supplies prepared for shipment from the United States. The organization collected monetary donations to assist in further disaster relief, as well as donations of towels, sheets, toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) and canned goods.
The USS Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) provided disaster relief in the aftermath. The ESG was composed of the USS Essex (LHD 2)
, USS Denver (LPD 9)
and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)
. Amphibious Squadron 11 and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262
) were embarked with the ESG. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265
) also provided disaster relief. The unit was ashore at the former Clark Air Base (known today as the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
) participating in an exercise when the typhoon hit. Their mission changed from participation in the exercise to disaster relief.
Typhoon 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...
in 1982 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Megi, which means catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
in Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
, was the only super typhoon in 2010 and the first since Nida
Typhoon Nida (2009)
Typhoon Nida was the strongest storm of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season and the most intense storm of 2009...
in 2009
2009 Pacific typhoon season
The 2009 Pacific typhoon season was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout the year during 2009, with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator...
. Early on October 18, Megi made its first landfall over northeastern 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...
. After passing Luzon, Megi weakened but quickly regained strength 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...
, before weakening and losing its eyewall
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
in the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
. Megi made its second landfall over Zhangpu
Zhangpu County
Zhangpu is a county under Zhangzhou municipality in southernmost Fujian. The governmental seat is at SuiAn Town ....
in Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on October 23.
Megi killed 31 people and wrought catastrophic damage over Luzon, making it one of the costliest typhoon in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. After moving to the South China Sea, the outflow of Megi and a weather front
Weather front
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front...
together brought torrential rainfall and killed 38 people in Yilan, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, making Megi the deadliest typhoon of 2010 in Taiwan.
Meteorological history
Typhoon Megi was first identified by the Joint Typhoon Warning CenterJoint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) on October 12 as a tropical disturbance roughly 90 km (55 mi) southeast of Guam
Guam
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...
. Radar
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
imagery from the island depicted a developing low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
and a surface circulation. There were favorable environmental conditions, such as low wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
, good upper-level divergence
Divergence
In vector calculus, divergence is a vector operator that measures the magnitude of a vector field's source or sink at a given point, in terms of a signed scalar. More technically, the divergence represents the volume density of the outward flux of a vector field from an infinitesimal volume around...
and poleward outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
. The system quickly developed throughout the day, prompting the issuance of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
at 09:00 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
. Several hours later, the Japan Meteorological Agency
Japan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
(JMA) began monitoring the low as a tropical depression. Early on October 13, the JTWC also classified the system as a tropical depression, giving it the identifier 15W. Hours later, well-defined convective
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
banding features
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
developed around the system and thunderstorm activity over the center of circulation increased. Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
above 28 °C (82.4 °F) and high oceanic heat content allowed for further strengthening. Situated to the southwest of a subtropical
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
, the system slowly tracked west-northwest towards the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Around 12:00 UTC, the system further intensified into a tropical storm, earning the name Megi from the JMA.
Late on October 13, Tropical Storm Megi became quasi-stationary, but a mid-latitude trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
moving from the west caused the storm to resume a northwestward track around the periphery of the subtropical ridge. Throughout the morning of October 14, a central dense overcast developed over the center of Megi, allowing for intensification. According to data from a hurricane hunter aircraft, the system had attained winds just below typhoon status and the barometric pressure had decreased to 986 hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
at 04:36 UTC. Later that day, an eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
appeared on satellite imagery, resulting in the JMA upgrading Megi to a severe tropical storm and the JTWC upgrading it to a category one typhoon. On October 15, the JMA upgraded Megi to a typhoon. Later that day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
(PAGASA) began to mention the typhoon and named it Juan.
Typhoon Megi continued strengthened and started to turned westward on October 16. Early on October 17, Megi started to turned west-southwest and strengthened to a category five super typhoon, becoming the only super typhoon in 2010
2010 Pacific typhoon season
The 2010 Pacific typhoon season was the least active Pacific typhoon season, in terms of the number of named storms and typhoons, on record, due to a moderate La Niña event...
and the first since Nida
Typhoon Nida (2009)
Typhoon Nida was the strongest storm of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season and the most intense storm of 2009...
in 2009
2009 Pacific typhoon season
The 2009 Pacific typhoon season was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout the year during 2009, with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator...
. Late on October 17, Megi attained the lowest atmospheric pressure (885 hPa) since Vanessa in 1984 and the highest 10-minute sustained winds (230 km/h, 145 mph) since Bess
Typhoon 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...
in 1982 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, becoming one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record. Maintaining peak strength, Typhoon Megi made landfall over Isabela, Philippines at 03:25 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
(11:25 PST) on October 18. After traversing 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...
, Megi weakened to a category two typhoon but started to increase its eye diameter due to higher vertical wind shear 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...
. Megi slowed in forward speed due to the arrival of another trough over the South China Sea extending over the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
and breaking the ridge, turning the typhoon northwest, then north.
Early on October 20, Megi strengthened back to a category four typhoon. On October 21, the JMA reported that Typhoon Megi regained its second but weaker peak strength by the atmospheric pressure decreasing to 935 hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
and the 10-minute sustained winds reaching 175 km/h (110 mph). Later that day, Typhoon Megi turned north-northeastward and started to weaken because of colder sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
in the northern South China Sea. Late on October 22, Megi lost its eyewall
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
structure and weakened to a severe tropical storm in the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
, before making landfall over Zhangpu
Zhangpu County
Zhangpu is a county under Zhangzhou municipality in southernmost Fujian. The governmental seat is at SuiAn Town ....
in Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
on the next day. After moving into mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, Megi weakened to a tropical storm and further weakened to a tropical depression late on October 23. On October 24, the remnant of Megi dissipated completely.
Philippines
The typhoon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility early on October 16, prompting new and modified warnings for the Luzon coast. There was the expectation that the typhoon would become a super-typhoon and produce as much rain as Typhoon Ketsana in 2009, with the possibility of Magat DamMagat Dam
Magat Dam is a large rock-fill dam on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The dam is located on Magat River, a major tributary of Cagayan River. Construction of the dam started in 1975 and completed in 1982...
being filled. As Typhoon Megi neared 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...
, the Philippine National Red Cross
Philippine National Red Cross
Born officially in 1947, Philippine Red Cross , a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has roots that trace back to the revolutionary days...
established centers for evacuees fleeing the typhoon.
In response to orders from President Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
, PAGASA posted hourly tropical cyclone updates. Inhabitants of the Isabela and Cagayan
Cagayan
Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
provinces were advised to bring in their harvests before Megi arrived, while fishermen in the Ilocos
Ilocos
Ilocos collectively refers to two provinces in the Philippines: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Inhabitants are called Ilocanos and they speak the language Iloko, also called Ilocano.The Ilocos Region, containing four provinces, is named after Ilocos...
region were advised to seek shelter. Late on October 16, PAGASA issued Storm Signal 1 for Cagayan, Isabela, Babuyan and Calayan islands in the northern Philippines, while President Aquino called for cooperation from all concerned government and private sector groups to prevent fatalities.
On October 17, evacuations began with hundreds of people fleeing from Luzon as Megi intensified into a super typhoon and Storm signal number 3 raised. Over 18 provinces had been placed under alert for the typhoon as it approached the Philippines. Later on that day, all state schools and colleges were suspended. PAGASA declared public storm warning number 4 announcing that over 7 million people could be affected. The storm warning was later raised to the highest level over Cagayan and Isabela as tropical storm force winds began blowing throughout Cagayan province.
By October 18, all state schools and colleges in Cagayan, the Ilocos and the Cordilleras were closed for the day in preparation. Isabela province was placed under a state of calamity when the typhoon made landfall and moved further inland.
Mainland China
China began preparing for Super Typhoon Megi on October 17 by issuing an orange alert to local authorities and advising all vessels to return to port. Evacuation of coastal residents began on October 18 as authorities issued disaster warnings and urgent advice to local officials in HainanHainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
and Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
provinces to prepare for relief operations. The government ordered all fishing vessels to return to port by midnight on October 19 as Typhoon Megi entered 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...
. The following day, China railways suspended all trains in and out of Hainan in preparation for Typhoon Megi. Equipment used in relief operations from heavy rains the previous month were kept in preparation for Typhoon Megi. As the typhoon approached, over 150,000 residents from coastal areas of Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
province were evacuated and tens of thousands of fishing vessels were ordered to seek shelter in port. Warnings were also issued to prepare for storm surges when the typhoon arrives. Rail services to and from Hainan Island were resumed while tonnes of food and other supplies were brought in for disaster relief.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong ObservatoryHong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory is a department of the Hong Kong government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards...
had been tracking the location of Megi and issuing advisories since October 14. The Hong Kong Observatory issued Standby Signal No. 1
Hong Kong Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals
The Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals or informally typhoon signals are a set of signals used to indicate the threat or effects of a tropical cyclone. The Hong Kong Observatory issues the warning signal if a tropical cyclone is centred within of Hong Kong and may affect Hong Kong later...
at 16:35 HKT (08:35 UTC) on October 20 . The Government had already informed the Travel Industry council and the Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
to make plans in case of passengers being stranded at the airport. The Observatory subsequently issued Strong Wind Signal No. 3
Hong Kong Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals
The Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals or informally typhoon signals are a set of signals used to indicate the threat or effects of a tropical cyclone. The Hong Kong Observatory issues the warning signal if a tropical cyclone is centred within of Hong Kong and may affect Hong Kong later...
at 05:40 HKT (21:40 UTC) on October 21 (October 20 UTC).
As of 8:40pm on October 22 all Signals were cancelled by the Hong Kong Observatory.
Macau
The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) hoisted the Standby Signal No. 1 at 19:00 HKT(11:00 UTC) on 19 October 2010.Philippines
The centre of the storm made landfall near Divalacan Bay, 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...
, at 11:25 a.m. (local time) on October 18 preceded by torrential rain and flash flooding forcing residents of the area to seek shelter. A reported total of 3,687 individuals from the northern Philippines were evacuated to schools, churches, halls and other sturdier structures but over 200,000 people were rendered homeless. Although at little risk of being struck by the departing typhoon, classes throughout Metro Manila were suspended on October 19 as a precaution.
Initial estimates were reported that Philippines could lose over 600,000 metric tons of the rice crop as the typhoon swept through some of the biggest agricultural areas, such as Isabela and Cagayan, in the northern Philippines. Official estimates following the passing of the typhoon placed agricultural losses at around US$34 million with tens of thousands of tons of rice and corn lost. Fears of a rice shortage in the next few weeks were allayed by the National Food Authority which announced that sufficient food had been stockpiled.
Megi inflicted substantial damage to much of the infrastructure as it crossed Luzon. Communication infrastructure in Cagayan and Isabela suffered extensive damage during the typhoon with an estimated 90% of regional communications lost. Officials believe that it would take five days to restore them. Electricity in the northern provinces of Cagayan
Cagayan
Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
, Kalinga
Kalinga
Kalinga is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north...
, Apayao
Apayao
Apayao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its administrative capital is Luna and founding capital Kabugao. It borders Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south...
, Northern Isabela
Isabela
-Places:* Isabela, Puerto Rico* Isabela Island of the Galápagos Islands* La Isabela in the Dominican Republic, first settlement of Columbus in the New World* Isabela , Philippines* Isabela City, Basilan, Philippines...
, the Mountain Province
Mountain Province
Mountain Province is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bontoc and borders, clockwise from the south, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, and Isabela.Mountain Province is sometimes incorrectly named Mountain in some...
, parts of Benguet
Benguet
Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya....
, Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
, la Union
La Unión
La Union or La Unión may refer to:-Colombia:*La Unión, Antioquia*La Unión, Nariño*La Unión, Sucre*La Unión, Valle del Cauca-Peru:*La Unión Province, Peru...
, Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
, Aurora, parts of Tuguegarao was disrupted by Megi. The National Grid Corp. announced that eleven towers along one transmission line suffered extensive damage, which also affected power supplies to the capital leading to outages of up to 3 hours.
Many domestic and international flights by carriers such as Cebu Pacific
Cebu Pacific
Cebu Air, Inc., operating as Cebu Pacific Air, is based on the grounds of Ninoy Aquino International Airport , Pasay City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It offers scheduled flights to both domestic and international destinations...
and Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
bound for the northern Philippines were cancelled because of the impact of the typhoon, but as the typhoon leaves the islands, many flights were restored. Many roads in Luzon remained closed as of October 18 and bus operators have cancelled trips to Cagayan and Isabela due to the poor weather. The departure of Megi will leave large quantities of debris as well as unsanitary conditions that could bring outbreaks of disease if not cleared.
The Philippine Red Cross dispatched a water search and rescue team to Cagayan to aid rescue operations. UNICEF announced that the organisation was monitoring the event and that relief supplies were being prepared should the Philippines Government request aid. The United Nations Office for the Coordination on Humanitarian Affairs have also committed to helping with disaster relief . Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on standby, along with helicopters with one retired army general describing the operations as "preparing for war". Search and rescue operations for survivors was hampered by winds that were still reaching 210 kilometres (130.5 mi) throughout the region. According to official reports, the province of Isabela bore the brunt of the storm with the towns of Palanan and Divilacan suffering extensive damage and Maconacon reportedly being completely destroyed.
PAGASA lowered storm signals as the typhoon weakened when it crossed into the mountains in northern Luzon.
Casualties
One person drowned near Tuguegarao, Cagayan during the afternoon of October 18 after being swept away in a river that had overflowed its banks. The body of another man who had drowned in Ilocos Sur province was recovered. Another five people died during the storm: one man after being pinned by a falling tree, a mother and her two children when a tree fell on their house and a fifth when struck by lightning. Three people were killed in Isabela province by a storm surge while another drowned attempting to cross a river in Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
province. A further nine people have been injured, some by falling debris. The president made a statement expressing his sympathy and condolences for the bereft families, while also declaring that despite the strength of Megi, the loss of life was significantly less than during Typhoon Basyang
Typhoon Conson (2010)
Typhoon Conson was the second tropical cyclone during the 2010 Pacific typhoon season to impact the Philippines. Developing out of a tropical disturbance east of the Philippines on July 11, 2010, Conson quickly developed as it tracked nearly due west...
and Tropical Storm Ondoy. As of October 20, the death toll stood at 19.
Juan becomes the second supertyphoon, 21 years after its first storm, Supertyphoon Tasing
Typhoon Elsie (1989)
Typhoon Elsie was one of the most intense known tropical cyclones to make landfall in the Philippines. A powerful Category 5 super typhoon, Elsie formed out of a tropical disturbance on October 13, 1989, and initially moved relatively slowly in an area of weak steering currents...
passed this area in 1989.
Taiwan
Throughout Yilan County, torrential rainfall from Typhoon Megi and the weather front, peaking at 1182 mm (46.5 in) in Suao, triggered widespread flash flooding and landslides. According to the Central Weather Bureau, a record 939 mm (37 in) of rain fell in a 24 hour span between October 20 and 21. This surpassed the previous record set by Typhoon Morakot in August 2009, just over a year prior. In Suao, a record 181.55 mm (7.1 in) of rain fell within an hour, triggering some of the worst flash flooding in the area in over 20 years. Megi also brought much rainfall in HualienHualien County
Hualien County is the largest county in Taiwan and is located on the mountainous eastern coast of Taiwan. It contains the island's largest port. It is the starting point of the Hualien-Taitung Line and the terminal point of North-Link Line of TRA...
, Taitung
Taitung County
Taitung County is a county in eastern Taiwan. The name means "Eastern Taiwan". Taitung County is also known as 後山 by many of the locals, meaning behind the mountains or the back mountains. Taitung is officially administered as a county of Taiwan, Republic of China.Taitung runs along the south east...
, Pingtung
Pingtung County
Pingtung County is a county in Southern Taiwan. Pingtung County is officially administered as a county of the Republic of China . The oldest national park in Taiwan, Kenting National Park, was established in Pingtung County in 1984...
, Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
, and New Taipei. At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and 23 others are missing. Early damage estimates placed losses to agriculture at NT$45 million ($1.5 million USD). Later reports on October 22 indicated that seven people were killed when the temple they were sheltering in was buried by a landslide. Near Suao, multiple landslides struck a major highway stranding more than 400 people. Torrential rainfall caused a 500 m (1,640.4 ft) section of a nearby mountain to collapse, burying a bus carrying 19 people, whom officials fear may have all perished. Air force helicopters have been called in to aid in the search for the bus and any survivors.
By the morning of October 24, 13 fatalities had been confirmed and 25 people were reported missing. After more than ten days of search-and-rescue operations, all missing persons across the island were declared legally deceased.
Mainland China
After brushing Taiwan, Typhoon Megi struck southern China as a severe tropical storm. Throughout Fujian Province, an estimated 729,800 people were affected by the storm. A total of 36,050 hectares of crops and 530 houses were destroyed by the storm with overall losses incurred in Fujian Province reaching 2.8 billion yuan ($411.7 million USD).Relief efforts
Child UnitedChild United
Child United is an international relief organization with a focus on education. The volunteer-led humanitarian group also provides disaster relief assistance to countries in desperate need...
, a Seattle-based non-profit which provides disaster relief in Asia, was on standby to provide assistance to families left homeless by the typhoon. Their relief operation began October 18 in the Philippines, with supplies already in-country being prepared for immediate delivery to the disaster site, and additional supplies prepared for shipment from the United States. The organization collected monetary donations to assist in further disaster relief, as well as donations of towels, sheets, toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) and canned goods.
The USS Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) provided disaster relief in the aftermath. The ESG was composed of the USS Essex (LHD 2)
USS Essex (LHD-2)
USS Essex is a built at what is now Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned on 17 October 1992 while moored at North Island NAS beside the Kitty Hawk . It is the fifth ship named for Essex County, Massachusetts...
, USS Denver (LPD 9)
USS Denver (LPD-9)
USS Denver , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of United States Navy to bear this name. Denver’s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington. She was launched 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John A...
and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
USS Harpers Ferry is the lead ship of her class of landing ship dock of the United States Navy. This warship was named for the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which, because of the Federal arsenal there, was an important location during the Civil War. , Harpers Ferry is commanded by...
. Amphibious Squadron 11 and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262
HMM-262
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-46E Sea Knight transport helicopters...
) were embarked with the ESG. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265
HMM-265
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-46E Sea Knight transport helicopters...
) also provided disaster relief. The unit was ashore at the former Clark Air Base (known today as the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport , also called Clark International Airport , is the main airport serving the immediate vicinity of the Clark Freeport Zone and the general area of Angeles City in the Philippines...
) participating in an exercise when the typhoon hit. Their mission changed from participation in the exercise to disaster relief.
Retirement
Due to extremely high amount of damage that the storm has caused in the Philippines, the PAGASA announced that the name Juan would be stricken off their tropical cyclone Naming lists. No replacement name has been chosen yet.See also
- Typhoon Ketsana
- Typhoon ParmaTyphoon ParmaTyphoon Parma was the second typhoon to affect the Philippines within the span of a week during September 2009....
- Typhoon Morakot
External links
- The JMA's Best Track Data on Typhoon Megi (1013)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Graphics) on Typhoon Megi (1013)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Text)
- The JTWC's Best Track Data on Super Typhoon 15W (Megi)
