1962 Pacific typhoon season
Encyclopedia
The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclone
s tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. 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 majority of the Pacific typhoons in 1962 formed in the Pacific Ocean (north of the equator and west of the international date line
) with two exceptions: Tropical Depressions Fifty and Sixty-three formed in the Central Pacific. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1962 Pacific hurricane season
. All tropical depressions are assigned a number. Most systems reaching tropical storm strength were assigned a name; all typhoons were named.
Ninety tropical waves formed in the 1962 season. Only 78 of these became major easterly waves. 42 of these waves became tropical depressions, 30 became storms and 23 become typhoons. This record of 24 typhoons beat 1952 record which had 21. This record was beaten in the 1964 season
with 26 typhoons. Six super typhoons formed in 1962 which were Georgia, Emma, Ruth, Opal, Amy and Karen. Even with the high activity, only about half the cyclones in 1962 made landfall. There were also seventeen suspect cyclones discovered by the JTWC in post-season reports. Three were reported to reach typhoon intensity, three at tropical storm status and two needed tropical depression warnings.
Two depressions, 50 and 63, formed in the Central Pacific under the Joint Hurricane Warning Center's (now The Central Pacific Hurricane Center
) jurisdiction and were included in the JTWC archives. Both depressions stayed out to sea and had no effects on land. The Central Pacific also got Nora, Opal, Ruth, Gilda, Emma and Thelma, the remnants of Nadine and the ending of Karen near the end of the season.
Six typhoons entered the Bering Sea: Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Amy and Emma. Four of the six were super typhoons. Three typhoons just missed entering the Bering Sea: Typhoons Hope, Sarah and Gilda. Also, Typhoons Georgia, Hope, Joan, Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Wanda, Amy, Emma, Gilda, Jean and Karen all lasted for at least one week with Opal lasting for eighteen straight days from a wave to the day the JMA ceased advisories.
. The storm quickly intensified into a tropical depression and soon into the first tropical storm of the 1962 season. The intensifying tropical cyclone went through the latter half of February 2 as a 45 mph (70&nbp;km/h) tropical storm, progressing southwest towards Indonesia
. However, on the early morning of February 3, the storm curved to the northeast and away from Indonesia. The strength remained unchanged during the day and before long reached its peak winds speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Continuing northward away from the coast of the Philippines, Fran remained at peak winds until the evening of February 4. During the morning hours of February 5, Fran dropped down to 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm and continued northward, weakening to 40 mph (60 km/h). On the morning of February 6, Fran weakened into a tropical depression and the final advisory was released six hours after.
entered the western Pacific on the afternoon of April 13. This surge began to come together near the island of Woleai
and progressed northwestward through the Pacific. After crossing over Woleai, the system neared the island of Yap
and began forming into the second tropical depression of the 1962 season. On the afternoon of April 16, the system was declared a tropical depression. The depression made a curve to the south during the north and early on April 17 reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georgia on April 17 as the system continued curving, turning to the east. An eye began to form during the afternoon, it got to be 50 miles (80.5 km) wide. The developing cyclone was declared a typhoon on the afternoon with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). By the morning of April 18, Georgia had curved again, now to the north, gaining strength and developing an elliptical eye. Through the afternoon of April 18, Georgia continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 status during the morning. Rapid strengthening and development continued through the afternoon, with minimum pressures of 953 millibars (28.14 inHg) on the surface reported.
Entering the morning of April 19, Georgia began forming a well-defined eye, having already strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone. Intensification continued throughout the day with sustained winds reaching 145 mph (225 km/h) by the end of the day. The next morning, Typhoon Georgia reached its peak sustained winds of 150 mph (230 km/h) just west of the island of Guam
. The lowest minimum pressure recorded at that point was 936 millibars (27.64 inHg). The typhoon retained its strength for most of April 20, but in the late afternoon, the system began to weaken as it entered colder waters. Georgia curved to the northeast and slowly weakened during April 21, by the end of the day, the eye was beginning to come apart. During the morning of April 22, surface winds were reported at only 90 mph (145 km/h) and sustained winds soon followed. The cold waters continued to take its toll on the system, becoming a minimal Category 1 typhoon by the evening with no well-defined eye. On the morning of April 23, Georgia weakened into a tropical storm and slowly weakened during the day as it began a transition into an extratropical cyclone. On the morning of April 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm as it had become extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).
The extratropical remnants of Georgia continued northward east of the coast of Japan
. On April 26, the extratropical remnants passed to the southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula
. During the day, the system curved once again, turning westward before another curve to the south. During the day on April 27, the system returned to its northeastern pattern before dissipating on April 29, southeast of the peninsula.
In its wake, the predecessor system to Typhoon Georgia left 9.85 inch (0.25019 m) in rainfall over Yap Island
, where no damage was recorded. Reported damages caused by Typhoon Georgia were limited. The only report was a ship and its cargo in the Pacific suffered $28,000 in damages (1962 USD ($208,000 in 2011 USD)).
. The wave progressed northwestward away from the island and continued developing over the next few days. On May 16, the wave was upgraded to a tropical storm, the third of the season off the coast of the Philippines with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The storm, named Hope, continued northwestward, peaking first at 60 mph (90 km/h) before striking several islands over the Philippines. While over land, Tropical Storm Hope weakened to a minimal tropical storm on May 17 and into a tropical depression with no circulation later that day. The storm remained a tropical depression over the day, crossing the eastern island of the Philippines. Tropical Depression Hope left the island and began to strengthen back into a minimal tropical storm by May 18. However, the storm interacted with land once more and weakened back into a tropical depression on May 18.
After leaving the Philippines for the final time, the depression began to develop, becoming a tropical storm for the third time since May 16 and developing a small eye. As Tropical Storm Hope turned further northeast, the eye expanded and the storm was soon declared a typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center late evening on May 19. The next day, Hope continued to strengthen and develop, and while just south of Okinawa on May 20, peaked at 90 mph (140 km/h) sustained winds. (Operationally, Typhoon Hope was declared a 100 mph (170 km/h), Category 2 typhoon, but this was demoted in post-analysis.) An internal pressure of 978 millibars (28.88 inHg) was recorded within a 30 miles (48.3 km) wide eye. Hope began to encounter cold air near Okinawa, Japan, weakening rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm on May 21. Hope's eye fell apart and started to begin transition to its extratropical stage. On the morning of May 22, Hope's sustained winds fell below tropical storm stage and the system became a tropical depression. By the afternoon, Hope was declared extratropical and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system.
The extratropical remnants of Typhoon Hope continued northeastward towards the coast of Japan on May 23. The system turned just offshore and paralleled the eastern coast for several days. After May 24, the system begins to leave the Japanese coast in favor of the open Pacific Ocean but made a dart to the north towards the Kuril Islands
on May 26. The remains turned once again to the northeast, paralleling the Kamchatka Peninsula for the next day. The storm turned offshore again on May 27 and disappeared near the Aleutian Islands on May 28.
During the morning of May 28, Iris began to suffer from its lack of upper-level divergence and as a result was demoted into a tropical depression. The weakening system persisted two more days off the coast and dissipated on the morning of May 30. The dissipating remains of the Iris persisted for another day off the Philippines, dissipating southeast of Taiwan
on May 31.
Reported impact from Iris in the Philippines were five deaths reported and no estimated damage to crops on the islands.
on the afternoon of July 10. The storm continued weakening as it crossed the 38th parallel and entered North Korea
, falling to a minimal tropical storm over land. After emerging from North Korea, the storm raced to the northeast before experiencing cold air and become extratropical on the morning of July 11.
After becoming extratropical, the remains of Joan continued northeastward, curving along the coast of China. The system soon left China and entered the waters of the Soviet Union
July 12, soon making landfall on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin
. After crossing the island, the system entered the Sea of Okhotsk
, where it turned northward towards mainland Siberia
. During the day of July 14 , the system made landfall near the city of Magadan
and crossed the Arctic Circle
. Tracking of the system ceased just north of Magadan on the morning of July 15.
Reported damage from Typhoon Joan was minimal in the Koreas, with estimates of only $500,000 (1962 USD ($3.68 million in 2011 USD). This damage total was estimated from damage to crops in the country and to the communications infastructure.
in the Philippines on the morning of July 18. At the time, the tropical wave had winds of 15 mph (25 km/h) on its surface. The wave rapidly intensified during the morning and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upped the system to a tropical depression the same afternoon. The next morning the system was upgraded to a tropical storm and received the name Kate. The new storm had a small, open eyewall which expanded during the day as the storm slowly intensified through and by the late morning of July 20, the storm became a typhoon with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). That morning, the eye had only a 12 miles (19.3 km) diameter and had similar surface winds. During the afternoon, the storm made a curve to the southwest from its track and looped back northward. By the morning of July 21, the storm began a northeastern turn towards Taiwan.
The typhoon continued to intensify, maintaining typhoon status during the day and reaching a peak sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on the morning of July 22. Central pressures were recorded at a minimum of 964 millibars (28.47 inHg) at peak as well. (Operationally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had Kate peaking at sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, however this was demoted in post-analysis.) As Kate approached Taiwan, the storm weakened, making landfall on the afternoon of July 22 near Taitung City
with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm crossed the island over the afternoon, weakening into a tropical storm by the afternoon. After emerging from Taiwan, Tropical Storm Kate turned to the northwest and made landfall once again near Wenzhou
on July 23 with sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). The interaction with land cause quick dissipation of the storm over mainland China, and the warning center ceased following the storm on the morning of July 24. The remains of Kate continued on for a short distance, crossing through China over the next day and into Mongolia
before dissipating on July 25.
The damage left behind from Typhoon Kate were extensive as the storm killed 110 residents and caused $25 million (1962 USD ($184 million in 2011 USD)) in damages to crops, homes and infrastructure.
and moved to the north. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Louise on July 20. Rapid strengthening occurred, as Louise was able to reach typhoon status on July 21 at the third advisory. Louise made a curve to west and strengthened into a maximum Category 1 typhoon on July 24. Louise passed by the island of Iwo Jima
and moved to the northeast, whacking Japan as a maximum tropical storm.
Louise moved over land and quickly weakened into a depression, where the JTWC declared that Louise had dissipated, however the JMA continued to release advisories on Louise. Louise moved to the northeast and advisories were discontinued near Japan's northernmost islands on July 29. Louise killed fifteen people and doing $7.5 million (1962 USD- $47 million in 2006 USD) in damage to crops, homes and bridges in Japan.
and Saipan
.
No damage or fatalities were reported, as Marge never made landfall.
from an easterly tropical wave and a surge from the westerlies at the 200 mbar level. Strengthening occurred slowly as 46W was not given the name Nora until July 29. Nora moved northward, the storm reached typhoon status and soon peaked at 85 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 965 mbar on August 1. Nora made landfall in Hong Kong
on August 2 as a moderate tropical storm, then moved west, making landfall in northern Japan on the 4th and being declared extratropical soon after.
On August 5, the extratropical remnants of Nora entered the Bering Sea, in the Eastern Hemisphere, where Nora got farther north than any other cyclone of the season, reaching about 62°N
latitude and 178.5°W longitude near the Bering Strait, when advisories by the JMA were discontinued as Nora became an extratropical system.
Across the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido
, heavy rains from the storm triggered widespread flooding that killed 15 people and left 14 others missing.
. on the afternoon of July 28. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the wave for the next day, as it headed westward, north of Truk. Slowly curving northeast from the island, the wave soon was upgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) with no eye structure on July 30. The depression strengthened on the morning of July 31 to 35 mph (55 km/h) winds and persisted throughout the day at that strength. The depression continued its northwestern curve, speeding up and weakening once again to 30 mph (50 km/h) on the morning of August 1. After passing Woleai
, the depression strengthened once again and became Tropical Storm Opal the same afternoon. The storm continued intensifying during the afternoon, with winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) by nightfall. By the next morning, Opal was upgraded into a typhoon, the eighth of the 1962 season.
The typhoon, now northwest of the island of Ulithi
, continued turning to the northwest, beginning to slow as the system continued strengthening. By nightfall, the system had an eye forming, wide as 5 miles (8 km). By nightfall, the system was up to winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and passing far east of the Philippines. Opal continued the northwest progression, strengthening throughout the day of August 3 and forming a wider eye. By the end of the day, the storm was now a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Strengthening continued overnight as the typhoon passed to the east of Luzon
, strengthening close to super typhoon status by nightfall on August 4 with a shrinking eye. The next morning, Typhoon Opal strengthened into the second super typhoon of the season, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). During the day on August 5, Opal continued strengthening, peaking with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) just east of Taiwan
. (Operationally, Opal was classified as a 170 mph (275 km/h) typhoon, but this was downgraded to a 165 mph (270 km/h) in post-analysis.) Minimum recorded central pressures for Opal were registered at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg).
Soon after peaking, the storm struck the island of Taiwan with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). The storm weakened over land to 135 mph (220 km/h) after crossing the island and continued weakening into a 90 mph (145 km/h) typhoon as it made landfall in mainland China. The typhoon continued to weaken over land, weakening into a tropical storm on the morning of August 6. Opal persisted as a tropical storm on August 6, weakening into a tropical depression the next morning. During the afternoon of August 7, with influences from land, the storm became extratropical.
The extratropical remains of Opal crossed eastern mainland China, entering the East China Sea
in the late evening. Early in the morning of August 8, the storm struck North Korea
near the capital city of Pyongyang
. After crossing the country, the system reappeared in the sea before crossing. On the morning of August 9, the system made landfall on the Hokkaido
region of Japan, near the town of Rumoi. After crossing the island, the storm entered the Sea of Okhtosk on August 10. During the afternoon, the system crossed the Kuril Islands
and began a parallel with the Kamchatka Peninsula the next day. On the morning of August 13, the system entered the Aleutian Islands, passing west of Semisopochnoi Island
and the Rat Islands
before entering the Bering Sea
. The extratropical remains disappeared on August 14 in the middle of the sea, just south of the Arctic Circle
.
The impact of Typhoon Opal was most devastating in Taiwan, where originally 87 deaths were reported on the island, with 20 people missing and over 1400 injured. Some 5,000 people were homeless in Yilan City
. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Opal, along with 4,700 others damaged due to the high winds. Huge waves kicked up by Opel also sent a storm surge into the city, sweeping away homes. However, by August 8, this number was demoted to only 12 deaths on the island, 966 injured and five people missing. The 170 mph (275 km/h) strong winds took a freighter off its anchors and swamping it, along with a number of fishing boats. Although winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) were felt in Taipei
, no fatalities were reported because of ample warning, causing residents to evacuate. In Taipei, Opal caused streets to flood, uprooted trees and tore down telephone lines. 38 injuries were also reported, with 35 houses destroyed. 180 were also damaged in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Opal caused two deaths in the islands of Japan, centered on the island of Southern Hokkaido. Nine people there were also injured and one person was reported missing. After Typhoon Opal passed through South Korea
, seven fishermen were killed along the coast of the Yellow Sea
. 72 more people were missing. Five ships were also sunk in the Yellow Sea, twelve more were reported missing. The estimated damage total came out to about $25 million. (1962 USD; $184 million (2011 USD)) These totals came in the form of crop, transportation, and structural damage.
, making landfall there before becoming the 51st tropical system of the season the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-One strengthened into Tropical Storm Patsy, crossed the central Philippines on August 7 and 8, and strengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. After weakening to a tropical storm while moving northwestward, Patsy hit Hainan Island, turned to the west, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and dissipated over Vietnam
on the 11th due to cold air.
Patsy's heavy rain and flooding caused 29 casualties with more than 200 missing. Damage totaled out to $2.5 million (1962 USD ($13.36 million in 2006 USD). Damage included major infrastructural damage at the University of Santo Thomas and the shutting down of the Manila airport. The backlash from Patsy destroyed over 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rice, and damaged roads through Thailand. Patsy made landfall four times, three as a tropical system.
, without starting as a depression. Ruth's movement was slow, but the storm's strength was fast as Ruth became a typhoon on August 14 while grazing the island of Saipan
with winds of 75 mi/h.
Ruth moved north and rapidly strengthened, which included a jump from a Category 1 typhoon to a Category 3 tyhpoon on the 15th and soon to a Category 4 typhoon. Ruth became a Category 5 super typhoon on the same day, peaking at a 185 mi/h super typhoon late on August 16 while passing by Iwo Jima
with a pressure of 916 mbar. Ruth kept that intensity until the next day when the storm weakened to 160 mi/h near Chichi Jima. Ruth continued to weaken, passing by Tokyo
and weakening to a tropical storm on August 22 while losing tropical characteristics. Ruth was declared a moderate extratropical storm on the 46th advisory on August 23. Damage in Saipan from Ruth is unavailable.
Ruth's remnants continued to the northeast where the extratropical storm made landfall on the 24th on the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi
, passing 180°
and thus entering the Western Hemisphere
. Ruth entered the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as a 986 mbar extratropical low on August 25. However, while an extratropical storm, Ruth underwent drastic changes in wind strength from the 23rd to its death on the 25th, Ruth went from a 45 mi/h storm straight back to a 60 mi/h storm, then to a minimal storm and back to a 55 mi/h storm when Ruth died out.
Ruth was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Typhoon Sarah.
on August 8 and moved gradually to south. The wave made a turn to the east and soon the northeast, lasting for six straight days. The first advisory released jumped the wave into a 70 mi/h tropical storm with the name Sarah. Sarah quickly made a cyclonic loop on the 15th which took until the 18th to complete. During this loop, Sarah reached its peak intensity of 85 mi/h, a Category 1 typhoon on the 16th. Sarah weakened quickly, making landfall in southern Japan as a 40 mi/h minimal tropical storm. Sarah weakened into a tropical depression, and encountered cool air, being declared a weak extratropical depression on the 22nd. No damage in Japan is available.
Sarah's remnants continued to the northeast where the storm missed entering the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as Sarah was a 984 mbar extratropical low on August 25.
Sarah spent six days as a tropical wave (August 8 - August 14), seven days as a tropical cyclone (August 15- August 22), and three days as an extratropical cyclone (August 23, 24 & 25), lasting for a total of sixteen days. Sarah was also one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Super Typhoon Ruth.
. Rapid strengthening occurred as 58W was given the name Thelma. Thelma reached 70 mi/h winds but fell to 55 mi/h in cool air. Thelma gained strength again, reaching typhoon status by the 22nd. Thelma continued to intensify reaching 140 mi/h winds as a peak with a pressure of 946 mbar on the 25th near Japan. Thelma made landfall in Japan the next day as a 100 mi/h typhoon and turned to the east, making a second landfall in Japan as a minimal tropical storm, dissipating soon after.
The remnants of Thelma moved to the east and soon to the northeast, reaching a pressure of 988 mbar as an extratropical cyclone. Thelma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island
in the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical cyclone entered the Bering Sea
, becoming the fourth typhoon this season to do such, where the JMA ceased advisories on September 1 in the Central Pacific
.
No damage or fatality reports are available. Thelma was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Super Typhoon Ruth and Typhoon Sarah.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Typhoon Vera.
from a tropical wave from the Southern Hemisphere outdrafts. On the 24th, the first advisory was released near Truk. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression Fifty-Nine on the afternoon of August 27, and in the evening, it became Tropical Storm Wanda. Strengthening was slow as Wanda did not reach typhoon status until early August 29 northeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Typhoon Wanda reached a Category 2 strength as it moved through the Luzon strait on August 30. It continued its westward motion, peaking at 110 mi/h before cold air was entrained in the circulation. Wanda hit near Hong Kong
on September 1 as a well-developed typhoon and dissipated later that day. The Japan Meteoroloical Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories.
Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, with millions of damage occurring. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then.
Wanda is considered the second worst typhoon in the recorded history of Hong Kong (second only to the catastrophic typhoon of September 2, 1937. Wanda also created the record of being the last of three typhoons to have caused sustained hurricane winds in Hong Kong in three consecutive years (after Typhoon Mary of 1960 and Typhoon Alice of 1961). This record has never been equalled ever since.
two days later. The depression quickly strengthened, becoming a tropical storm and being given the name Amy. Amy strengthened rapidly, becoming a typhoon on the 30th northeast of Saipan
. Amy's movement was erratic, and reached super typhoon status on September 1 while making a curve to the northeast.
Amy strengthened into a weak Category 5 super typhoon northeast of the Philippines, peaking at 160 mi/h with a pressure of 932 mbar around midnight on September 1. Weakening was slow, and Amy made landfall in Taiwan
as a Category 4 super typhoon on September 4. Amy weakened quickly, making landfall in China as a 85 mi/h typhoon. Amy moved out into the South China Sea
, sped up and made landfall in South Korea
as a 45 mi/h tropical storm on September 7. Amy was declared extratropical as a depression on September 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Amy for two more days. During that time, Amy made landfall in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
on the 9th, and entered the Bering Sea
, the sixth typhoon this season to do so. The JMA ceased advisories on September 10 in the sea.
Amy's flooding killed 24 people, with millions of dollars in damage (1962 USD) to crops, power, communication lines and buildings.
. On September 13, about midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Sixty-Seven. There, the depression made a curve to the northwest, starting a progression in that direction. The depression continued for another two days out into the South China Sea, where the storm was upgraed to Tropical Storm Babe.
Tropical Storm Babe continued to the northwest, making its way towards the coast of Vietnam. On September 15, Tropical Storm Babe passed to the south of Hainan
, an island claimed as part of China. The storm peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on the same day, with a minimal pressure of 994 millibars (29.35 inches of Mercury
). On September 16, Tropical Storm Babe made landfall in the central of the Vietnam coast. The depression then crossed the country, weakening into a tropical depression on September 17, crossing over the country of Laos. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system just after it left Laos.
The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the weakening system into Cambodia
, where it lasted for another day or so. On the evening of September 18, the Agency stopped following the weakening system, as it began to leave Cambodia and into the nearby country of Thailand
.
. The wave was unable to gain strength, making landfall in Luzon
while it was a tropical wave. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression 65W on September 19 off the Luzon coast. Tropical Depression 65W strengthened into a tropical storm on September 20, quickly gaining strength. Carla made landfall on Hainan Island on the 21st as a 85 mi/h typhoon, its peak winds. Carla continued moving west and made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 22 as a 65 mi/h tropical storm. Carla dissipated over land on September 23 from lack of moisture.
No damage reports are available in association with Carla, however at least 13 people were killed.
on September 24. The wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Sixty-Nine twelve hours later. Strengthening was very slow, as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until September 29. During the depression stage, it made a curve to the northwest. Finally at the second advisory on September 29, the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was given the name Dinah.
Dinah moved to the west, continuing to strengthen and by the morning of September 30, Dinah was the sixteenth typhoon of the season. Dinah continued moving to the west, reaching Category 2 status on October 1, and Category 3 the next day. Dinah peaked on October 2 with 115 mi/h winds, a minimal Category 3 typhoon and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.10 inHg). Weakening was slow and Dinah made landfall in Hong Kong on October 3 as a maximum tropical storm with winds of 70 mi/h. Dinah quickly weakened into a depression over land and dissipated over Hong Kong on October 4.
Damage data for Hong Kong are unavailable.
on September 30 and moved south. The wave strengthened into Tropical Storm Emma at the first advisory on October 1. Emma strengthened into the eighteenth typhoon of the 1962 season and grazed Guam during a turn back to the north on October 1.
Emma continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on October 2, while passing Saipan
and Category 3 intensity the next day. By the 4th, Emma became a category four super typhoon and reached Category 5 status. The next day, Emma peaked at 160 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 903 mbar. Weakening was slow, as Emma turned to the northeast. Emma peaked at 125 mi/h winds on October 7 and refused to weaken until October 9 when Emma fell to 120 mi/h winds. Emma sped up to the northeast and was declared extratropical on October 11 as a moderate Category 1 typhoon, due to cool air temperatures.
The remnants of Emma moved to the northeast, reaching a peak pressure of 950 mbar on October 12. Emma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island in the Aleutian Islands on October 13 as a 55 mi/h extratropical storm, and entered the Bering Sea the same day, dissipating soon afterwards at the 180°latitude line, entering the Central Pacific. Emma was the sixth typhoon to enter the Bering Sea.
Damage in Guam and Saipan totaled out at $250,000 (1962 USD), from damages to communication equipment, buildings and fishing boats ($1.6 million 2006 USD). Emma was the fifth super typhoon of the 1962 season.
. It moved to the northeast, then turned to a northwest where it strengthened into a typhoon and peaked at 115 mi/h on the 5th. Freda then turned and accelerated to the northeast, where it weakened until becoming extratropical on October 10 to the south of the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical remnants of Freda headed to the east, and hit Victoria, British Columbia
on October 12 with winds of 45-50 mph, with wind gusts up to 90 mi/h. There, great damage was seen across the Pacific Northwest, causing a major disruption in daily life with power outages and store closings from shattered windows.
As an extratropical storm, Freda caused an estimated $10 million in damage (1962 USD, $517 million 2006 USD), with 46 deaths occurring.
as a wave. The wave strengthened with a flow from the Southern Hemisphere and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Four on the next day. Organization of the system was slow as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until it performed a cyclonic loop on October 22. and was given the name Gilda. Gilda strengthened rapidly and became a typhoon on October 23. Gilda strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon on October 26, peaking at 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Gilda kept this intensity until the next day when the storm weakened into a Category 3 typhoon. On the 28th, Gilda absorbed the weakening Typhoon Ivy southeast of Okinawa, Japan as a Category 2 typhoon after have a Fujiwhara interaction. Gilda sped up and weakened to a tropical storm on October 30 near Japan. Typhoon Gilda entered cool air and was declared an extra-tropical storm the same day at the 47th advisory near the Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Gilda to the northwest Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Islands, where Gilda was declared over on November 1 in the Central Pacific.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Gilda. Gilda had the same notability of Typhoon Kate earlier in the season by have a discontinuous track but of secondary lows on the lee.
Tropical Storm Harriet was first observed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on October 25, just off the east coast of Thailand
. It hit that night as a 60 mi/h tropical storm, and crossed into the Indian Ocean. During landfall its storm surge
flooded the Laem Talumphuk peninsula in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
. There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast. It hit Bangladesh
on October 30, and dissipated the next day. In the urbanized area of Pak Phanang, water rose to a depth of four meters at the river nearby. Laem Talumpuk was swept clean by Harriet as all but five houses were destroyed in the village of four thousand people at the end of the peninsula, which had been battered with three meter high waves. In a town near the River Bang Chak, 30 percent of the houses were destroyed as well as half of the rice crop in the area.
The destruction from Tropical Storm Harriet took the lives of at least 769 residents of Thailand's southern provinces. 142 others were also deemed missing as of November 4, 1962, with over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD; $248.0 million 2011 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.
and Woleai Atoll
. The wave moved to the northwest and strengthened from a wave into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mi/h. Interaction from the active Typhoon Gilda caused a Fujiwhara effect between the two and caused Ivy to weaken at a rapid pace from a Category 3 typhoon to a minimal tropical storm in 48 hours. The stronger Typhoon Gilda absorbed the weak Ivy on October 29 south of Iwo Jima.
Ivy never made landfall thus no damage or fatalities were reported.
. The wave made landfall in the Philippines on the 6th and strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-One over land. Strengthening occurred and the depression became Tropical Storm Jean on the 6th near Manila. Rapid strengthening occurred and Jean peaked at a 100 mi/h typhoon on November 9 near Vietnam
. Jean started weakening and dissipated on November 13 because of lack of upper level divergence.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Jean for six more days. During that time, Jean made an anti-cyclonic loop to the south, where Jean was declared an extra-tropical low on November 19 in the open South China Sea
. No damage or fatalities were reported.
in 1962. Wind gusts estimated near 185 mi/h destroyed 95% of all homes on the island.
on November 25 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Lucy on the same day. Strengthening occurred slowly, as Lucy did not gain typhoon status until November 27. That same day, Lucy made landfall in the Philippines as an 80 mi/h typhoon. Lucy kept moving west and peaked at 115 mi/h, as a Category 3 typhoon on November 29. Lucy made landfall in the Philippines and southern Vietnam
on November 30. Lucy dissipated in the Strait of Taiwan on December 1 from cold air and land interaction. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased advisories that same day.
Five people were killed, with five million dollars in damage. ($32.6 million in 2006 USD). Winds of 60 mi/h were felt Cebu City Airport when Lucy passed over the area.
After that, the storm went on a slow weakening process, weakening to a minimal tropical storm on December 3. The next advisory, Mary was downgraded to a tropical depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the storm. Mary did not affect land its in entire lifetime.
several hundred miles southeast of Guam
. The wave strengthened that day into Tropical Depression Ninety, appearing in the Japan Meteorological Agency
's track data at that point. The depression curved to the northwest, striking the island Guam
on December 7. Tropical Depression Ninety curved to the southeast of Saipan
on December 8, strengthening into a tropical storm. Given the name Nadine by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it progressed northward, peaking at a minimal pressure of 974 millibars (28.76 inHg) and a wind speed of 60 mph (90 km/h) on December 10. Nadine began to approach the International Date Line
(180°), but started an extratropical transition that same day.
Nadine was declared an extratropical storm on December 10, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking the storm. On December 11, just after passing the 170°E longitude line
, Nadine was declared extratropical by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The extratropical remains of Nadine crossed the International Date Line and on the night of December 11, the Agency ceased following Nadine as it had crossed into the Central Pacific basin.
Although Nadine posed a threat to the island of Guam
(which had been struck by Typhoon Karen less than a month before), there were no reports of fatalities, damage or strong winds. With the minimal impact, the name Nadine was not retired after the 1962 season and remained in use for years after. When names were changed in 1979 for both male and female, the name Nadine has only been used for a tropical storm in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season since.
, east of the Philippines. The systems strengthened into a tropical depression moved to the southeast toward southwestern Vietnam. However, the depression returned to its northern progression on May 22 and dissipated on the same day without threatening land.
. The system strengthened into a tropical depression the next day when the first advisory was released. The depression continuously changed directions, once on the 8th to the northwest, again the next day to the southwest and the final one on the 10th to the northwest again. The tropical depression continued to the northwest, but degenerated into a remnant low on the morning of July 12. The remnants continued moving away, dissipating on July 15.
The depression never made landfall, so no damage or fatalities were reported.
Damage and fatalities in Vietnam from the depression are unavailable.
. The system intensified into a tropical depression at the first advisory on the morning of the 14th. The depression made a turn and dissipated by the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-Five never made landfall, therefore no fatalities or damage was reported.
and Buoy 317 (off the coast of Woleai) on September 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the wave that same day into Tropical Depression Sixty-Four. The depression progressed to the northeast, passing to the south of Ulithi six hours after formation. The depression continued, passing to the south of Yap
, an island near Ulithi. It then began to straighten its progression, dissipating north of the island of Koror
at about 135°W longitude. Once the depression dissipated, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression, never making landfall with any landmass in the Pacific Ocean.
. The disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression on September 12. The depression progressed westward, with the Japan Meteorological Agency following suit as a tropical depression. As the depression became to make a curve towards Japan
, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued following the strengthening depression. The depression, beginning to parallel the coast of Japan, strengthened into a tropical storm on September 15. The depression peaked in intensity with a pressure of 1002 mbar (29.58 inHg) on the same day, at its closest proximity to Japan. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on September 16, and started to make a curve to the northeast. The depression moved away from the coast of Japan and began its track out into the Pacific on September 17. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased following the system that day, located off the Kuril Islands
of Russia
. During its entire lifetime, the depression never made landfall.
. The depression crossed the country, maintaining its strength.
The depression crossed over the capital of the Philippines, Manila and in six hours after landfall, the depression had returned to water. The depression then began its northwestern progression once again, heading on a path towards China. However, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight turned to the southwest and away from China. This progression did not last either. The system turned back to the northwest, heading towards Vietnam
. This progression remained stable, and the depression made landfall on September 26 in Vietnam. Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight crossed over land, dissipating the next day nearing the Laos
border.
. The depression moved to the northwest, dissipating on after two days near the island of Iwo Jima
. The short-lived system never made landfall, and no damage or fatalities were reported to ships or buoys in the Ocean.
on November 18. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Five over the sea the same day. The depression got near Vietnam
but cool air caused it to dissipate into a remnant low before landfall on November 20. No damage or fatalities were reported in Vietnam in association with the depression.
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The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclone
s tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. 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 majority of the Pacific typhoons in 1962 formed in the Pacific Ocean (north of the equator and west of the international date line
) with two exceptions: Tropical Depressions Fifty and Sixty-three formed in the Central Pacific. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1962 Pacific hurricane season
. All tropical depressions are assigned a number. Most systems reaching tropical storm strength were assigned a name; all typhoons were named.
Ninety tropical waves formed in the 1962 season. Only 78 of these became major easterly waves. 42 of these waves became tropical depressions, 30 became storms and 23 become typhoons. This record of 24 typhoons beat 1952 record which had 21. This record was beaten in the 1964 season
with 26 typhoons. Six super typhoons formed in 1962 which were Georgia, Emma, Ruth, Opal, Amy and Karen. Even with the high activity, only about half the cyclones in 1962 made landfall. There were also seventeen suspect cyclones discovered by the JTWC in post-season reports. Three were reported to reach typhoon intensity, three at tropical storm status and two needed tropical depression warnings.
Two depressions, 50 and 63, formed in the Central Pacific under the Joint Hurricane Warning Center's (now The Central Pacific Hurricane Center
) jurisdiction and were included in the JTWC archives. Both depressions stayed out to sea and had no effects on land. The Central Pacific also got Nora, Opal, Ruth, Gilda, Emma and Thelma, the remnants of Nadine and the ending of Karen near the end of the season.
Six typhoons entered the Bering Sea: Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Amy and Emma. Four of the six were super typhoons. Three typhoons just missed entering the Bering Sea: Typhoons Hope, Sarah and Gilda. Also, Typhoons Georgia, Hope, Joan, Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Wanda, Amy, Emma, Gilda, Jean and Karen all lasted for at least one week with Opal lasting for eighteen straight days from a wave to the day the JMA ceased advisories.
. The storm quickly intensified into a tropical depression and soon into the first tropical storm of the 1962 season. The intensifying tropical cyclone went through the latter half of February 2 as a 45 mph (70&nbp;km/h) tropical storm, progressing southwest towards Indonesia
. However, on the early morning of February 3, the storm curved to the northeast and away from Indonesia. The strength remained unchanged during the day and before long reached its peak winds speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Continuing northward away from the coast of the Philippines, Fran remained at peak winds until the evening of February 4. During the morning hours of February 5, Fran dropped down to 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm and continued northward, weakening to 40 mph (60 km/h). On the morning of February 6, Fran weakened into a tropical depression and the final advisory was released six hours after.
entered the western Pacific on the afternoon of April 13. This surge began to come together near the island of Woleai
and progressed northwestward through the Pacific. After crossing over Woleai, the system neared the island of Yap
and began forming into the second tropical depression of the 1962 season. On the afternoon of April 16, the system was declared a tropical depression. The depression made a curve to the south during the north and early on April 17 reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georgia on April 17 as the system continued curving, turning to the east. An eye began to form during the afternoon, it got to be 50 miles (80.5 km) wide. The developing cyclone was declared a typhoon on the afternoon with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). By the morning of April 18, Georgia had curved again, now to the north, gaining strength and developing an elliptical eye. Through the afternoon of April 18, Georgia continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 status during the morning. Rapid strengthening and development continued through the afternoon, with minimum pressures of 953 millibars (28.14 inHg) on the surface reported.
Entering the morning of April 19, Georgia began forming a well-defined eye, having already strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone. Intensification continued throughout the day with sustained winds reaching 145 mph (225 km/h) by the end of the day. The next morning, Typhoon Georgia reached its peak sustained winds of 150 mph (230 km/h) just west of the island of Guam
. The lowest minimum pressure recorded at that point was 936 millibars (27.64 inHg). The typhoon retained its strength for most of April 20, but in the late afternoon, the system began to weaken as it entered colder waters. Georgia curved to the northeast and slowly weakened during April 21, by the end of the day, the eye was beginning to come apart. During the morning of April 22, surface winds were reported at only 90 mph (145 km/h) and sustained winds soon followed. The cold waters continued to take its toll on the system, becoming a minimal Category 1 typhoon by the evening with no well-defined eye. On the morning of April 23, Georgia weakened into a tropical storm and slowly weakened during the day as it began a transition into an extratropical cyclone. On the morning of April 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm as it had become extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).
The extratropical remnants of Georgia continued northward east of the coast of Japan
. On April 26, the extratropical remnants passed to the southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula
. During the day, the system curved once again, turning westward before another curve to the south. During the day on April 27, the system returned to its northeastern pattern before dissipating on April 29, southeast of the peninsula.
In its wake, the predecessor system to Typhoon Georgia left 9.85 inch (0.25019 m) in rainfall over Yap Island
, where no damage was recorded. Reported damages caused by Typhoon Georgia were limited. The only report was a ship and its cargo in the Pacific suffered $28,000 in damages (1962 USD ($208,000 in 2011 USD)).
. The wave progressed northwestward away from the island and continued developing over the next few days. On May 16, the wave was upgraded to a tropical storm, the third of the season off the coast of the Philippines with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The storm, named Hope, continued northwestward, peaking first at 60 mph (90 km/h) before striking several islands over the Philippines. While over land, Tropical Storm Hope weakened to a minimal tropical storm on May 17 and into a tropical depression with no circulation later that day. The storm remained a tropical depression over the day, crossing the eastern island of the Philippines. Tropical Depression Hope left the island and began to strengthen back into a minimal tropical storm by May 18. However, the storm interacted with land once more and weakened back into a tropical depression on May 18.
After leaving the Philippines for the final time, the depression began to develop, becoming a tropical storm for the third time since May 16 and developing a small eye. As Tropical Storm Hope turned further northeast, the eye expanded and the storm was soon declared a typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center late evening on May 19. The next day, Hope continued to strengthen and develop, and while just south of Okinawa on May 20, peaked at 90 mph (140 km/h) sustained winds. (Operationally, Typhoon Hope was declared a 100 mph (170 km/h), Category 2 typhoon, but this was demoted in post-analysis.) An internal pressure of 978 millibars (28.88 inHg) was recorded within a 30 miles (48.3 km) wide eye. Hope began to encounter cold air near Okinawa, Japan, weakening rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm on May 21. Hope's eye fell apart and started to begin transition to its extratropical stage. On the morning of May 22, Hope's sustained winds fell below tropical storm stage and the system became a tropical depression. By the afternoon, Hope was declared extratropical and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system.
The extratropical remnants of Typhoon Hope continued northeastward towards the coast of Japan on May 23. The system turned just offshore and paralleled the eastern coast for several days. After May 24, the system begins to leave the Japanese coast in favor of the open Pacific Ocean but made a dart to the north towards the Kuril Islands
on May 26. The remains turned once again to the northeast, paralleling the Kamchatka Peninsula for the next day. The storm turned offshore again on May 27 and disappeared near the Aleutian Islands on May 28.
During the morning of May 28, Iris began to suffer from its lack of upper-level divergence and as a result was demoted into a tropical depression. The weakening system persisted two more days off the coast and dissipated on the morning of May 30. The dissipating remains of the Iris persisted for another day off the Philippines, dissipating southeast of Taiwan
on May 31.
Reported impact from Iris in the Philippines were five deaths reported and no estimated damage to crops on the islands.
on the afternoon of July 10. The storm continued weakening as it crossed the 38th parallel and entered North Korea
, falling to a minimal tropical storm over land. After emerging from North Korea, the storm raced to the northeast before experiencing cold air and become extratropical on the morning of July 11.
After becoming extratropical, the remains of Joan continued northeastward, curving along the coast of China. The system soon left China and entered the waters of the Soviet Union
July 12, soon making landfall on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin
. After crossing the island, the system entered the Sea of Okhotsk
, where it turned northward towards mainland Siberia
. During the day of July 14 , the system made landfall near the city of Magadan
and crossed the Arctic Circle
. Tracking of the system ceased just north of Magadan on the morning of July 15.
Reported damage from Typhoon Joan was minimal in the Koreas, with estimates of only $500,000 (1962 USD ($3.68 million in 2011 USD). This damage total was estimated from damage to crops in the country and to the communications infastructure.
in the Philippines on the morning of July 18. At the time, the tropical wave had winds of 15 mph (25 km/h) on its surface. The wave rapidly intensified during the morning and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upped the system to a tropical depression the same afternoon. The next morning the system was upgraded to a tropical storm and received the name Kate. The new storm had a small, open eyewall which expanded during the day as the storm slowly intensified through and by the late morning of July 20, the storm became a typhoon with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). That morning, the eye had only a 12 miles (19.3 km) diameter and had similar surface winds. During the afternoon, the storm made a curve to the southwest from its track and looped back northward. By the morning of July 21, the storm began a northeastern turn towards Taiwan.
The typhoon continued to intensify, maintaining typhoon status during the day and reaching a peak sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on the morning of July 22. Central pressures were recorded at a minimum of 964 millibars (28.47 inHg) at peak as well. (Operationally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had Kate peaking at sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, however this was demoted in post-analysis.) As Kate approached Taiwan, the storm weakened, making landfall on the afternoon of July 22 near Taitung City
with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm crossed the island over the afternoon, weakening into a tropical storm by the afternoon. After emerging from Taiwan, Tropical Storm Kate turned to the northwest and made landfall once again near Wenzhou
on July 23 with sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). The interaction with land cause quick dissipation of the storm over mainland China, and the warning center ceased following the storm on the morning of July 24. The remains of Kate continued on for a short distance, crossing through China over the next day and into Mongolia
before dissipating on July 25.
The damage left behind from Typhoon Kate were extensive as the storm killed 110 residents and caused $25 million (1962 USD ($184 million in 2011 USD)) in damages to crops, homes and infrastructure.
and moved to the north. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Louise on July 20. Rapid strengthening occurred, as Louise was able to reach typhoon status on July 21 at the third advisory. Louise made a curve to west and strengthened into a maximum Category 1 typhoon on July 24. Louise passed by the island of Iwo Jima
and moved to the northeast, whacking Japan as a maximum tropical storm.
Louise moved over land and quickly weakened into a depression, where the JTWC declared that Louise had dissipated, however the JMA continued to release advisories on Louise. Louise moved to the northeast and advisories were discontinued near Japan's northernmost islands on July 29. Louise killed fifteen people and doing $7.5 million (1962 USD- $47 million in 2006 USD) in damage to crops, homes and bridges in Japan.
and Saipan
.
No damage or fatalities were reported, as Marge never made landfall.
from an easterly tropical wave and a surge from the westerlies at the 200 mbar level. Strengthening occurred slowly as 46W was not given the name Nora until July 29. Nora moved northward, the storm reached typhoon status and soon peaked at 85 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 965 mbar on August 1. Nora made landfall in Hong Kong
on August 2 as a moderate tropical storm, then moved west, making landfall in northern Japan on the 4th and being declared extratropical soon after.
On August 5, the extratropical remnants of Nora entered the Bering Sea, in the Eastern Hemisphere, where Nora got farther north than any other cyclone of the season, reaching about 62°N
latitude and 178.5°W longitude near the Bering Strait, when advisories by the JMA were discontinued as Nora became an extratropical system.
Across the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido
, heavy rains from the storm triggered widespread flooding that killed 15 people and left 14 others missing.
. on the afternoon of July 28. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the wave for the next day, as it headed westward, north of Truk. Slowly curving northeast from the island, the wave soon was upgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) with no eye structure on July 30. The depression strengthened on the morning of July 31 to 35 mph (55 km/h) winds and persisted throughout the day at that strength. The depression continued its northwestern curve, speeding up and weakening once again to 30 mph (50 km/h) on the morning of August 1. After passing Woleai
, the depression strengthened once again and became Tropical Storm Opal the same afternoon. The storm continued intensifying during the afternoon, with winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) by nightfall. By the next morning, Opal was upgraded into a typhoon, the eighth of the 1962 season.
The typhoon, now northwest of the island of Ulithi
, continued turning to the northwest, beginning to slow as the system continued strengthening. By nightfall, the system had an eye forming, wide as 5 miles (8 km). By nightfall, the system was up to winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and passing far east of the Philippines. Opal continued the northwest progression, strengthening throughout the day of August 3 and forming a wider eye. By the end of the day, the storm was now a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Strengthening continued overnight as the typhoon passed to the east of Luzon
, strengthening close to super typhoon status by nightfall on August 4 with a shrinking eye. The next morning, Typhoon Opal strengthened into the second super typhoon of the season, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). During the day on August 5, Opal continued strengthening, peaking with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) just east of Taiwan
. (Operationally, Opal was classified as a 170 mph (275 km/h) typhoon, but this was downgraded to a 165 mph (270 km/h) in post-analysis.) Minimum recorded central pressures for Opal were registered at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg).
Soon after peaking, the storm struck the island of Taiwan with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). The storm weakened over land to 135 mph (220 km/h) after crossing the island and continued weakening into a 90 mph (145 km/h) typhoon as it made landfall in mainland China. The typhoon continued to weaken over land, weakening into a tropical storm on the morning of August 6. Opal persisted as a tropical storm on August 6, weakening into a tropical depression the next morning. During the afternoon of August 7, with influences from land, the storm became extratropical.
The extratropical remains of Opal crossed eastern mainland China, entering the East China Sea
in the late evening. Early in the morning of August 8, the storm struck North Korea
near the capital city of Pyongyang
. After crossing the country, the system reappeared in the sea before crossing. On the morning of August 9, the system made landfall on the Hokkaido
region of Japan, near the town of Rumoi. After crossing the island, the storm entered the Sea of Okhtosk on August 10. During the afternoon, the system crossed the Kuril Islands
and began a parallel with the Kamchatka Peninsula the next day. On the morning of August 13, the system entered the Aleutian Islands, passing west of Semisopochnoi Island
and the Rat Islands
before entering the Bering Sea
. The extratropical remains disappeared on August 14 in the middle of the sea, just south of the Arctic Circle
.
The impact of Typhoon Opal was most devastating in Taiwan, where originally 87 deaths were reported on the island, with 20 people missing and over 1400 injured. Some 5,000 people were homeless in Yilan City
. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Opal, along with 4,700 others damaged due to the high winds. Huge waves kicked up by Opel also sent a storm surge into the city, sweeping away homes. However, by August 8, this number was demoted to only 12 deaths on the island, 966 injured and five people missing. The 170 mph (275 km/h) strong winds took a freighter off its anchors and swamping it, along with a number of fishing boats. Although winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) were felt in Taipei
, no fatalities were reported because of ample warning, causing residents to evacuate. In Taipei, Opal caused streets to flood, uprooted trees and tore down telephone lines. 38 injuries were also reported, with 35 houses destroyed. 180 were also damaged in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Opal caused two deaths in the islands of Japan, centered on the island of Southern Hokkaido. Nine people there were also injured and one person was reported missing. After Typhoon Opal passed through South Korea
, seven fishermen were killed along the coast of the Yellow Sea
. 72 more people were missing. Five ships were also sunk in the Yellow Sea, twelve more were reported missing. The estimated damage total came out to about $25 million. (1962 USD; $184 million (2011 USD)) These totals came in the form of crop, transportation, and structural damage.
, making landfall there before becoming the 51st tropical system of the season the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-One strengthened into Tropical Storm Patsy, crossed the central Philippines on August 7 and 8, and strengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. After weakening to a tropical storm while moving northwestward, Patsy hit Hainan Island, turned to the west, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and dissipated over Vietnam
on the 11th due to cold air.
Patsy's heavy rain and flooding caused 29 casualties with more than 200 missing. Damage totaled out to $2.5 million (1962 USD ($13.36 million in 2006 USD). Damage included major infrastructural damage at the University of Santo Thomas and the shutting down of the Manila airport. The backlash from Patsy destroyed over 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rice, and damaged roads through Thailand. Patsy made landfall four times, three as a tropical system.
, without starting as a depression. Ruth's movement was slow, but the storm's strength was fast as Ruth became a typhoon on August 14 while grazing the island of Saipan
with winds of 75 mi/h.
Ruth moved north and rapidly strengthened, which included a jump from a Category 1 typhoon to a Category 3 tyhpoon on the 15th and soon to a Category 4 typhoon. Ruth became a Category 5 super typhoon on the same day, peaking at a 185 mi/h super typhoon late on August 16 while passing by Iwo Jima
with a pressure of 916 mbar. Ruth kept that intensity until the next day when the storm weakened to 160 mi/h near Chichi Jima. Ruth continued to weaken, passing by Tokyo
and weakening to a tropical storm on August 22 while losing tropical characteristics. Ruth was declared a moderate extratropical storm on the 46th advisory on August 23. Damage in Saipan from Ruth is unavailable.
Ruth's remnants continued to the northeast where the extratropical storm made landfall on the 24th on the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi
, passing 180°
and thus entering the Western Hemisphere
. Ruth entered the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as a 986 mbar extratropical low on August 25. However, while an extratropical storm, Ruth underwent drastic changes in wind strength from the 23rd to its death on the 25th, Ruth went from a 45 mi/h storm straight back to a 60 mi/h storm, then to a minimal storm and back to a 55 mi/h storm when Ruth died out.
Ruth was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Typhoon Sarah.
on August 8 and moved gradually to south. The wave made a turn to the east and soon the northeast, lasting for six straight days. The first advisory released jumped the wave into a 70 mi/h tropical storm with the name Sarah. Sarah quickly made a cyclonic loop on the 15th which took until the 18th to complete. During this loop, Sarah reached its peak intensity of 85 mi/h, a Category 1 typhoon on the 16th. Sarah weakened quickly, making landfall in southern Japan as a 40 mi/h minimal tropical storm. Sarah weakened into a tropical depression, and encountered cool air, being declared a weak extratropical depression on the 22nd. No damage in Japan is available.
Sarah's remnants continued to the northeast where the storm missed entering the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as Sarah was a 984 mbar extratropical low on August 25.
Sarah spent six days as a tropical wave (August 8 - August 14), seven days as a tropical cyclone (August 15- August 22), and three days as an extratropical cyclone (August 23, 24 & 25), lasting for a total of sixteen days. Sarah was also one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Super Typhoon Ruth.
. Rapid strengthening occurred as 58W was given the name Thelma. Thelma reached 70 mi/h winds but fell to 55 mi/h in cool air. Thelma gained strength again, reaching typhoon status by the 22nd. Thelma continued to intensify reaching 140 mi/h winds as a peak with a pressure of 946 mbar on the 25th near Japan. Thelma made landfall in Japan the next day as a 100 mi/h typhoon and turned to the east, making a second landfall in Japan as a minimal tropical storm, dissipating soon after.
The remnants of Thelma moved to the east and soon to the northeast, reaching a pressure of 988 mbar as an extratropical cyclone. Thelma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island
in the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical cyclone entered the Bering Sea
, becoming the fourth typhoon this season to do such, where the JMA ceased advisories on September 1 in the Central Pacific
.
No damage or fatality reports are available. Thelma was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Super Typhoon Ruth and Typhoon Sarah.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Typhoon Vera.
from a tropical wave from the Southern Hemisphere outdrafts. On the 24th, the first advisory was released near Truk. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression Fifty-Nine on the afternoon of August 27, and in the evening, it became Tropical Storm Wanda. Strengthening was slow as Wanda did not reach typhoon status until early August 29 northeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Typhoon Wanda reached a Category 2 strength as it moved through the Luzon strait on August 30. It continued its westward motion, peaking at 110 mi/h before cold air was entrained in the circulation. Wanda hit near Hong Kong
on September 1 as a well-developed typhoon and dissipated later that day. The Japan Meteoroloical Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories.
Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, with millions of damage occurring. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then.
Wanda is considered the second worst typhoon in the recorded history of Hong Kong (second only to the catastrophic typhoon of September 2, 1937. Wanda also created the record of being the last of three typhoons to have caused sustained hurricane winds in Hong Kong in three consecutive years (after Typhoon Mary of 1960 and Typhoon Alice of 1961). This record has never been equalled ever since.
two days later. The depression quickly strengthened, becoming a tropical storm and being given the name Amy. Amy strengthened rapidly, becoming a typhoon on the 30th northeast of Saipan
. Amy's movement was erratic, and reached super typhoon status on September 1 while making a curve to the northeast.
Amy strengthened into a weak Category 5 super typhoon northeast of the Philippines, peaking at 160 mi/h with a pressure of 932 mbar around midnight on September 1. Weakening was slow, and Amy made landfall in Taiwan
as a Category 4 super typhoon on September 4. Amy weakened quickly, making landfall in China as a 85 mi/h typhoon. Amy moved out into the South China Sea
, sped up and made landfall in South Korea
as a 45 mi/h tropical storm on September 7. Amy was declared extratropical as a depression on September 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Amy for two more days. During that time, Amy made landfall in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
on the 9th, and entered the Bering Sea
, the sixth typhoon this season to do so. The JMA ceased advisories on September 10 in the sea.
Amy's flooding killed 24 people, with millions of dollars in damage (1962 USD) to crops, power, communication lines and buildings.
. On September 13, about midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Sixty-Seven. There, the depression made a curve to the northwest, starting a progression in that direction. The depression continued for another two days out into the South China Sea, where the storm was upgraed to Tropical Storm Babe.
Tropical Storm Babe continued to the northwest, making its way towards the coast of Vietnam. On September 15, Tropical Storm Babe passed to the south of Hainan
, an island claimed as part of China. The storm peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on the same day, with a minimal pressure of 994 millibars (29.35 inches of Mercury
). On September 16, Tropical Storm Babe made landfall in the central of the Vietnam coast. The depression then crossed the country, weakening into a tropical depression on September 17, crossing over the country of Laos. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system just after it left Laos.
The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the weakening system into Cambodia
, where it lasted for another day or so. On the evening of September 18, the Agency stopped following the weakening system, as it began to leave Cambodia and into the nearby country of Thailand
.
. The wave was unable to gain strength, making landfall in Luzon
while it was a tropical wave. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression 65W on September 19 off the Luzon coast. Tropical Depression 65W strengthened into a tropical storm on September 20, quickly gaining strength. Carla made landfall on Hainan Island on the 21st as a 85 mi/h typhoon, its peak winds. Carla continued moving west and made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 22 as a 65 mi/h tropical storm. Carla dissipated over land on September 23 from lack of moisture.
No damage reports are available in association with Carla, however at least 13 people were killed.
on September 24. The wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Sixty-Nine twelve hours later. Strengthening was very slow, as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until September 29. During the depression stage, it made a curve to the northwest. Finally at the second advisory on September 29, the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was given the name Dinah.
Dinah moved to the west, continuing to strengthen and by the morning of September 30, Dinah was the sixteenth typhoon of the season. Dinah continued moving to the west, reaching Category 2 status on October 1, and Category 3 the next day. Dinah peaked on October 2 with 115 mi/h winds, a minimal Category 3 typhoon and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.10 inHg). Weakening was slow and Dinah made landfall in Hong Kong on October 3 as a maximum tropical storm with winds of 70 mi/h. Dinah quickly weakened into a depression over land and dissipated over Hong Kong on October 4.
Damage data for Hong Kong are unavailable.
on September 30 and moved south. The wave strengthened into Tropical Storm Emma at the first advisory on October 1. Emma strengthened into the eighteenth typhoon of the 1962 season and grazed Guam during a turn back to the north on October 1.
Emma continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on October 2, while passing Saipan
and Category 3 intensity the next day. By the 4th, Emma became a category four super typhoon and reached Category 5 status. The next day, Emma peaked at 160 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 903 mbar. Weakening was slow, as Emma turned to the northeast. Emma peaked at 125 mi/h winds on October 7 and refused to weaken until October 9 when Emma fell to 120 mi/h winds. Emma sped up to the northeast and was declared extratropical on October 11 as a moderate Category 1 typhoon, due to cool air temperatures.
The remnants of Emma moved to the northeast, reaching a peak pressure of 950 mbar on October 12. Emma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island in the Aleutian Islands on October 13 as a 55 mi/h extratropical storm, and entered the Bering Sea the same day, dissipating soon afterwards at the 180°latitude line, entering the Central Pacific. Emma was the sixth typhoon to enter the Bering Sea.
Damage in Guam and Saipan totaled out at $250,000 (1962 USD), from damages to communication equipment, buildings and fishing boats ($1.6 million 2006 USD). Emma was the fifth super typhoon of the 1962 season.
. It moved to the northeast, then turned to a northwest where it strengthened into a typhoon and peaked at 115 mi/h on the 5th. Freda then turned and accelerated to the northeast, where it weakened until becoming extratropical on October 10 to the south of the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical remnants of Freda headed to the east, and hit Victoria, British Columbia
on October 12 with winds of 45-50 mph, with wind gusts up to 90 mi/h. There, great damage was seen across the Pacific Northwest, causing a major disruption in daily life with power outages and store closings from shattered windows.
As an extratropical storm, Freda caused an estimated $10 million in damage (1962 USD, $517 million 2006 USD), with 46 deaths occurring.
as a wave. The wave strengthened with a flow from the Southern Hemisphere and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Four on the next day. Organization of the system was slow as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until it performed a cyclonic loop on October 22. and was given the name Gilda. Gilda strengthened rapidly and became a typhoon on October 23. Gilda strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon on October 26, peaking at 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Gilda kept this intensity until the next day when the storm weakened into a Category 3 typhoon. On the 28th, Gilda absorbed the weakening Typhoon Ivy southeast of Okinawa, Japan as a Category 2 typhoon after have a Fujiwhara interaction. Gilda sped up and weakened to a tropical storm on October 30 near Japan. Typhoon Gilda entered cool air and was declared an extra-tropical storm the same day at the 47th advisory near the Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Gilda to the northwest Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Islands, where Gilda was declared over on November 1 in the Central Pacific.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Gilda. Gilda had the same notability of Typhoon Kate earlier in the season by have a discontinuous track but of secondary lows on the lee.
Tropical Storm Harriet was first observed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on October 25, just off the east coast of Thailand
. It hit that night as a 60 mi/h tropical storm, and crossed into the Indian Ocean. During landfall its storm surge
flooded the Laem Talumphuk peninsula in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
. There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast. It hit Bangladesh
on October 30, and dissipated the next day. In the urbanized area of Pak Phanang, water rose to a depth of four meters at the river nearby. Laem Talumpuk was swept clean by Harriet as all but five houses were destroyed in the village of four thousand people at the end of the peninsula, which had been battered with three meter high waves. In a town near the River Bang Chak, 30 percent of the houses were destroyed as well as half of the rice crop in the area.
The destruction from Tropical Storm Harriet took the lives of at least 769 residents of Thailand's southern provinces. 142 others were also deemed missing as of November 4, 1962, with over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD; $248.0 million 2011 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.
and Woleai Atoll
. The wave moved to the northwest and strengthened from a wave into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mi/h. Interaction from the active Typhoon Gilda caused a Fujiwhara effect between the two and caused Ivy to weaken at a rapid pace from a Category 3 typhoon to a minimal tropical storm in 48 hours. The stronger Typhoon Gilda absorbed the weak Ivy on October 29 south of Iwo Jima.
Ivy never made landfall thus no damage or fatalities were reported.
. The wave made landfall in the Philippines on the 6th and strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-One over land. Strengthening occurred and the depression became Tropical Storm Jean on the 6th near Manila. Rapid strengthening occurred and Jean peaked at a 100 mi/h typhoon on November 9 near Vietnam
. Jean started weakening and dissipated on November 13 because of lack of upper level divergence.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Jean for six more days. During that time, Jean made an anti-cyclonic loop to the south, where Jean was declared an extra-tropical low on November 19 in the open South China Sea
. No damage or fatalities were reported.
in 1962. Wind gusts estimated near 185 mi/h destroyed 95% of all homes on the island.
on November 25 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Lucy on the same day. Strengthening occurred slowly, as Lucy did not gain typhoon status until November 27. That same day, Lucy made landfall in the Philippines as an 80 mi/h typhoon. Lucy kept moving west and peaked at 115 mi/h, as a Category 3 typhoon on November 29. Lucy made landfall in the Philippines and southern Vietnam
on November 30. Lucy dissipated in the Strait of Taiwan on December 1 from cold air and land interaction. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased advisories that same day.
Five people were killed, with five million dollars in damage. ($32.6 million in 2006 USD). Winds of 60 mi/h were felt Cebu City Airport when Lucy passed over the area.
After that, the storm went on a slow weakening process, weakening to a minimal tropical storm on December 3. The next advisory, Mary was downgraded to a tropical depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the storm. Mary did not affect land its in entire lifetime.
several hundred miles southeast of Guam
. The wave strengthened that day into Tropical Depression Ninety, appearing in the Japan Meteorological Agency
's track data at that point. The depression curved to the northwest, striking the island Guam
on December 7. Tropical Depression Ninety curved to the southeast of Saipan
on December 8, strengthening into a tropical storm. Given the name Nadine by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it progressed northward, peaking at a minimal pressure of 974 millibars (28.76 inHg) and a wind speed of 60 mph (90 km/h) on December 10. Nadine began to approach the International Date Line
(180°), but started an extratropical transition that same day.
Nadine was declared an extratropical storm on December 10, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking the storm. On December 11, just after passing the 170°E longitude line
, Nadine was declared extratropical by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The extratropical remains of Nadine crossed the International Date Line and on the night of December 11, the Agency ceased following Nadine as it had crossed into the Central Pacific basin.
Although Nadine posed a threat to the island of Guam
(which had been struck by Typhoon Karen less than a month before), there were no reports of fatalities, damage or strong winds. With the minimal impact, the name Nadine was not retired after the 1962 season and remained in use for years after. When names were changed in 1979 for both male and female, the name Nadine has only been used for a tropical storm in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season since.
, east of the Philippines. The systems strengthened into a tropical depression moved to the southeast toward southwestern Vietnam. However, the depression returned to its northern progression on May 22 and dissipated on the same day without threatening land.
. The system strengthened into a tropical depression the next day when the first advisory was released. The depression continuously changed directions, once on the 8th to the northwest, again the next day to the southwest and the final one on the 10th to the northwest again. The tropical depression continued to the northwest, but degenerated into a remnant low on the morning of July 12. The remnants continued moving away, dissipating on July 15.
The depression never made landfall, so no damage or fatalities were reported.
Damage and fatalities in Vietnam from the depression are unavailable.
. The system intensified into a tropical depression at the first advisory on the morning of the 14th. The depression made a turn and dissipated by the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-Five never made landfall, therefore no fatalities or damage was reported.
and Buoy 317 (off the coast of Woleai) on September 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the wave that same day into Tropical Depression Sixty-Four. The depression progressed to the northeast, passing to the south of Ulithi six hours after formation. The depression continued, passing to the south of Yap
, an island near Ulithi. It then began to straighten its progression, dissipating north of the island of Koror
at about 135°W longitude. Once the depression dissipated, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression, never making landfall with any landmass in the Pacific Ocean.
. The disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression on September 12. The depression progressed westward, with the Japan Meteorological Agency following suit as a tropical depression. As the depression became to make a curve towards Japan
, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued following the strengthening depression. The depression, beginning to parallel the coast of Japan, strengthened into a tropical storm on September 15. The depression peaked in intensity with a pressure of 1002 mbar (29.58 inHg) on the same day, at its closest proximity to Japan. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on September 16, and started to make a curve to the northeast. The depression moved away from the coast of Japan and began its track out into the Pacific on September 17. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased following the system that day, located off the Kuril Islands
of Russia
. During its entire lifetime, the depression never made landfall.
. The depression crossed the country, maintaining its strength.
The depression crossed over the capital of the Philippines, Manila and in six hours after landfall, the depression had returned to water. The depression then began its northwestern progression once again, heading on a path towards China. However, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight turned to the southwest and away from China. This progression did not last either. The system turned back to the northwest, heading towards Vietnam
. This progression remained stable, and the depression made landfall on September 26 in Vietnam. Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight crossed over land, dissipating the next day nearing the Laos
border.
. The depression moved to the northwest, dissipating on after two days near the island of Iwo Jima
. The short-lived system never made landfall, and no damage or fatalities were reported to ships or buoys in the Ocean.
on November 18. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Five over the sea the same day. The depression got near Vietnam
but cool air caused it to dissipate into a remnant low before landfall on November 20. No damage or fatalities were reported in Vietnam in association with the depression.
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The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclone
s tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. 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 majority of the Pacific typhoons in 1962 formed in the Pacific Ocean (north of the equator and west of the international date line
) with two exceptions: Tropical Depressions Fifty and Sixty-three formed in the Central Pacific. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1962 Pacific hurricane season
. All tropical depressions are assigned a number. Most systems reaching tropical storm strength were assigned a name; all typhoons were named.
Ninety tropical waves formed in the 1962 season. Only 78 of these became major easterly waves. 42 of these waves became tropical depressions, 30 became storms and 23 become typhoons. This record of 24 typhoons beat 1952 record which had 21. This record was beaten in the 1964 season
with 26 typhoons. Six super typhoons formed in 1962 which were Georgia, Emma, Ruth, Opal, Amy and Karen. Even with the high activity, only about half the cyclones in 1962 made landfall. There were also seventeen suspect cyclones discovered by the JTWC in post-season reports. Three were reported to reach typhoon intensity, three at tropical storm status and two needed tropical depression warnings.
Two depressions, 50 and 63, formed in the Central Pacific under the Joint Hurricane Warning Center's (now The Central Pacific Hurricane Center
) jurisdiction and were included in the JTWC archives. Both depressions stayed out to sea and had no effects on land. The Central Pacific also got Nora, Opal, Ruth, Gilda, Emma and Thelma, the remnants of Nadine and the ending of Karen near the end of the season.
Six typhoons entered the Bering Sea: Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Amy and Emma. Four of the six were super typhoons. Three typhoons just missed entering the Bering Sea: Typhoons Hope, Sarah and Gilda. Also, Typhoons Georgia, Hope, Joan, Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Wanda, Amy, Emma, Gilda, Jean and Karen all lasted for at least one week with Opal lasting for eighteen straight days from a wave to the day the JMA ceased advisories.
. The storm quickly intensified into a tropical depression and soon into the first tropical storm of the 1962 season. The intensifying tropical cyclone went through the latter half of February 2 as a 45 mph (70&nbp;km/h) tropical storm, progressing southwest towards Indonesia
. However, on the early morning of February 3, the storm curved to the northeast and away from Indonesia. The strength remained unchanged during the day and before long reached its peak winds speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Continuing northward away from the coast of the Philippines, Fran remained at peak winds until the evening of February 4. During the morning hours of February 5, Fran dropped down to 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm and continued northward, weakening to 40 mph (60 km/h). On the morning of February 6, Fran weakened into a tropical depression and the final advisory was released six hours after.
entered the western Pacific on the afternoon of April 13. This surge began to come together near the island of Woleai
and progressed northwestward through the Pacific. After crossing over Woleai, the system neared the island of Yap
and began forming into the second tropical depression of the 1962 season. On the afternoon of April 16, the system was declared a tropical depression. The depression made a curve to the south during the north and early on April 17 reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georgia on April 17 as the system continued curving, turning to the east. An eye began to form during the afternoon, it got to be 50 miles (80.5 km) wide. The developing cyclone was declared a typhoon on the afternoon with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). By the morning of April 18, Georgia had curved again, now to the north, gaining strength and developing an elliptical eye. Through the afternoon of April 18, Georgia continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 status during the morning. Rapid strengthening and development continued through the afternoon, with minimum pressures of 953 millibars (28.14 inHg) on the surface reported.
Entering the morning of April 19, Georgia began forming a well-defined eye, having already strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone. Intensification continued throughout the day with sustained winds reaching 145 mph (225 km/h) by the end of the day. The next morning, Typhoon Georgia reached its peak sustained winds of 150 mph (230 km/h) just west of the island of Guam
. The lowest minimum pressure recorded at that point was 936 millibars (27.64 inHg). The typhoon retained its strength for most of April 20, but in the late afternoon, the system began to weaken as it entered colder waters. Georgia curved to the northeast and slowly weakened during April 21, by the end of the day, the eye was beginning to come apart. During the morning of April 22, surface winds were reported at only 90 mph (145 km/h) and sustained winds soon followed. The cold waters continued to take its toll on the system, becoming a minimal Category 1 typhoon by the evening with no well-defined eye. On the morning of April 23, Georgia weakened into a tropical storm and slowly weakened during the day as it began a transition into an extratropical cyclone. On the morning of April 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm as it had become extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).
The extratropical remnants of Georgia continued northward east of the coast of Japan
. On April 26, the extratropical remnants passed to the southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula
. During the day, the system curved once again, turning westward before another curve to the south. During the day on April 27, the system returned to its northeastern pattern before dissipating on April 29, southeast of the peninsula.
In its wake, the predecessor system to Typhoon Georgia left 9.85 inch (0.25019 m) in rainfall over Yap Island
, where no damage was recorded. Reported damages caused by Typhoon Georgia were limited. The only report was a ship and its cargo in the Pacific suffered $28,000 in damages (1962 USD ($208,000 in 2011 USD)).
. The wave progressed northwestward away from the island and continued developing over the next few days. On May 16, the wave was upgraded to a tropical storm, the third of the season off the coast of the Philippines with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The storm, named Hope, continued northwestward, peaking first at 60 mph (90 km/h) before striking several islands over the Philippines. While over land, Tropical Storm Hope weakened to a minimal tropical storm on May 17 and into a tropical depression with no circulation later that day. The storm remained a tropical depression over the day, crossing the eastern island of the Philippines. Tropical Depression Hope left the island and began to strengthen back into a minimal tropical storm by May 18. However, the storm interacted with land once more and weakened back into a tropical depression on May 18.
After leaving the Philippines for the final time, the depression began to develop, becoming a tropical storm for the third time since May 16 and developing a small eye. As Tropical Storm Hope turned further northeast, the eye expanded and the storm was soon declared a typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center late evening on May 19. The next day, Hope continued to strengthen and develop, and while just south of Okinawa on May 20, peaked at 90 mph (140 km/h) sustained winds. (Operationally, Typhoon Hope was declared a 100 mph (170 km/h), Category 2 typhoon, but this was demoted in post-analysis.) An internal pressure of 978 millibars (28.88 inHg) was recorded within a 30 miles (48.3 km) wide eye. Hope began to encounter cold air near Okinawa, Japan, weakening rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm on May 21. Hope's eye fell apart and started to begin transition to its extratropical stage. On the morning of May 22, Hope's sustained winds fell below tropical storm stage and the system became a tropical depression. By the afternoon, Hope was declared extratropical and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system.
The extratropical remnants of Typhoon Hope continued northeastward towards the coast of Japan on May 23. The system turned just offshore and paralleled the eastern coast for several days. After May 24, the system begins to leave the Japanese coast in favor of the open Pacific Ocean but made a dart to the north towards the Kuril Islands
on May 26. The remains turned once again to the northeast, paralleling the Kamchatka Peninsula for the next day. The storm turned offshore again on May 27 and disappeared near the Aleutian Islands on May 28.
During the morning of May 28, Iris began to suffer from its lack of upper-level divergence and as a result was demoted into a tropical depression. The weakening system persisted two more days off the coast and dissipated on the morning of May 30. The dissipating remains of the Iris persisted for another day off the Philippines, dissipating southeast of Taiwan
on May 31.
Reported impact from Iris in the Philippines were five deaths reported and no estimated damage to crops on the islands.
on the afternoon of July 10. The storm continued weakening as it crossed the 38th parallel and entered North Korea
, falling to a minimal tropical storm over land. After emerging from North Korea, the storm raced to the northeast before experiencing cold air and become extratropical on the morning of July 11.
After becoming extratropical, the remains of Joan continued northeastward, curving along the coast of China. The system soon left China and entered the waters of the Soviet Union
July 12, soon making landfall on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin
. After crossing the island, the system entered the Sea of Okhotsk
, where it turned northward towards mainland Siberia
. During the day of July 14 , the system made landfall near the city of Magadan
and crossed the Arctic Circle
. Tracking of the system ceased just north of Magadan on the morning of July 15.
Reported damage from Typhoon Joan was minimal in the Koreas, with estimates of only $500,000 (1962 USD ($3.68 million in 2011 USD). This damage total was estimated from damage to crops in the country and to the communications infastructure.
in the Philippines on the morning of July 18. At the time, the tropical wave had winds of 15 mph (25 km/h) on its surface. The wave rapidly intensified during the morning and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upped the system to a tropical depression the same afternoon. The next morning the system was upgraded to a tropical storm and received the name Kate. The new storm had a small, open eyewall which expanded during the day as the storm slowly intensified through and by the late morning of July 20, the storm became a typhoon with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). That morning, the eye had only a 12 miles (19.3 km) diameter and had similar surface winds. During the afternoon, the storm made a curve to the southwest from its track and looped back northward. By the morning of July 21, the storm began a northeastern turn towards Taiwan.
The typhoon continued to intensify, maintaining typhoon status during the day and reaching a peak sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on the morning of July 22. Central pressures were recorded at a minimum of 964 millibars (28.47 inHg) at peak as well. (Operationally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had Kate peaking at sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, however this was demoted in post-analysis.) As Kate approached Taiwan, the storm weakened, making landfall on the afternoon of July 22 near Taitung City
with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm crossed the island over the afternoon, weakening into a tropical storm by the afternoon. After emerging from Taiwan, Tropical Storm Kate turned to the northwest and made landfall once again near Wenzhou
on July 23 with sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). The interaction with land cause quick dissipation of the storm over mainland China, and the warning center ceased following the storm on the morning of July 24. The remains of Kate continued on for a short distance, crossing through China over the next day and into Mongolia
before dissipating on July 25.
The damage left behind from Typhoon Kate were extensive as the storm killed 110 residents and caused $25 million (1962 USD ($184 million in 2011 USD)) in damages to crops, homes and infrastructure.
and moved to the north. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Louise on July 20. Rapid strengthening occurred, as Louise was able to reach typhoon status on July 21 at the third advisory. Louise made a curve to west and strengthened into a maximum Category 1 typhoon on July 24. Louise passed by the island of Iwo Jima
and moved to the northeast, whacking Japan as a maximum tropical storm.
Louise moved over land and quickly weakened into a depression, where the JTWC declared that Louise had dissipated, however the JMA continued to release advisories on Louise. Louise moved to the northeast and advisories were discontinued near Japan's northernmost islands on July 29. Louise killed fifteen people and doing $7.5 million (1962 USD- $47 million in 2006 USD) in damage to crops, homes and bridges in Japan.
and Saipan
.
No damage or fatalities were reported, as Marge never made landfall.
from an easterly tropical wave and a surge from the westerlies at the 200 mbar level. Strengthening occurred slowly as 46W was not given the name Nora until July 29. Nora moved northward, the storm reached typhoon status and soon peaked at 85 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 965 mbar on August 1. Nora made landfall in Hong Kong
on August 2 as a moderate tropical storm, then moved west, making landfall in northern Japan on the 4th and being declared extratropical soon after.
On August 5, the extratropical remnants of Nora entered the Bering Sea, in the Eastern Hemisphere, where Nora got farther north than any other cyclone of the season, reaching about 62°N
latitude and 178.5°W longitude near the Bering Strait, when advisories by the JMA were discontinued as Nora became an extratropical system.
Across the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido
, heavy rains from the storm triggered widespread flooding that killed 15 people and left 14 others missing.
. on the afternoon of July 28. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the wave for the next day, as it headed westward, north of Truk. Slowly curving northeast from the island, the wave soon was upgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) with no eye structure on July 30. The depression strengthened on the morning of July 31 to 35 mph (55 km/h) winds and persisted throughout the day at that strength. The depression continued its northwestern curve, speeding up and weakening once again to 30 mph (50 km/h) on the morning of August 1. After passing Woleai
, the depression strengthened once again and became Tropical Storm Opal the same afternoon. The storm continued intensifying during the afternoon, with winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) by nightfall. By the next morning, Opal was upgraded into a typhoon, the eighth of the 1962 season.
The typhoon, now northwest of the island of Ulithi
, continued turning to the northwest, beginning to slow as the system continued strengthening. By nightfall, the system had an eye forming, wide as 5 miles (8 km). By nightfall, the system was up to winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and passing far east of the Philippines. Opal continued the northwest progression, strengthening throughout the day of August 3 and forming a wider eye. By the end of the day, the storm was now a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Strengthening continued overnight as the typhoon passed to the east of Luzon
, strengthening close to super typhoon status by nightfall on August 4 with a shrinking eye. The next morning, Typhoon Opal strengthened into the second super typhoon of the season, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). During the day on August 5, Opal continued strengthening, peaking with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) just east of Taiwan
. (Operationally, Opal was classified as a 170 mph (275 km/h) typhoon, but this was downgraded to a 165 mph (270 km/h) in post-analysis.) Minimum recorded central pressures for Opal were registered at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg).
Soon after peaking, the storm struck the island of Taiwan with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). The storm weakened over land to 135 mph (220 km/h) after crossing the island and continued weakening into a 90 mph (145 km/h) typhoon as it made landfall in mainland China. The typhoon continued to weaken over land, weakening into a tropical storm on the morning of August 6. Opal persisted as a tropical storm on August 6, weakening into a tropical depression the next morning. During the afternoon of August 7, with influences from land, the storm became extratropical.
The extratropical remains of Opal crossed eastern mainland China, entering the East China Sea
in the late evening. Early in the morning of August 8, the storm struck North Korea
near the capital city of Pyongyang
. After crossing the country, the system reappeared in the sea before crossing. On the morning of August 9, the system made landfall on the Hokkaido
region of Japan, near the town of Rumoi. After crossing the island, the storm entered the Sea of Okhtosk on August 10. During the afternoon, the system crossed the Kuril Islands
and began a parallel with the Kamchatka Peninsula the next day. On the morning of August 13, the system entered the Aleutian Islands, passing west of Semisopochnoi Island
and the Rat Islands
before entering the Bering Sea
. The extratropical remains disappeared on August 14 in the middle of the sea, just south of the Arctic Circle
.
The impact of Typhoon Opal was most devastating in Taiwan, where originally 87 deaths were reported on the island, with 20 people missing and over 1400 injured. Some 5,000 people were homeless in Yilan City
. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Opal, along with 4,700 others damaged due to the high winds. Huge waves kicked up by Opel also sent a storm surge into the city, sweeping away homes. However, by August 8, this number was demoted to only 12 deaths on the island, 966 injured and five people missing. The 170 mph (275 km/h) strong winds took a freighter off its anchors and swamping it, along with a number of fishing boats. Although winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) were felt in Taipei
, no fatalities were reported because of ample warning, causing residents to evacuate. In Taipei, Opal caused streets to flood, uprooted trees and tore down telephone lines. 38 injuries were also reported, with 35 houses destroyed. 180 were also damaged in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Opal caused two deaths in the islands of Japan, centered on the island of Southern Hokkaido. Nine people there were also injured and one person was reported missing. After Typhoon Opal passed through South Korea
, seven fishermen were killed along the coast of the Yellow Sea
. 72 more people were missing. Five ships were also sunk in the Yellow Sea, twelve more were reported missing. The estimated damage total came out to about $25 million. (1962 USD; $184 million (2011 USD)) These totals came in the form of crop, transportation, and structural damage.
, making landfall there before becoming the 51st tropical system of the season the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-One strengthened into Tropical Storm Patsy, crossed the central Philippines on August 7 and 8, and strengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. After weakening to a tropical storm while moving northwestward, Patsy hit Hainan Island, turned to the west, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and dissipated over Vietnam
on the 11th due to cold air.
Patsy's heavy rain and flooding caused 29 casualties with more than 200 missing. Damage totaled out to $2.5 million (1962 USD ($13.36 million in 2006 USD). Damage included major infrastructural damage at the University of Santo Thomas and the shutting down of the Manila airport. The backlash from Patsy destroyed over 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rice, and damaged roads through Thailand. Patsy made landfall four times, three as a tropical system.
, without starting as a depression. Ruth's movement was slow, but the storm's strength was fast as Ruth became a typhoon on August 14 while grazing the island of Saipan
with winds of 75 mi/h.
Ruth moved north and rapidly strengthened, which included a jump from a Category 1 typhoon to a Category 3 tyhpoon on the 15th and soon to a Category 4 typhoon. Ruth became a Category 5 super typhoon on the same day, peaking at a 185 mi/h super typhoon late on August 16 while passing by Iwo Jima
with a pressure of 916 mbar. Ruth kept that intensity until the next day when the storm weakened to 160 mi/h near Chichi Jima. Ruth continued to weaken, passing by Tokyo
and weakening to a tropical storm on August 22 while losing tropical characteristics. Ruth was declared a moderate extratropical storm on the 46th advisory on August 23. Damage in Saipan from Ruth is unavailable.
Ruth's remnants continued to the northeast where the extratropical storm made landfall on the 24th on the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi
, passing 180°
and thus entering the Western Hemisphere
. Ruth entered the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as a 986 mbar extratropical low on August 25. However, while an extratropical storm, Ruth underwent drastic changes in wind strength from the 23rd to its death on the 25th, Ruth went from a 45 mi/h storm straight back to a 60 mi/h storm, then to a minimal storm and back to a 55 mi/h storm when Ruth died out.
Ruth was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Typhoon Sarah.
on August 8 and moved gradually to south. The wave made a turn to the east and soon the northeast, lasting for six straight days. The first advisory released jumped the wave into a 70 mi/h tropical storm with the name Sarah. Sarah quickly made a cyclonic loop on the 15th which took until the 18th to complete. During this loop, Sarah reached its peak intensity of 85 mi/h, a Category 1 typhoon on the 16th. Sarah weakened quickly, making landfall in southern Japan as a 40 mi/h minimal tropical storm. Sarah weakened into a tropical depression, and encountered cool air, being declared a weak extratropical depression on the 22nd. No damage in Japan is available.
Sarah's remnants continued to the northeast where the storm missed entering the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as Sarah was a 984 mbar extratropical low on August 25.
Sarah spent six days as a tropical wave (August 8 - August 14), seven days as a tropical cyclone (August 15- August 22), and three days as an extratropical cyclone (August 23, 24 & 25), lasting for a total of sixteen days. Sarah was also one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Super Typhoon Ruth.
. Rapid strengthening occurred as 58W was given the name Thelma. Thelma reached 70 mi/h winds but fell to 55 mi/h in cool air. Thelma gained strength again, reaching typhoon status by the 22nd. Thelma continued to intensify reaching 140 mi/h winds as a peak with a pressure of 946 mbar on the 25th near Japan. Thelma made landfall in Japan the next day as a 100 mi/h typhoon and turned to the east, making a second landfall in Japan as a minimal tropical storm, dissipating soon after.
The remnants of Thelma moved to the east and soon to the northeast, reaching a pressure of 988 mbar as an extratropical cyclone. Thelma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island
in the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical cyclone entered the Bering Sea
, becoming the fourth typhoon this season to do such, where the JMA ceased advisories on September 1 in the Central Pacific
.
No damage or fatality reports are available. Thelma was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Super Typhoon Ruth and Typhoon Sarah.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Typhoon Vera.
from a tropical wave from the Southern Hemisphere outdrafts. On the 24th, the first advisory was released near Truk. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression Fifty-Nine on the afternoon of August 27, and in the evening, it became Tropical Storm Wanda. Strengthening was slow as Wanda did not reach typhoon status until early August 29 northeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Typhoon Wanda reached a Category 2 strength as it moved through the Luzon strait on August 30. It continued its westward motion, peaking at 110 mi/h before cold air was entrained in the circulation. Wanda hit near Hong Kong
on September 1 as a well-developed typhoon and dissipated later that day. The Japan Meteoroloical Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories.
Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, with millions of damage occurring. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then.
Wanda is considered the second worst typhoon in the recorded history of Hong Kong (second only to the catastrophic typhoon of September 2, 1937. Wanda also created the record of being the last of three typhoons to have caused sustained hurricane winds in Hong Kong in three consecutive years (after Typhoon Mary of 1960 and Typhoon Alice of 1961). This record has never been equalled ever since.
two days later. The depression quickly strengthened, becoming a tropical storm and being given the name Amy. Amy strengthened rapidly, becoming a typhoon on the 30th northeast of Saipan
. Amy's movement was erratic, and reached super typhoon status on September 1 while making a curve to the northeast.
Amy strengthened into a weak Category 5 super typhoon northeast of the Philippines, peaking at 160 mi/h with a pressure of 932 mbar around midnight on September 1. Weakening was slow, and Amy made landfall in Taiwan
as a Category 4 super typhoon on September 4. Amy weakened quickly, making landfall in China as a 85 mi/h typhoon. Amy moved out into the South China Sea
, sped up and made landfall in South Korea
as a 45 mi/h tropical storm on September 7. Amy was declared extratropical as a depression on September 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Amy for two more days. During that time, Amy made landfall in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
on the 9th, and entered the Bering Sea
, the sixth typhoon this season to do so. The JMA ceased advisories on September 10 in the sea.
Amy's flooding killed 24 people, with millions of dollars in damage (1962 USD) to crops, power, communication lines and buildings.
. On September 13, about midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Sixty-Seven. There, the depression made a curve to the northwest, starting a progression in that direction. The depression continued for another two days out into the South China Sea, where the storm was upgraed to Tropical Storm Babe.
Tropical Storm Babe continued to the northwest, making its way towards the coast of Vietnam. On September 15, Tropical Storm Babe passed to the south of Hainan
, an island claimed as part of China. The storm peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on the same day, with a minimal pressure of 994 millibars (29.35 inches of Mercury
). On September 16, Tropical Storm Babe made landfall in the central of the Vietnam coast. The depression then crossed the country, weakening into a tropical depression on September 17, crossing over the country of Laos. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system just after it left Laos.
The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the weakening system into Cambodia
, where it lasted for another day or so. On the evening of September 18, the Agency stopped following the weakening system, as it began to leave Cambodia and into the nearby country of Thailand
.
. The wave was unable to gain strength, making landfall in Luzon
while it was a tropical wave. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression 65W on September 19 off the Luzon coast. Tropical Depression 65W strengthened into a tropical storm on September 20, quickly gaining strength. Carla made landfall on Hainan Island on the 21st as a 85 mi/h typhoon, its peak winds. Carla continued moving west and made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 22 as a 65 mi/h tropical storm. Carla dissipated over land on September 23 from lack of moisture.
No damage reports are available in association with Carla, however at least 13 people were killed.
on September 24. The wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Sixty-Nine twelve hours later. Strengthening was very slow, as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until September 29. During the depression stage, it made a curve to the northwest. Finally at the second advisory on September 29, the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was given the name Dinah.
Dinah moved to the west, continuing to strengthen and by the morning of September 30, Dinah was the sixteenth typhoon of the season. Dinah continued moving to the west, reaching Category 2 status on October 1, and Category 3 the next day. Dinah peaked on October 2 with 115 mi/h winds, a minimal Category 3 typhoon and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.10 inHg). Weakening was slow and Dinah made landfall in Hong Kong on October 3 as a maximum tropical storm with winds of 70 mi/h. Dinah quickly weakened into a depression over land and dissipated over Hong Kong on October 4.
Damage data for Hong Kong are unavailable.
on September 30 and moved south. The wave strengthened into Tropical Storm Emma at the first advisory on October 1. Emma strengthened into the eighteenth typhoon of the 1962 season and grazed Guam during a turn back to the north on October 1.
Emma continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on October 2, while passing Saipan
and Category 3 intensity the next day. By the 4th, Emma became a category four super typhoon and reached Category 5 status. The next day, Emma peaked at 160 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 903 mbar. Weakening was slow, as Emma turned to the northeast. Emma peaked at 125 mi/h winds on October 7 and refused to weaken until October 9 when Emma fell to 120 mi/h winds. Emma sped up to the northeast and was declared extratropical on October 11 as a moderate Category 1 typhoon, due to cool air temperatures.
The remnants of Emma moved to the northeast, reaching a peak pressure of 950 mbar on October 12. Emma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island in the Aleutian Islands on October 13 as a 55 mi/h extratropical storm, and entered the Bering Sea the same day, dissipating soon afterwards at the 180°latitude line, entering the Central Pacific. Emma was the sixth typhoon to enter the Bering Sea.
Damage in Guam and Saipan totaled out at $250,000 (1962 USD), from damages to communication equipment, buildings and fishing boats ($1.6 million 2006 USD). Emma was the fifth super typhoon of the 1962 season.
. It moved to the northeast, then turned to a northwest where it strengthened into a typhoon and peaked at 115 mi/h on the 5th. Freda then turned and accelerated to the northeast, where it weakened until becoming extratropical on October 10 to the south of the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical remnants of Freda headed to the east, and hit Victoria, British Columbia
on October 12 with winds of 45-50 mph, with wind gusts up to 90 mi/h. There, great damage was seen across the Pacific Northwest, causing a major disruption in daily life with power outages and store closings from shattered windows.
As an extratropical storm, Freda caused an estimated $10 million in damage (1962 USD, $517 million 2006 USD), with 46 deaths occurring.
as a wave. The wave strengthened with a flow from the Southern Hemisphere and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Four on the next day. Organization of the system was slow as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until it performed a cyclonic loop on October 22. and was given the name Gilda. Gilda strengthened rapidly and became a typhoon on October 23. Gilda strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon on October 26, peaking at 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Gilda kept this intensity until the next day when the storm weakened into a Category 3 typhoon. On the 28th, Gilda absorbed the weakening Typhoon Ivy southeast of Okinawa, Japan as a Category 2 typhoon after have a Fujiwhara interaction. Gilda sped up and weakened to a tropical storm on October 30 near Japan. Typhoon Gilda entered cool air and was declared an extra-tropical storm the same day at the 47th advisory near the Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Gilda to the northwest Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Islands, where Gilda was declared over on November 1 in the Central Pacific.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Gilda. Gilda had the same notability of Typhoon Kate earlier in the season by have a discontinuous track but of secondary lows on the lee.
Tropical Storm Harriet was first observed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on October 25, just off the east coast of Thailand
. It hit that night as a 60 mi/h tropical storm, and crossed into the Indian Ocean. During landfall its storm surge
flooded the Laem Talumphuk peninsula in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
. There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast. It hit Bangladesh
on October 30, and dissipated the next day. In the urbanized area of Pak Phanang, water rose to a depth of four meters at the river nearby. Laem Talumpuk was swept clean by Harriet as all but five houses were destroyed in the village of four thousand people at the end of the peninsula, which had been battered with three meter high waves. In a town near the River Bang Chak, 30 percent of the houses were destroyed as well as half of the rice crop in the area.
The destruction from Tropical Storm Harriet took the lives of at least 769 residents of Thailand's southern provinces. 142 others were also deemed missing as of November 4, 1962, with over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD; $248.0 million 2011 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.
and Woleai Atoll
. The wave moved to the northwest and strengthened from a wave into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mi/h. Interaction from the active Typhoon Gilda caused a Fujiwhara effect between the two and caused Ivy to weaken at a rapid pace from a Category 3 typhoon to a minimal tropical storm in 48 hours. The stronger Typhoon Gilda absorbed the weak Ivy on October 29 south of Iwo Jima.
Ivy never made landfall thus no damage or fatalities were reported.
. The wave made landfall in the Philippines on the 6th and strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-One over land. Strengthening occurred and the depression became Tropical Storm Jean on the 6th near Manila. Rapid strengthening occurred and Jean peaked at a 100 mi/h typhoon on November 9 near Vietnam
. Jean started weakening and dissipated on November 13 because of lack of upper level divergence.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Jean for six more days. During that time, Jean made an anti-cyclonic loop to the south, where Jean was declared an extra-tropical low on November 19 in the open South China Sea
. No damage or fatalities were reported.
in 1962. Wind gusts estimated near 185 mi/h destroyed 95% of all homes on the island.
on November 25 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Lucy on the same day. Strengthening occurred slowly, as Lucy did not gain typhoon status until November 27. That same day, Lucy made landfall in the Philippines as an 80 mi/h typhoon. Lucy kept moving west and peaked at 115 mi/h, as a Category 3 typhoon on November 29. Lucy made landfall in the Philippines and southern Vietnam
on November 30. Lucy dissipated in the Strait of Taiwan on December 1 from cold air and land interaction. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased advisories that same day.
Five people were killed, with five million dollars in damage. ($32.6 million in 2006 USD). Winds of 60 mi/h were felt Cebu City Airport when Lucy passed over the area.
After that, the storm went on a slow weakening process, weakening to a minimal tropical storm on December 3. The next advisory, Mary was downgraded to a tropical depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the storm. Mary did not affect land its in entire lifetime.
several hundred miles southeast of Guam
. The wave strengthened that day into Tropical Depression Ninety, appearing in the Japan Meteorological Agency
's track data at that point. The depression curved to the northwest, striking the island Guam
on December 7. Tropical Depression Ninety curved to the southeast of Saipan
on December 8, strengthening into a tropical storm. Given the name Nadine by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it progressed northward, peaking at a minimal pressure of 974 millibars (28.76 inHg) and a wind speed of 60 mph (90 km/h) on December 10. Nadine began to approach the International Date Line
(180°), but started an extratropical transition that same day.
Nadine was declared an extratropical storm on December 10, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking the storm. On December 11, just after passing the 170°E longitude line
, Nadine was declared extratropical by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The extratropical remains of Nadine crossed the International Date Line and on the night of December 11, the Agency ceased following Nadine as it had crossed into the Central Pacific basin.
Although Nadine posed a threat to the island of Guam
(which had been struck by Typhoon Karen less than a month before), there were no reports of fatalities, damage or strong winds. With the minimal impact, the name Nadine was not retired after the 1962 season and remained in use for years after. When names were changed in 1979 for both male and female, the name Nadine has only been used for a tropical storm in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season since.
, east of the Philippines. The systems strengthened into a tropical depression moved to the southeast toward southwestern Vietnam. However, the depression returned to its northern progression on May 22 and dissipated on the same day without threatening land.
. The system strengthened into a tropical depression the next day when the first advisory was released. The depression continuously changed directions, once on the 8th to the northwest, again the next day to the southwest and the final one on the 10th to the northwest again. The tropical depression continued to the northwest, but degenerated into a remnant low on the morning of July 12. The remnants continued moving away, dissipating on July 15.
The depression never made landfall, so no damage or fatalities were reported.
Damage and fatalities in Vietnam from the depression are unavailable.
. The system intensified into a tropical depression at the first advisory on the morning of the 14th. The depression made a turn and dissipated by the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-Five never made landfall, therefore no fatalities or damage was reported.
and Buoy 317 (off the coast of Woleai) on September 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the wave that same day into Tropical Depression Sixty-Four. The depression progressed to the northeast, passing to the south of Ulithi six hours after formation. The depression continued, passing to the south of Yap
, an island near Ulithi. It then began to straighten its progression, dissipating north of the island of Koror
at about 135°W longitude. Once the depression dissipated, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression, never making landfall with any landmass in the Pacific Ocean.
. The disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression on September 12. The depression progressed westward, with the Japan Meteorological Agency following suit as a tropical depression. As the depression became to make a curve towards Japan
, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued following the strengthening depression. The depression, beginning to parallel the coast of Japan, strengthened into a tropical storm on September 15. The depression peaked in intensity with a pressure of 1002 mbar (29.58 inHg) on the same day, at its closest proximity to Japan. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on September 16, and started to make a curve to the northeast. The depression moved away from the coast of Japan and began its track out into the Pacific on September 17. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased following the system that day, located off the Kuril Islands
of Russia
. During its entire lifetime, the depression never made landfall.
. The depression crossed the country, maintaining its strength.
The depression crossed over the capital of the Philippines, Manila and in six hours after landfall, the depression had returned to water. The depression then began its northwestern progression once again, heading on a path towards China. However, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight turned to the southwest and away from China. This progression did not last either. The system turned back to the northwest, heading towards Vietnam
. This progression remained stable, and the depression made landfall on September 26 in Vietnam. Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight crossed over land, dissipating the next day nearing the Laos
border.
. The depression moved to the northwest, dissipating on after two days near the island of Iwo Jima
. The short-lived system never made landfall, and no damage or fatalities were reported to ships or buoys in the Ocean.
on November 18. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Five over the sea the same day. The depression got near Vietnam
but cool air caused it to dissipate into a remnant low before landfall on November 20. No damage or fatalities were reported in Vietnam in association with the depression.
{| style="width:90%;"
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Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. Most tropical cyclones tend to form 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...
between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The majority of the Pacific typhoons in 1962 formed in the Pacific Ocean (north of the equator and west of the international date line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
) with two exceptions: Tropical Depressions Fifty and Sixty-three formed in the Central Pacific. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1962 Pacific hurricane season
1950-1969 Pacific hurricane seasons
The 1950–1963 Pacific hurricane seasons all began on May 15, 1950-65 in the northeast Pacific Ocean and on June 1, 1950-65 in the central Pacific. They ended on November 30, 1950-65...
. All tropical depressions are assigned a number. Most systems reaching tropical storm strength were assigned a name; all typhoons were named.
Season activity
1964 Pacific typhoon season
The 1964 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1964, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
with 26 typhoons. Six super typhoons formed in 1962 which were Georgia, Emma, Ruth, Opal, Amy and Karen. Even with the high activity, only about half the cyclones in 1962 made landfall. There were also seventeen suspect cyclones discovered by the JTWC in post-season reports. Three were reported to reach typhoon intensity, three at tropical storm status and two needed tropical depression warnings.
Two depressions, 50 and 63, formed in the Central Pacific under the Joint Hurricane Warning Center's (now The Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
) jurisdiction and were included in the JTWC archives. Both depressions stayed out to sea and had no effects on land. The Central Pacific also got Nora, Opal, Ruth, Gilda, Emma and Thelma, the remnants of Nadine and the ending of Karen near the end of the season.
Six typhoons entered the Bering Sea: Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Amy and Emma. Four of the six were super typhoons. Three typhoons just missed entering the Bering Sea: Typhoons Hope, Sarah and Gilda. Also, Typhoons Georgia, Hope, Joan, Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Wanda, Amy, Emma, Gilda, Jean and Karen all lasted for at least one week with Opal lasting for eighteen straight days from a wave to the day the JMA ceased advisories.
Tropical Storm Fran
The second tropical wave formed on the morning of February 2 off the southeastern coast of the PhilippinesPhilippines
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...
. The storm quickly intensified into a tropical depression and soon into the first tropical storm of the 1962 season. The intensifying tropical cyclone went through the latter half of February 2 as a 45 mph (70&nbp;km/h) tropical storm, progressing southwest towards Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. However, on the early morning of February 3, the storm curved to the northeast and away from Indonesia. The strength remained unchanged during the day and before long reached its peak winds speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Continuing northward away from the coast of the Philippines, Fran remained at peak winds until the evening of February 4. During the morning hours of February 5, Fran dropped down to 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm and continued northward, weakening to 40 mph (60 km/h). On the morning of February 6, Fran weakened into a tropical depression and the final advisory was released six hours after.
Super Typhoon Georgia
A surge from an outdraft in the Southern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
entered the western Pacific on the afternoon of April 13. This surge began to come together near the island of Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
and progressed northwestward through the Pacific. After crossing over Woleai, the system neared the island of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
and began forming into the second tropical depression of the 1962 season. On the afternoon of April 16, the system was declared a tropical depression. The depression made a curve to the south during the north and early on April 17 reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georgia on April 17 as the system continued curving, turning to the east. An eye began to form during the afternoon, it got to be 50 miles (80.5 km) wide. The developing cyclone was declared a typhoon on the afternoon with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). By the morning of April 18, Georgia had curved again, now to the north, gaining strength and developing an elliptical eye. Through the afternoon of April 18, Georgia continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 status during the morning. Rapid strengthening and development continued through the afternoon, with minimum pressures of 953 millibars (28.14 inHg) on the surface reported.
Entering the morning of April 19, Georgia began forming a well-defined eye, having already strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone. Intensification continued throughout the day with sustained winds reaching 145 mph (225 km/h) by the end of the day. The next morning, Typhoon Georgia reached its peak sustained winds of 150 mph (230 km/h) just west of the island 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...
. The lowest minimum pressure recorded at that point was 936 millibars (27.64 inHg). The typhoon retained its strength for most of April 20, but in the late afternoon, the system began to weaken as it entered colder waters. Georgia curved to the northeast and slowly weakened during April 21, by the end of the day, the eye was beginning to come apart. During the morning of April 22, surface winds were reported at only 90 mph (145 km/h) and sustained winds soon followed. The cold waters continued to take its toll on the system, becoming a minimal Category 1 typhoon by the evening with no well-defined eye. On the morning of April 23, Georgia weakened into a tropical storm and slowly weakened during the day as it began a transition into an extratropical cyclone. On the morning of April 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm as it had become extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).
The extratropical remnants of Georgia continued northward east of the coast of 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...
. On April 26, the extratropical remnants passed to the southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
. During the day, the system curved once again, turning westward before another curve to the south. During the day on April 27, the system returned to its northeastern pattern before dissipating on April 29, southeast of the peninsula.
In its wake, the predecessor system to Typhoon Georgia left 9.85 inch (0.25019 m) in rainfall over Yap Island
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, where no damage was recorded. Reported damages caused by Typhoon Georgia were limited. The only report was a ship and its cargo in the Pacific suffered $28,000 in damages (1962 USD ($208,000 in 2011 USD)).
Typhoon Hope
A surge from the easterlies came in contact with a polar trough on May 13, creating an easterly wave which began developing in the afternoon near the island of KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. The wave progressed northwestward away from the island and continued developing over the next few days. On May 16, the wave was upgraded to a tropical storm, the third of the season off the coast of the Philippines with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The storm, named Hope, continued northwestward, peaking first at 60 mph (90 km/h) before striking several islands over the Philippines. While over land, Tropical Storm Hope weakened to a minimal tropical storm on May 17 and into a tropical depression with no circulation later that day. The storm remained a tropical depression over the day, crossing the eastern island of the Philippines. Tropical Depression Hope left the island and began to strengthen back into a minimal tropical storm by May 18. However, the storm interacted with land once more and weakened back into a tropical depression on May 18.
After leaving the Philippines for the final time, the depression began to develop, becoming a tropical storm for the third time since May 16 and developing a small eye. As Tropical Storm Hope turned further northeast, the eye expanded and the storm was soon declared a typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center late evening on May 19. The next day, Hope continued to strengthen and develop, and while just south of Okinawa on May 20, peaked at 90 mph (140 km/h) sustained winds. (Operationally, Typhoon Hope was declared a 100 mph (170 km/h), Category 2 typhoon, but this was demoted in post-analysis.) An internal pressure of 978 millibars (28.88 inHg) was recorded within a 30 miles (48.3 km) wide eye. Hope began to encounter cold air near Okinawa, Japan, weakening rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm on May 21. Hope's eye fell apart and started to begin transition to its extratropical stage. On the morning of May 22, Hope's sustained winds fell below tropical storm stage and the system became a tropical depression. By the afternoon, Hope was declared extratropical and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system.
The extratropical remnants of Typhoon Hope continued northeastward towards the coast of Japan on May 23. The system turned just offshore and paralleled the eastern coast for several days. After May 24, the system begins to leave the Japanese coast in favor of the open Pacific Ocean but made a dart to the north towards the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
on May 26. The remains turned once again to the northeast, paralleling the Kamchatka Peninsula for the next day. The storm turned offshore again on May 27 and disappeared near the Aleutian Islands on May 28.
Tropical Storm Iris
An easterly wave, the 22nd of the 1962 season, forming on May 26 met a polar trough northeast of the island of Koror. This fracture caused the wave to began developing during the early morning hours. The system rapidly intensified and became the fourth tropical depression of the season on the same afternoon. Rapid intensification occurred and within six hours, the depression became Tropical Storm Iris on May 26 just east of the Philippines. The eye of Iris began to define itself, as operationally winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h) on May 27, which would classify the system a typhoon. However, in post-analysis, Iris was never able to strengthen into a typhoon, peaking at winds of 70 mph (115 km/h) off the Philippine coast. A minimum central pressure was read of 991 millibars (29.26 inHg) within the storm. Iris paralleled the shore for several hours, beginning a rapid weakening process, falling to a minimal tropical storm with winds of only 40 mph (60 km/h) by the end of the day.During the morning of May 28, Iris began to suffer from its lack of upper-level divergence and as a result was demoted into a tropical depression. The weakening system persisted two more days off the coast and dissipated on the morning of May 30. The dissipating remains of the Iris persisted for another day off the Philippines, dissipating southeast of 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...
on May 31.
Reported impact from Iris in the Philippines were five deaths reported and no estimated damage to crops on the islands.
Typhoon Joan
Another easterly wave formed off to the northeast of the Philippines on the afternoon of July 6 after reaching a polar trough. The system quickly organized itself, strengthening into a tropical storm on the morning of July 7. Named Joan, the storm curved to the northwest through the Pacific, rapidly intensfying into a typhoon by the next day. The storm reached a peak sustained windspeed of 90 mph (150 km/h) just to the southeast of the island of Okinawa. The minimum pressure for the storm was registered at 985 millibars (29.09 inHg). After passing Okinawa on July 9, the forward speed in Typhoon Joan increased and the storm began to weaken. The storm boasted an unorganized, elliptical eye as it soon fell to a minimal hurricane that afternoon. On the evening of July 9, the now-Tropical Storm Joan passed due east of Shanghai, China before turning to the northeast on the morning of July 10. With only sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), the system struck the shore of South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on the afternoon of July 10. The storm continued weakening as it crossed the 38th parallel and entered North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, falling to a minimal tropical storm over land. After emerging from North Korea, the storm raced to the northeast before experiencing cold air and become extratropical on the morning of July 11.
After becoming extratropical, the remains of Joan continued northeastward, curving along the coast of China. The system soon left China and entered the waters of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
July 12, soon making landfall on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin
Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin Oblast is a federal subject of Russia comprising the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.The oblast has an area of 87,100 km² and a population of 546,695...
. After crossing the island, the system entered the Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
, where it turned northward towards mainland Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. During the day of July 14 , the system made landfall near the city of Magadan
Magadan
Magadan is a port town on the Sea of Okhotsk and gateway to the Kolyma region. It is the administrative center of Magadan Oblast , in the Russian Far East. Founded in 1929 on the site of an earlier settlement from the 1920s, it was granted the status of town in 1939...
and crossed the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
. Tracking of the system ceased just north of Magadan on the morning of July 15.
Reported damage from Typhoon Joan was minimal in the Koreas, with estimates of only $500,000 (1962 USD ($3.68 million in 2011 USD). This damage total was estimated from damage to crops in the country and to the communications infastructure.
Typhoon Kate
Another surge from the easterlies, combined with the forty-fourth tropical wave of the season, began to develop off the east coast of 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...
in the Philippines on the morning of July 18. At the time, the tropical wave had winds of 15 mph (25 km/h) on its surface. The wave rapidly intensified during the morning and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upped the system to a tropical depression the same afternoon. The next morning the system was upgraded to a tropical storm and received the name Kate. The new storm had a small, open eyewall which expanded during the day as the storm slowly intensified through and by the late morning of July 20, the storm became a typhoon with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). That morning, the eye had only a 12 miles (19.3 km) diameter and had similar surface winds. During the afternoon, the storm made a curve to the southwest from its track and looped back northward. By the morning of July 21, the storm began a northeastern turn towards Taiwan.
The typhoon continued to intensify, maintaining typhoon status during the day and reaching a peak sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on the morning of July 22. Central pressures were recorded at a minimum of 964 millibars (28.47 inHg) at peak as well. (Operationally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had Kate peaking at sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, however this was demoted in post-analysis.) As Kate approached Taiwan, the storm weakened, making landfall on the afternoon of July 22 near Taitung City
Taitung City
Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung...
with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm crossed the island over the afternoon, weakening into a tropical storm by the afternoon. After emerging from Taiwan, Tropical Storm Kate turned to the northwest and made landfall once again near Wenzhou
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
on July 23 with sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). The interaction with land cause quick dissipation of the storm over mainland China, and the warning center ceased following the storm on the morning of July 24. The remains of Kate continued on for a short distance, crossing through China over the next day and into Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
before dissipating on July 25.
The damage left behind from Typhoon Kate were extensive as the storm killed 110 residents and caused $25 million (1962 USD ($184 million in 2011 USD)) in damages to crops, homes and infrastructure.
Typhoon Louise
A tropical wave formed on July 19 southeast of Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
and moved to the north. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Louise on July 20. Rapid strengthening occurred, as Louise was able to reach typhoon status on July 21 at the third advisory. Louise made a curve to west and strengthened into a maximum Category 1 typhoon on July 24. Louise passed by the island of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
and moved to the northeast, whacking Japan as a maximum tropical storm.
Louise moved over land and quickly weakened into a depression, where the JTWC declared that Louise had dissipated, however the JMA continued to release advisories on Louise. Louise moved to the northeast and advisories were discontinued near Japan's northernmost islands on July 29. Louise killed fifteen people and doing $7.5 million (1962 USD- $47 million in 2006 USD) in damage to crops, homes and bridges in Japan.
Tropical Storm Marge
A tropical wave formed in the open Pacific Ocean waters on July 25 and strengthened into Tropical Depression Forty-Seven on July 28 in an area of ocean north of Truk. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name Marge. Marge peaked at a 45 mi/h, 1002 mbar weak tropical storm on July 28. Marge dissipated on the morning of July 29 near 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...
and Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
.
No damage or fatalities were reported, as Marge never made landfall.
Typhoon Nora
Tropical Depression 46 formed on July 26 west 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...
from an easterly tropical wave and a surge from the westerlies at the 200 mbar level. Strengthening occurred slowly as 46W was not given the name Nora until July 29. Nora moved northward, the storm reached typhoon status and soon peaked at 85 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 965 mbar on August 1. Nora made landfall in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on August 2 as a moderate tropical storm, then moved west, making landfall in northern Japan on the 4th and being declared extratropical soon after.
On August 5, the extratropical remnants of Nora entered the Bering Sea, in the Eastern Hemisphere, where Nora got farther north than any other cyclone of the season, reaching about 62°N
62nd parallel north
The 62nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 62 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Asia and North America....
latitude and 178.5°W longitude near the Bering Strait, when advisories by the JMA were discontinued as Nora became an extratropical system.
Across the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, heavy rains from the storm triggered widespread flooding that killed 15 people and left 14 others missing.
Super Typhoon Opal
An easterly wave met with a polar trough just northwest of the island of PonapePonape
Ponape may refer to:*Pohnpei, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia*Ponape , a German sailing ship...
. on the afternoon of July 28. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the wave for the next day, as it headed westward, north of Truk. Slowly curving northeast from the island, the wave soon was upgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) with no eye structure on July 30. The depression strengthened on the morning of July 31 to 35 mph (55 km/h) winds and persisted throughout the day at that strength. The depression continued its northwestern curve, speeding up and weakening once again to 30 mph (50 km/h) on the morning of August 1. After passing Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
, the depression strengthened once again and became Tropical Storm Opal the same afternoon. The storm continued intensifying during the afternoon, with winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) by nightfall. By the next morning, Opal was upgraded into a typhoon, the eighth of the 1962 season.
The typhoon, now northwest of the island of Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, continued turning to the northwest, beginning to slow as the system continued strengthening. By nightfall, the system had an eye forming, wide as 5 miles (8 km). By nightfall, the system was up to winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and passing far east of the Philippines. Opal continued the northwest progression, strengthening throughout the day of August 3 and forming a wider eye. By the end of the day, the storm was now a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Strengthening continued overnight as the typhoon passed to the east of 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...
, strengthening close to super typhoon status by nightfall on August 4 with a shrinking eye. The next morning, Typhoon Opal strengthened into the second super typhoon of the season, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). During the day on August 5, Opal continued strengthening, peaking with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) just east of 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...
. (Operationally, Opal was classified as a 170 mph (275 km/h) typhoon, but this was downgraded to a 165 mph (270 km/h) in post-analysis.) Minimum recorded central pressures for Opal were registered at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg).
Soon after peaking, the storm struck the island of Taiwan with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). The storm weakened over land to 135 mph (220 km/h) after crossing the island and continued weakening into a 90 mph (145 km/h) typhoon as it made landfall in mainland China. The typhoon continued to weaken over land, weakening into a tropical storm on the morning of August 6. Opal persisted as a tropical storm on August 6, weakening into a tropical depression the next morning. During the afternoon of August 7, with influences from land, the storm became extratropical.
The extratropical remains of Opal crossed eastern mainland China, entering the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
in the late evening. Early in the morning of August 8, the storm struck North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
near the capital city of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. After crossing the country, the system reappeared in the sea before crossing. On the morning of August 9, the system made landfall on the Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
region of Japan, near the town of Rumoi. After crossing the island, the storm entered the Sea of Okhtosk on August 10. During the afternoon, the system crossed the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
and began a parallel with the Kamchatka Peninsula the next day. On the morning of August 13, the system entered the Aleutian Islands, passing west of Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
and the Rat Islands
Rat Islands
The Rat Islands are a volcanic group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska, between Buldir Island and the Near Islands group to its west, and Amchitka Pass and the Andreanof Islands group to its east, at about ....
before entering the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
. The extratropical remains disappeared on August 14 in the middle of the sea, just south of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
.
The impact of Typhoon Opal was most devastating in Taiwan, where originally 87 deaths were reported on the island, with 20 people missing and over 1400 injured. Some 5,000 people were homeless in Yilan City
Yilan City
Yilan City historically spelled Ilan or I-lan, is the capital of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is on the north side of Lanyang River. The first Han Chinese settled there in 1802....
. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Opal, along with 4,700 others damaged due to the high winds. Huge waves kicked up by Opel also sent a storm surge into the city, sweeping away homes. However, by August 8, this number was demoted to only 12 deaths on the island, 966 injured and five people missing. The 170 mph (275 km/h) strong winds took a freighter off its anchors and swamping it, along with a number of fishing boats. Although winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) were felt in 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...
, no fatalities were reported because of ample warning, causing residents to evacuate. In Taipei, Opal caused streets to flood, uprooted trees and tore down telephone lines. 38 injuries were also reported, with 35 houses destroyed. 180 were also damaged in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Opal caused two deaths in the islands of Japan, centered on the island of Southern Hokkaido. Nine people there were also injured and one person was reported missing. After Typhoon Opal passed through South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, seven fishermen were killed along the coast of the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
. 72 more people were missing. Five ships were also sunk in the Yellow Sea, twelve more were reported missing. The estimated damage total came out to about $25 million. (1962 USD; $184 million (2011 USD)) These totals came in the form of crop, transportation, and structural damage.
Typhoon Patsy
A surge from the westerlies entered the easterlies on August 5 near YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, making landfall there before becoming the 51st tropical system of the season the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-One strengthened into Tropical Storm Patsy, crossed the central Philippines on August 7 and 8, and strengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. After weakening to a tropical storm while moving northwestward, Patsy hit Hainan Island, turned to the west, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and dissipated over 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 –...
on the 11th due to cold air.
Patsy's heavy rain and flooding caused 29 casualties with more than 200 missing. Damage totaled out to $2.5 million (1962 USD ($13.36 million in 2006 USD). Damage included major infrastructural damage at the University of Santo Thomas and the shutting down of the Manila airport. The backlash from Patsy destroyed over 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rice, and damaged roads through Thailand. Patsy made landfall four times, three as a tropical system.
Super Typhoon Ruth
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT formed on August 11 just north of Truk. The wave moved to the northeast, strengthening into Tropical Storm Ruth on August 13 near 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...
, without starting as a depression. Ruth's movement was slow, but the storm's strength was fast as Ruth became a typhoon on August 14 while grazing the island of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
with winds of 75 mi/h.
Ruth moved north and rapidly strengthened, which included a jump from a Category 1 typhoon to a Category 3 tyhpoon on the 15th and soon to a Category 4 typhoon. Ruth became a Category 5 super typhoon on the same day, peaking at a 185 mi/h super typhoon late on August 16 while passing by Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
with a pressure of 916 mbar. Ruth kept that intensity until the next day when the storm weakened to 160 mi/h near Chichi Jima. Ruth continued to weaken, passing by Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and weakening to a tropical storm on August 22 while losing tropical characteristics. Ruth was declared a moderate extratropical storm on the 46th advisory on August 23. Damage in Saipan from Ruth is unavailable.
Ruth's remnants continued to the northeast where the extratropical storm made landfall on the 24th on the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
, passing 180°
180th meridian
The 180th meridian or antimeridian is the meridian which is 180° east or west of the Prime Meridian passing through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. It is common to both east longitude and west longitude. It is used as the basis for the International Date Line because it for the most part passes...
and thus entering the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. Ruth entered the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as a 986 mbar extratropical low on August 25. However, while an extratropical storm, Ruth underwent drastic changes in wind strength from the 23rd to its death on the 25th, Ruth went from a 45 mi/h storm straight back to a 60 mi/h storm, then to a minimal storm and back to a 55 mi/h storm when Ruth died out.
Ruth was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Typhoon Sarah.
Typhoon Sarah
A tropical wave formed near Iwo JimaIwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
on August 8 and moved gradually to south. The wave made a turn to the east and soon the northeast, lasting for six straight days. The first advisory released jumped the wave into a 70 mi/h tropical storm with the name Sarah. Sarah quickly made a cyclonic loop on the 15th which took until the 18th to complete. During this loop, Sarah reached its peak intensity of 85 mi/h, a Category 1 typhoon on the 16th. Sarah weakened quickly, making landfall in southern Japan as a 40 mi/h minimal tropical storm. Sarah weakened into a tropical depression, and encountered cool air, being declared a weak extratropical depression on the 22nd. No damage in Japan is available.
Sarah's remnants continued to the northeast where the storm missed entering the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as Sarah was a 984 mbar extratropical low on August 25.
Sarah spent six days as a tropical wave (August 8 - August 14), seven days as a tropical cyclone (August 15- August 22), and three days as an extratropical cyclone (August 23, 24 & 25), lasting for a total of sixteen days. Sarah was also one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Super Typhoon Ruth.
Typhoon Thelma
A 10 knots (19.6 km/h) easterly tropical wave on August 21 after inconclusive data on a surge from the westerlies caused the wave near the coast of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Rapid strengthening occurred as 58W was given the name Thelma. Thelma reached 70 mi/h winds but fell to 55 mi/h in cool air. Thelma gained strength again, reaching typhoon status by the 22nd. Thelma continued to intensify reaching 140 mi/h winds as a peak with a pressure of 946 mbar on the 25th near Japan. Thelma made landfall in Japan the next day as a 100 mi/h typhoon and turned to the east, making a second landfall in Japan as a minimal tropical storm, dissipating soon after.
The remnants of Thelma moved to the east and soon to the northeast, reaching a pressure of 988 mbar as an extratropical cyclone. Thelma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island
Little Sitkin Island
Little Sitkin Island is a volcanic island in the Rat Islands archipelago of the Western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, about three miles east of Davidof Island. Great Sitkin Island lies 185 mi further east in the Andreanof Islands.Little Sitkin is roughly circular and about 6 miles in diameter...
in the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical cyclone entered the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, becoming the fourth typhoon this season to do such, where the JMA ceased advisories on September 1 in the Central Pacific
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...
.
No damage or fatality reports are available. Thelma was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Super Typhoon Ruth and Typhoon Sarah.
Typhoon Vera
As Typhoons Ruth and Sarah were weakening, a new tropical system formed on August 23 far to the southeast of Okinawa, Japan near the active Typhoon Thelma. The system quickly moved to the northeast, strengthening into Tropical Storm Vera on the morning of August 25. Rapid strengthening occurred as Vera went from a 55 mi/h tropical storm to a 75 mi/h typhoon within 24 hours. Vera peaked the next morning as a 85 mi/h, 983 mbar typhoon, west of Iwo Jima. Weakening occurred slowly as Vera stayed a maximum tropical storm until the storm started affecting Japan. Vera quickly weakened into a tropical depression over southern Japan where it dissipated on the morning of August 28.No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Typhoon Vera.
Typhoon Wanda
The precursor to Wanda formed on August 23 southwest of PonapePohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
from a tropical wave from the Southern Hemisphere outdrafts. On the 24th, the first advisory was released near Truk. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression Fifty-Nine on the afternoon of August 27, and in the evening, it became Tropical Storm Wanda. Strengthening was slow as Wanda did not reach typhoon status until early August 29 northeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Typhoon Wanda reached a Category 2 strength as it moved through the Luzon strait on August 30. It continued its westward motion, peaking at 110 mi/h before cold air was entrained in the circulation. Wanda hit near Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on September 1 as a well-developed typhoon and dissipated later that day. The Japan Meteoroloical Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories.
Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, with millions of damage occurring. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then.
Wanda is considered the second worst typhoon in the recorded history of Hong Kong (second only to the catastrophic typhoon of September 2, 1937. Wanda also created the record of being the last of three typhoons to have caused sustained hurricane winds in Hong Kong in three consecutive years (after Typhoon Mary of 1960 and Typhoon Alice of 1961). This record has never been equalled ever since.
Super Typhoon Amy
The precursor to Super Typhoon Amy formed on August 27 far northeast of Truk as a surge from the westerlies moved into the easterlies . The wave moved west and became Tropical Depression 62W west of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
two days later. The depression quickly strengthened, becoming a tropical storm and being given the name Amy. Amy strengthened rapidly, becoming a typhoon on the 30th northeast of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Amy's movement was erratic, and reached super typhoon status on September 1 while making a curve to the northeast.
Amy strengthened into a weak Category 5 super typhoon northeast of the Philippines, peaking at 160 mi/h with a pressure of 932 mbar around midnight on September 1. Weakening was slow, and Amy made landfall in 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...
as a Category 4 super typhoon on September 4. Amy weakened quickly, making landfall in China as a 85 mi/h typhoon. Amy moved out into 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...
, sped up and made landfall in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as a 45 mi/h tropical storm on September 7. Amy was declared extratropical as a depression on September 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Amy for two more days. During that time, Amy made landfall in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
on the 9th, and entered the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, the sixth typhoon this season to do so. The JMA ceased advisories on September 10 in the sea.
Amy's flooding killed 24 people, with millions of dollars in damage (1962 USD) to crops, power, communication lines and buildings.
Tropical Storm Babe
The sixty-seventh tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on September 11 over several islands in the Philippines. Tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the wave began progressing westward, passing over the tip of an island in the South China SeaSouth 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...
. On September 13, about midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Sixty-Seven. There, the depression made a curve to the northwest, starting a progression in that direction. The depression continued for another two days out into the South China Sea, where the storm was upgraed to Tropical Storm Babe.
Tropical Storm Babe continued to the northwest, making its way towards the coast of Vietnam. On September 15, Tropical Storm Babe passed to the south of Hainan
Hainan
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...
, an island claimed as part of China. The storm peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on the same day, with a minimal pressure of 994 millibars (29.35 inches of Mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
). On September 16, Tropical Storm Babe made landfall in the central of the Vietnam coast. The depression then crossed the country, weakening into a tropical depression on September 17, crossing over the country of Laos. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system just after it left Laos.
The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the weakening system into Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, where it lasted for another day or so. On the evening of September 18, the Agency stopped following the weakening system, as it began to leave Cambodia and into the nearby country of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Typhoon Carla
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT, while Carla formed downstream. From the surge, a tropical wave on September 14 south of YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
. The wave was unable to gain strength, making landfall in 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 it was a tropical wave. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression 65W on September 19 off the Luzon coast. Tropical Depression 65W strengthened into a tropical storm on September 20, quickly gaining strength. Carla made landfall on Hainan Island on the 21st as a 85 mi/h typhoon, its peak winds. Carla continued moving west and made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 22 as a 65 mi/h tropical storm. Carla dissipated over land on September 23 from lack of moisture.
No damage reports are available in association with Carla, however at least 13 people were killed.
Typhoon Dinah
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT, while Dinah formed downstream. From the surge, a tropical wave formed near the coast 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...
on September 24. The wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Sixty-Nine twelve hours later. Strengthening was very slow, as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until September 29. During the depression stage, it made a curve to the northwest. Finally at the second advisory on September 29, the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was given the name Dinah.
Dinah moved to the west, continuing to strengthen and by the morning of September 30, Dinah was the sixteenth typhoon of the season. Dinah continued moving to the west, reaching Category 2 status on October 1, and Category 3 the next day. Dinah peaked on October 2 with 115 mi/h winds, a minimal Category 3 typhoon and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.10 inHg). Weakening was slow and Dinah made landfall in Hong Kong on October 3 as a maximum tropical storm with winds of 70 mi/h. Dinah quickly weakened into a depression over land and dissipated over Hong Kong on October 4.
Damage data for Hong Kong are unavailable.
Super Typhoon Emma
The seventy-third tropical wave of the season formed north of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on September 30 and moved south. The wave strengthened into Tropical Storm Emma at the first advisory on October 1. Emma strengthened into the eighteenth typhoon of the 1962 season and grazed Guam during a turn back to the north on October 1.
Emma continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on October 2, while passing Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and Category 3 intensity the next day. By the 4th, Emma became a category four super typhoon and reached Category 5 status. The next day, Emma peaked at 160 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 903 mbar. Weakening was slow, as Emma turned to the northeast. Emma peaked at 125 mi/h winds on October 7 and refused to weaken until October 9 when Emma fell to 120 mi/h winds. Emma sped up to the northeast and was declared extratropical on October 11 as a moderate Category 1 typhoon, due to cool air temperatures.
The remnants of Emma moved to the northeast, reaching a peak pressure of 950 mbar on October 12. Emma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island in the Aleutian Islands on October 13 as a 55 mi/h extratropical storm, and entered the Bering Sea the same day, dissipating soon afterwards at the 180°latitude line, entering the Central Pacific. Emma was the sixth typhoon to enter the Bering Sea.
Damage in Guam and Saipan totaled out at $250,000 (1962 USD), from damages to communication equipment, buildings and fishing boats ($1.6 million 2006 USD). Emma was the fifth super typhoon of the 1962 season.
Typhoon Freda
A 15 mi/h outdraft formed on the morning of September 28 south of Eniwetok Atoll. The outdraft became an ordinary tropical cyclone on October 3, when it developed 500 miles (804.7 km) off Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
. It moved to the northeast, then turned to a northwest where it strengthened into a typhoon and peaked at 115 mi/h on the 5th. Freda then turned and accelerated to the northeast, where it weakened until becoming extratropical on October 10 to the south of the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical remnants of Freda headed to the east, and hit Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
on October 12 with winds of 45-50 mph, with wind gusts up to 90 mi/h. There, great damage was seen across the Pacific Northwest, causing a major disruption in daily life with power outages and store closings from shattered windows.
As an extratropical storm, Freda caused an estimated $10 million in damage (1962 USD, $517 million 2006 USD), with 46 deaths occurring.
Typhoon Gilda
A tropical wave formed on October 18 and struck YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
as a wave. The wave strengthened with a flow from the Southern Hemisphere and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Four on the next day. Organization of the system was slow as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until it performed a cyclonic loop on October 22. and was given the name Gilda. Gilda strengthened rapidly and became a typhoon on October 23. Gilda strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon on October 26, peaking at 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Gilda kept this intensity until the next day when the storm weakened into a Category 3 typhoon. On the 28th, Gilda absorbed the weakening Typhoon Ivy southeast of Okinawa, Japan as a Category 2 typhoon after have a Fujiwhara interaction. Gilda sped up and weakened to a tropical storm on October 30 near Japan. Typhoon Gilda entered cool air and was declared an extra-tropical storm the same day at the 47th advisory near the Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Gilda to the northwest Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Islands, where Gilda was declared over on November 1 in the Central Pacific.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Gilda. Gilda had the same notability of Typhoon Kate earlier in the season by have a discontinuous track but of secondary lows on the lee.
Tropical Storm Harriet
The Japan Meteorological Agency first tracked Tropical Storm Harriet as a tropical wave on the morning on October 19 with a minimum pressure of 1003 mbar off the Philippines. The wave weakened to 1006 mbar and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Eight on October 22 out in the open South China Sea. The depression was raised into Tropical Storm Harriet on October 25 by the JMA, where a minimal pressure of 1000 mbar was recorded.Tropical Storm Harriet was first observed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on October 25, just off the east coast of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It hit that night as a 60 mi/h tropical storm, and crossed into the Indian Ocean. During landfall its storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
flooded the Laem Talumphuk peninsula in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand...
. There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast. It hit Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
on October 30, and dissipated the next day. In the urbanized area of Pak Phanang, water rose to a depth of four meters at the river nearby. Laem Talumpuk was swept clean by Harriet as all but five houses were destroyed in the village of four thousand people at the end of the peninsula, which had been battered with three meter high waves. In a town near the River Bang Chak, 30 percent of the houses were destroyed as well as half of the rice crop in the area.
The destruction from Tropical Storm Harriet took the lives of at least 769 residents of Thailand's southern provinces. 142 others were also deemed missing as of November 4, 1962, with over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD; $248.0 million 2011 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.
Typhoon Ivy
A tropical wave formed on October 26 near UlithiUlithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
and Woleai Atoll
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
. The wave moved to the northwest and strengthened from a wave into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mi/h. Interaction from the active Typhoon Gilda caused a Fujiwhara effect between the two and caused Ivy to weaken at a rapid pace from a Category 3 typhoon to a minimal tropical storm in 48 hours. The stronger Typhoon Gilda absorbed the weak Ivy on October 29 south of Iwo Jima.
Ivy never made landfall thus no damage or fatalities were reported.
Typhoon Jean
A easterly tropical wave after the polar trough fractured the superposition formed on November 3 near YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
. The wave made landfall in the Philippines on the 6th and strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-One over land. Strengthening occurred and the depression became Tropical Storm Jean on the 6th near Manila. Rapid strengthening occurred and Jean peaked at a 100 mi/h typhoon on November 9 near 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 –...
. Jean started weakening and dissipated on November 13 because of lack of upper level divergence.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Jean for six more days. During that time, Jean made an anti-cyclonic loop to the south, where Jean was declared an extra-tropical low on November 19 in the open 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...
. No damage or fatalities were reported.
Super Typhoon Karen
Typhoon Karen, which formed on November 7 in the open Western Pacific, explosively intensified to a 185 mi/h super typhoon on the 9th. It turned to the west, maintaining its powerful winds of 175-185 mph for 4 days as it crossed the islands of the West Pacific. Cool air weakened Karen as it turned to the north, and was only a minimal typhoon at its nearest approach to Japan. The storm turned eastward, where it became extratropical on November 18. Karen's strong winds caused $250 million in damage (1962 USD) and 11 casualties. Karen passed over the southern part 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...
in 1962. Wind gusts estimated near 185 mi/h destroyed 95% of all homes on the island.
Typhoon Lucy
A surge from the westerlies into MPT which was followed by cut-off low formed on November 24, while a depression formed downstream. This kind of formation is not unusual, both Typhoons Carla and Dinah formed in the same way. The system strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Six near KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
on November 25 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Lucy on the same day. Strengthening occurred slowly, as Lucy did not gain typhoon status until November 27. That same day, Lucy made landfall in the Philippines as an 80 mi/h typhoon. Lucy kept moving west and peaked at 115 mi/h, as a Category 3 typhoon on November 29. Lucy made landfall in the Philippines and southern 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 –...
on November 30. Lucy dissipated in the Strait of Taiwan on December 1 from cold air and land interaction. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased advisories that same day.
Five people were killed, with five million dollars in damage. ($32.6 million in 2006 USD). Winds of 60 mi/h were felt Cebu City Airport when Lucy passed over the area.
Tropical Storm Mary
The eighty-ninth (and second-to-last) tropical wave of the season formed in the South China Sea, several hundred miles west of the Philippines. The wave was upgraded by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as Tropical Storm Mary (instead of Tropical Depression Eighty-Nine) on December 1, following suit with the names used before. The depression was never followed by the Japan Meteorological Agency, however, the system was tracked by the Warning Center its entire time in the South China Sea. Mary went towards the southwest, peaking at winds of 55 mph (95 km/h) on December 2.After that, the storm went on a slow weakening process, weakening to a minimal tropical storm on December 3. The next advisory, Mary was downgraded to a tropical depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the storm. Mary did not affect land its in entire lifetime.
Tropical Storm Nadine
An easterly wave, the ninetieth (and final) of the season, was first sighted on December 6 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...
several hundred miles 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...
. The wave strengthened that day into Tropical Depression Ninety, appearing in 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...
's track data at that point. The depression curved to the northwest, striking the island 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...
on December 7. Tropical Depression Ninety curved to the southeast of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on December 8, strengthening into a tropical storm. Given the name Nadine by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it progressed northward, peaking at a minimal pressure of 974 millibars (28.76 inHg) and a wind speed of 60 mph (90 km/h) on December 10. Nadine began to approach the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
(180°), but started an extratropical transition that same day.
Nadine was declared an extratropical storm on December 10, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking the storm. On December 11, just after passing the 170°E longitude line
170th meridian east
The meridian 170° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, Nadine was declared extratropical by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The extratropical remains of Nadine crossed the International Date Line and on the night of December 11, the Agency ceased following Nadine as it had crossed into the Central Pacific basin.
Although Nadine posed a threat to the island 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...
(which had been struck by Typhoon Karen less than a month before), there were no reports of fatalities, damage or strong winds. With the minimal impact, the name Nadine was not retired after the 1962 season and remained in use for years after. When names were changed in 1979 for both male and female, the name Nadine has only been used for a tropical storm in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season since.
Other storms
In addition to the 30 storms, nine tropical depressions formed, most were unable to strengthen into a tropical storm.Tropical Depression Twenty-One
The 21st tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on May 21 in the open South China SeaSouth 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...
, east of the Philippines. The systems strengthened into a tropical depression moved to the southeast toward southwestern Vietnam. However, the depression returned to its northern progression on May 22 and dissipated on the same day without threatening land.
Tropical Depression Thirty-Nine
A tropical system formed on July 7 north of the island of KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. The system strengthened into a tropical depression the next day when the first advisory was released. The depression continuously changed directions, once on the 8th to the northwest, again the next day to the southwest and the final one on the 10th to the northwest again. The tropical depression continued to the northwest, but degenerated into a remnant low on the morning of July 12. The remnants continued moving away, dissipating on July 15.
The depression never made landfall, so no damage or fatalities were reported.
Tropical Depression Forty-One
As Typhoon Joan was weakening, a new tropical system formed in the South China Sea on the afternoon of July 10. The system strengthened while moving west, becoming Tropical Depression Forty-One the same day. The depression continued moving west at a rapid pace, passing Hainan Island and made landfall in northern Vietnam on July 11. The depression dissipated over land late that evening.Damage and fatalities in Vietnam from the depression are unavailable.
Tropical Depression Fifty-Five
A tropical system formed on August 14, off where the stronger Super Typhoon Ruth was, near the International Date LineInternational Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
. The system intensified into a tropical depression at the first advisory on the morning of the 14th. The depression made a turn and dissipated by the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-Five never made landfall, therefore no fatalities or damage was reported.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Four
An easterly tropical wave formed off northwest of Woleai AtollWoleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
and Buoy 317 (off the coast of Woleai) on September 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the wave that same day into Tropical Depression Sixty-Four. The depression progressed to the northeast, passing to the south of Ulithi six hours after formation. The depression continued, passing to the south of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, an island near Ulithi. It then began to straighten its progression, dissipating north of the island of Koror
Koror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
at about 135°W longitude. Once the depression dissipated, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression, never making landfall with any landmass in the Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Six
Like most of the tropical cyclones of the season, the sixty-sixth formed on September 11, around where Tropical Depression Fifty-Five had formed earlier in the season. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the disturbance, which was out in the open Pacific OceanPacific 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...
. The disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression on September 12. The depression progressed westward, with the Japan Meteorological Agency following suit as a tropical depression. As the depression became to make a curve towards 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 Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued following the strengthening depression. The depression, beginning to parallel the coast of Japan, strengthened into a tropical storm on September 15. The depression peaked in intensity with a pressure of 1002 mbar (29.58 inHg) on the same day, at its closest proximity to Japan. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on September 16, and started to make a curve to the northeast. The depression moved away from the coast of Japan and began its track out into the Pacific on September 17. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased following the system that day, located off the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. During its entire lifetime, the depression never made landfall.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight
The sixty-eighth easterly tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on September 22 a couple of hundred miles off the coast of the Philippines. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then upgraded the wave into Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight that day. The depression made a curve to the southwest, turning to the northwest just a few hours later. After starting a northwest progression, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight began running along the eastern coast of the Philippines. The depression eventually switched to a straightened, westward progression, as the cyclone neared landfall. On the afternoon of September 24, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight made landfall on the eastern shore of southern 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...
. The depression crossed the country, maintaining its strength.
The depression crossed over the capital of the Philippines, Manila and in six hours after landfall, the depression had returned to water. The depression then began its northwestern progression once again, heading on a path towards China. However, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight turned to the southwest and away from China. This progression did not last either. The system turned back to the northwest, heading towards 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 –...
. This progression remained stable, and the depression made landfall on September 26 in Vietnam. Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight crossed over land, dissipating the next day nearing the Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
border.
Tropical Depression Seventy-Five
Tropical Depression Seventy-Five formed on October 20 in the open Pacific Ocean, near a buoy close to the International Date LineInternational Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
. The depression moved to the northwest, dissipating on after two days near the island of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. The short-lived system never made landfall, and no damage or fatalities were reported to ships or buoys in the Ocean.
Tropical Depression Eighty-Five
The eighty-fifth tropical wave of the season formed in the South China SeaSouth 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...
on November 18. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Five over the sea the same day. The depression got near 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 –...
but cool air caused it to dissipate into a remnant low before landfall on November 20. No damage or fatalities were reported in Vietnam in association with the depression.
Storm names
In addition to the 30 named storms, an unnamed storm was tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency, 6219 and also known by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as Tropical Depression Sixty-Six. The name Karen was retired after this year and was replaced with Kim.{| style="width:90%;"
|
The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. Most tropical cyclones tend to form 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...
between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The majority of the Pacific typhoons in 1962 formed in the Pacific Ocean (north of the equator and west of the international date line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
) with two exceptions: Tropical Depressions Fifty and Sixty-three formed in the Central Pacific. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1962 Pacific hurricane season
1950-1969 Pacific hurricane seasons
The 1950–1963 Pacific hurricane seasons all began on May 15, 1950-65 in the northeast Pacific Ocean and on June 1, 1950-65 in the central Pacific. They ended on November 30, 1950-65...
. All tropical depressions are assigned a number. Most systems reaching tropical storm strength were assigned a name; all typhoons were named.
Season activity
1964 Pacific typhoon season
The 1964 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1964, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
with 26 typhoons. Six super typhoons formed in 1962 which were Georgia, Emma, Ruth, Opal, Amy and Karen. Even with the high activity, only about half the cyclones in 1962 made landfall. There were also seventeen suspect cyclones discovered by the JTWC in post-season reports. Three were reported to reach typhoon intensity, three at tropical storm status and two needed tropical depression warnings.
Two depressions, 50 and 63, formed in the Central Pacific under the Joint Hurricane Warning Center's (now The Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
) jurisdiction and were included in the JTWC archives. Both depressions stayed out to sea and had no effects on land. The Central Pacific also got Nora, Opal, Ruth, Gilda, Emma and Thelma, the remnants of Nadine and the ending of Karen near the end of the season.
Six typhoons entered the Bering Sea: Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Amy and Emma. Four of the six were super typhoons. Three typhoons just missed entering the Bering Sea: Typhoons Hope, Sarah and Gilda. Also, Typhoons Georgia, Hope, Joan, Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Wanda, Amy, Emma, Gilda, Jean and Karen all lasted for at least one week with Opal lasting for eighteen straight days from a wave to the day the JMA ceased advisories.
Tropical Storm Fran
The second tropical wave formed on the morning of February 2 off the southeastern coast of the PhilippinesPhilippines
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...
. The storm quickly intensified into a tropical depression and soon into the first tropical storm of the 1962 season. The intensifying tropical cyclone went through the latter half of February 2 as a 45 mph (70&nbp;km/h) tropical storm, progressing southwest towards Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. However, on the early morning of February 3, the storm curved to the northeast and away from Indonesia. The strength remained unchanged during the day and before long reached its peak winds speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Continuing northward away from the coast of the Philippines, Fran remained at peak winds until the evening of February 4. During the morning hours of February 5, Fran dropped down to 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm and continued northward, weakening to 40 mph (60 km/h). On the morning of February 6, Fran weakened into a tropical depression and the final advisory was released six hours after.
Super Typhoon Georgia
A surge from an outdraft in the Southern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
entered the western Pacific on the afternoon of April 13. This surge began to come together near the island of Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
and progressed northwestward through the Pacific. After crossing over Woleai, the system neared the island of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
and began forming into the second tropical depression of the 1962 season. On the afternoon of April 16, the system was declared a tropical depression. The depression made a curve to the south during the north and early on April 17 reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georgia on April 17 as the system continued curving, turning to the east. An eye began to form during the afternoon, it got to be 50 miles (80.5 km) wide. The developing cyclone was declared a typhoon on the afternoon with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). By the morning of April 18, Georgia had curved again, now to the north, gaining strength and developing an elliptical eye. Through the afternoon of April 18, Georgia continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 status during the morning. Rapid strengthening and development continued through the afternoon, with minimum pressures of 953 millibars (28.14 inHg) on the surface reported.
Entering the morning of April 19, Georgia began forming a well-defined eye, having already strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone. Intensification continued throughout the day with sustained winds reaching 145 mph (225 km/h) by the end of the day. The next morning, Typhoon Georgia reached its peak sustained winds of 150 mph (230 km/h) just west of the island 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...
. The lowest minimum pressure recorded at that point was 936 millibars (27.64 inHg). The typhoon retained its strength for most of April 20, but in the late afternoon, the system began to weaken as it entered colder waters. Georgia curved to the northeast and slowly weakened during April 21, by the end of the day, the eye was beginning to come apart. During the morning of April 22, surface winds were reported at only 90 mph (145 km/h) and sustained winds soon followed. The cold waters continued to take its toll on the system, becoming a minimal Category 1 typhoon by the evening with no well-defined eye. On the morning of April 23, Georgia weakened into a tropical storm and slowly weakened during the day as it began a transition into an extratropical cyclone. On the morning of April 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm as it had become extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).
The extratropical remnants of Georgia continued northward east of the coast of 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...
. On April 26, the extratropical remnants passed to the southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
. During the day, the system curved once again, turning westward before another curve to the south. During the day on April 27, the system returned to its northeastern pattern before dissipating on April 29, southeast of the peninsula.
In its wake, the predecessor system to Typhoon Georgia left 9.85 inch (0.25019 m) in rainfall over Yap Island
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, where no damage was recorded. Reported damages caused by Typhoon Georgia were limited. The only report was a ship and its cargo in the Pacific suffered $28,000 in damages (1962 USD ($208,000 in 2011 USD)).
Typhoon Hope
A surge from the easterlies came in contact with a polar trough on May 13, creating an easterly wave which began developing in the afternoon near the island of KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. The wave progressed northwestward away from the island and continued developing over the next few days. On May 16, the wave was upgraded to a tropical storm, the third of the season off the coast of the Philippines with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The storm, named Hope, continued northwestward, peaking first at 60 mph (90 km/h) before striking several islands over the Philippines. While over land, Tropical Storm Hope weakened to a minimal tropical storm on May 17 and into a tropical depression with no circulation later that day. The storm remained a tropical depression over the day, crossing the eastern island of the Philippines. Tropical Depression Hope left the island and began to strengthen back into a minimal tropical storm by May 18. However, the storm interacted with land once more and weakened back into a tropical depression on May 18.
After leaving the Philippines for the final time, the depression began to develop, becoming a tropical storm for the third time since May 16 and developing a small eye. As Tropical Storm Hope turned further northeast, the eye expanded and the storm was soon declared a typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center late evening on May 19. The next day, Hope continued to strengthen and develop, and while just south of Okinawa on May 20, peaked at 90 mph (140 km/h) sustained winds. (Operationally, Typhoon Hope was declared a 100 mph (170 km/h), Category 2 typhoon, but this was demoted in post-analysis.) An internal pressure of 978 millibars (28.88 inHg) was recorded within a 30 miles (48.3 km) wide eye. Hope began to encounter cold air near Okinawa, Japan, weakening rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm on May 21. Hope's eye fell apart and started to begin transition to its extratropical stage. On the morning of May 22, Hope's sustained winds fell below tropical storm stage and the system became a tropical depression. By the afternoon, Hope was declared extratropical and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system.
The extratropical remnants of Typhoon Hope continued northeastward towards the coast of Japan on May 23. The system turned just offshore and paralleled the eastern coast for several days. After May 24, the system begins to leave the Japanese coast in favor of the open Pacific Ocean but made a dart to the north towards the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
on May 26. The remains turned once again to the northeast, paralleling the Kamchatka Peninsula for the next day. The storm turned offshore again on May 27 and disappeared near the Aleutian Islands on May 28.
Tropical Storm Iris
An easterly wave, the 22nd of the 1962 season, forming on May 26 met a polar trough northeast of the island of Koror. This fracture caused the wave to began developing during the early morning hours. The system rapidly intensified and became the fourth tropical depression of the season on the same afternoon. Rapid intensification occurred and within six hours, the depression became Tropical Storm Iris on May 26 just east of the Philippines. The eye of Iris began to define itself, as operationally winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h) on May 27, which would classify the system a typhoon. However, in post-analysis, Iris was never able to strengthen into a typhoon, peaking at winds of 70 mph (115 km/h) off the Philippine coast. A minimum central pressure was read of 991 millibars (29.26 inHg) within the storm. Iris paralleled the shore for several hours, beginning a rapid weakening process, falling to a minimal tropical storm with winds of only 40 mph (60 km/h) by the end of the day.During the morning of May 28, Iris began to suffer from its lack of upper-level divergence and as a result was demoted into a tropical depression. The weakening system persisted two more days off the coast and dissipated on the morning of May 30. The dissipating remains of the Iris persisted for another day off the Philippines, dissipating southeast of 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...
on May 31.
Reported impact from Iris in the Philippines were five deaths reported and no estimated damage to crops on the islands.
Typhoon Joan
Another easterly wave formed off to the northeast of the Philippines on the afternoon of July 6 after reaching a polar trough. The system quickly organized itself, strengthening into a tropical storm on the morning of July 7. Named Joan, the storm curved to the northwest through the Pacific, rapidly intensfying into a typhoon by the next day. The storm reached a peak sustained windspeed of 90 mph (150 km/h) just to the southeast of the island of Okinawa. The minimum pressure for the storm was registered at 985 millibars (29.09 inHg). After passing Okinawa on July 9, the forward speed in Typhoon Joan increased and the storm began to weaken. The storm boasted an unorganized, elliptical eye as it soon fell to a minimal hurricane that afternoon. On the evening of July 9, the now-Tropical Storm Joan passed due east of Shanghai, China before turning to the northeast on the morning of July 10. With only sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), the system struck the shore of South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on the afternoon of July 10. The storm continued weakening as it crossed the 38th parallel and entered North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, falling to a minimal tropical storm over land. After emerging from North Korea, the storm raced to the northeast before experiencing cold air and become extratropical on the morning of July 11.
After becoming extratropical, the remains of Joan continued northeastward, curving along the coast of China. The system soon left China and entered the waters of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
July 12, soon making landfall on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin
Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin Oblast is a federal subject of Russia comprising the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.The oblast has an area of 87,100 km² and a population of 546,695...
. After crossing the island, the system entered the Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
, where it turned northward towards mainland Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. During the day of July 14 , the system made landfall near the city of Magadan
Magadan
Magadan is a port town on the Sea of Okhotsk and gateway to the Kolyma region. It is the administrative center of Magadan Oblast , in the Russian Far East. Founded in 1929 on the site of an earlier settlement from the 1920s, it was granted the status of town in 1939...
and crossed the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
. Tracking of the system ceased just north of Magadan on the morning of July 15.
Reported damage from Typhoon Joan was minimal in the Koreas, with estimates of only $500,000 (1962 USD ($3.68 million in 2011 USD). This damage total was estimated from damage to crops in the country and to the communications infastructure.
Typhoon Kate
Another surge from the easterlies, combined with the forty-fourth tropical wave of the season, began to develop off the east coast of 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...
in the Philippines on the morning of July 18. At the time, the tropical wave had winds of 15 mph (25 km/h) on its surface. The wave rapidly intensified during the morning and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upped the system to a tropical depression the same afternoon. The next morning the system was upgraded to a tropical storm and received the name Kate. The new storm had a small, open eyewall which expanded during the day as the storm slowly intensified through and by the late morning of July 20, the storm became a typhoon with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). That morning, the eye had only a 12 miles (19.3 km) diameter and had similar surface winds. During the afternoon, the storm made a curve to the southwest from its track and looped back northward. By the morning of July 21, the storm began a northeastern turn towards Taiwan.
The typhoon continued to intensify, maintaining typhoon status during the day and reaching a peak sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on the morning of July 22. Central pressures were recorded at a minimum of 964 millibars (28.47 inHg) at peak as well. (Operationally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had Kate peaking at sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, however this was demoted in post-analysis.) As Kate approached Taiwan, the storm weakened, making landfall on the afternoon of July 22 near Taitung City
Taitung City
Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung...
with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm crossed the island over the afternoon, weakening into a tropical storm by the afternoon. After emerging from Taiwan, Tropical Storm Kate turned to the northwest and made landfall once again near Wenzhou
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
on July 23 with sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). The interaction with land cause quick dissipation of the storm over mainland China, and the warning center ceased following the storm on the morning of July 24. The remains of Kate continued on for a short distance, crossing through China over the next day and into Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
before dissipating on July 25.
The damage left behind from Typhoon Kate were extensive as the storm killed 110 residents and caused $25 million (1962 USD ($184 million in 2011 USD)) in damages to crops, homes and infrastructure.
Typhoon Louise
A tropical wave formed on July 19 southeast of Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
and moved to the north. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Louise on July 20. Rapid strengthening occurred, as Louise was able to reach typhoon status on July 21 at the third advisory. Louise made a curve to west and strengthened into a maximum Category 1 typhoon on July 24. Louise passed by the island of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
and moved to the northeast, whacking Japan as a maximum tropical storm.
Louise moved over land and quickly weakened into a depression, where the JTWC declared that Louise had dissipated, however the JMA continued to release advisories on Louise. Louise moved to the northeast and advisories were discontinued near Japan's northernmost islands on July 29. Louise killed fifteen people and doing $7.5 million (1962 USD- $47 million in 2006 USD) in damage to crops, homes and bridges in Japan.
Tropical Storm Marge
A tropical wave formed in the open Pacific Ocean waters on July 25 and strengthened into Tropical Depression Forty-Seven on July 28 in an area of ocean north of Truk. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name Marge. Marge peaked at a 45 mi/h, 1002 mbar weak tropical storm on July 28. Marge dissipated on the morning of July 29 near 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...
and Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
.
No damage or fatalities were reported, as Marge never made landfall.
Typhoon Nora
Tropical Depression 46 formed on July 26 west 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...
from an easterly tropical wave and a surge from the westerlies at the 200 mbar level. Strengthening occurred slowly as 46W was not given the name Nora until July 29. Nora moved northward, the storm reached typhoon status and soon peaked at 85 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 965 mbar on August 1. Nora made landfall in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on August 2 as a moderate tropical storm, then moved west, making landfall in northern Japan on the 4th and being declared extratropical soon after.
On August 5, the extratropical remnants of Nora entered the Bering Sea, in the Eastern Hemisphere, where Nora got farther north than any other cyclone of the season, reaching about 62°N
62nd parallel north
The 62nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 62 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Asia and North America....
latitude and 178.5°W longitude near the Bering Strait, when advisories by the JMA were discontinued as Nora became an extratropical system.
Across the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, heavy rains from the storm triggered widespread flooding that killed 15 people and left 14 others missing.
Super Typhoon Opal
An easterly wave met with a polar trough just northwest of the island of PonapePonape
Ponape may refer to:*Pohnpei, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia*Ponape , a German sailing ship...
. on the afternoon of July 28. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the wave for the next day, as it headed westward, north of Truk. Slowly curving northeast from the island, the wave soon was upgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) with no eye structure on July 30. The depression strengthened on the morning of July 31 to 35 mph (55 km/h) winds and persisted throughout the day at that strength. The depression continued its northwestern curve, speeding up and weakening once again to 30 mph (50 km/h) on the morning of August 1. After passing Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
, the depression strengthened once again and became Tropical Storm Opal the same afternoon. The storm continued intensifying during the afternoon, with winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) by nightfall. By the next morning, Opal was upgraded into a typhoon, the eighth of the 1962 season.
The typhoon, now northwest of the island of Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, continued turning to the northwest, beginning to slow as the system continued strengthening. By nightfall, the system had an eye forming, wide as 5 miles (8 km). By nightfall, the system was up to winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and passing far east of the Philippines. Opal continued the northwest progression, strengthening throughout the day of August 3 and forming a wider eye. By the end of the day, the storm was now a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Strengthening continued overnight as the typhoon passed to the east of 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...
, strengthening close to super typhoon status by nightfall on August 4 with a shrinking eye. The next morning, Typhoon Opal strengthened into the second super typhoon of the season, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). During the day on August 5, Opal continued strengthening, peaking with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) just east of 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...
. (Operationally, Opal was classified as a 170 mph (275 km/h) typhoon, but this was downgraded to a 165 mph (270 km/h) in post-analysis.) Minimum recorded central pressures for Opal were registered at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg).
Soon after peaking, the storm struck the island of Taiwan with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). The storm weakened over land to 135 mph (220 km/h) after crossing the island and continued weakening into a 90 mph (145 km/h) typhoon as it made landfall in mainland China. The typhoon continued to weaken over land, weakening into a tropical storm on the morning of August 6. Opal persisted as a tropical storm on August 6, weakening into a tropical depression the next morning. During the afternoon of August 7, with influences from land, the storm became extratropical.
The extratropical remains of Opal crossed eastern mainland China, entering the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
in the late evening. Early in the morning of August 8, the storm struck North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
near the capital city of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. After crossing the country, the system reappeared in the sea before crossing. On the morning of August 9, the system made landfall on the Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
region of Japan, near the town of Rumoi. After crossing the island, the storm entered the Sea of Okhtosk on August 10. During the afternoon, the system crossed the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
and began a parallel with the Kamchatka Peninsula the next day. On the morning of August 13, the system entered the Aleutian Islands, passing west of Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
and the Rat Islands
Rat Islands
The Rat Islands are a volcanic group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska, between Buldir Island and the Near Islands group to its west, and Amchitka Pass and the Andreanof Islands group to its east, at about ....
before entering the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
. The extratropical remains disappeared on August 14 in the middle of the sea, just south of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
.
The impact of Typhoon Opal was most devastating in Taiwan, where originally 87 deaths were reported on the island, with 20 people missing and over 1400 injured. Some 5,000 people were homeless in Yilan City
Yilan City
Yilan City historically spelled Ilan or I-lan, is the capital of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is on the north side of Lanyang River. The first Han Chinese settled there in 1802....
. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Opal, along with 4,700 others damaged due to the high winds. Huge waves kicked up by Opel also sent a storm surge into the city, sweeping away homes. However, by August 8, this number was demoted to only 12 deaths on the island, 966 injured and five people missing. The 170 mph (275 km/h) strong winds took a freighter off its anchors and swamping it, along with a number of fishing boats. Although winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) were felt in 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...
, no fatalities were reported because of ample warning, causing residents to evacuate. In Taipei, Opal caused streets to flood, uprooted trees and tore down telephone lines. 38 injuries were also reported, with 35 houses destroyed. 180 were also damaged in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Opal caused two deaths in the islands of Japan, centered on the island of Southern Hokkaido. Nine people there were also injured and one person was reported missing. After Typhoon Opal passed through South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, seven fishermen were killed along the coast of the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
. 72 more people were missing. Five ships were also sunk in the Yellow Sea, twelve more were reported missing. The estimated damage total came out to about $25 million. (1962 USD; $184 million (2011 USD)) These totals came in the form of crop, transportation, and structural damage.
Typhoon Patsy
A surge from the westerlies entered the easterlies on August 5 near YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, making landfall there before becoming the 51st tropical system of the season the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-One strengthened into Tropical Storm Patsy, crossed the central Philippines on August 7 and 8, and strengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. After weakening to a tropical storm while moving northwestward, Patsy hit Hainan Island, turned to the west, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and dissipated over 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 –...
on the 11th due to cold air.
Patsy's heavy rain and flooding caused 29 casualties with more than 200 missing. Damage totaled out to $2.5 million (1962 USD ($13.36 million in 2006 USD). Damage included major infrastructural damage at the University of Santo Thomas and the shutting down of the Manila airport. The backlash from Patsy destroyed over 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rice, and damaged roads through Thailand. Patsy made landfall four times, three as a tropical system.
Super Typhoon Ruth
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT formed on August 11 just north of Truk. The wave moved to the northeast, strengthening into Tropical Storm Ruth on August 13 near 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...
, without starting as a depression. Ruth's movement was slow, but the storm's strength was fast as Ruth became a typhoon on August 14 while grazing the island of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
with winds of 75 mi/h.
Ruth moved north and rapidly strengthened, which included a jump from a Category 1 typhoon to a Category 3 tyhpoon on the 15th and soon to a Category 4 typhoon. Ruth became a Category 5 super typhoon on the same day, peaking at a 185 mi/h super typhoon late on August 16 while passing by Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
with a pressure of 916 mbar. Ruth kept that intensity until the next day when the storm weakened to 160 mi/h near Chichi Jima. Ruth continued to weaken, passing by Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and weakening to a tropical storm on August 22 while losing tropical characteristics. Ruth was declared a moderate extratropical storm on the 46th advisory on August 23. Damage in Saipan from Ruth is unavailable.
Ruth's remnants continued to the northeast where the extratropical storm made landfall on the 24th on the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
, passing 180°
180th meridian
The 180th meridian or antimeridian is the meridian which is 180° east or west of the Prime Meridian passing through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. It is common to both east longitude and west longitude. It is used as the basis for the International Date Line because it for the most part passes...
and thus entering the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. Ruth entered the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as a 986 mbar extratropical low on August 25. However, while an extratropical storm, Ruth underwent drastic changes in wind strength from the 23rd to its death on the 25th, Ruth went from a 45 mi/h storm straight back to a 60 mi/h storm, then to a minimal storm and back to a 55 mi/h storm when Ruth died out.
Ruth was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Typhoon Sarah.
Typhoon Sarah
A tropical wave formed near Iwo JimaIwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
on August 8 and moved gradually to south. The wave made a turn to the east and soon the northeast, lasting for six straight days. The first advisory released jumped the wave into a 70 mi/h tropical storm with the name Sarah. Sarah quickly made a cyclonic loop on the 15th which took until the 18th to complete. During this loop, Sarah reached its peak intensity of 85 mi/h, a Category 1 typhoon on the 16th. Sarah weakened quickly, making landfall in southern Japan as a 40 mi/h minimal tropical storm. Sarah weakened into a tropical depression, and encountered cool air, being declared a weak extratropical depression on the 22nd. No damage in Japan is available.
Sarah's remnants continued to the northeast where the storm missed entering the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as Sarah was a 984 mbar extratropical low on August 25.
Sarah spent six days as a tropical wave (August 8 - August 14), seven days as a tropical cyclone (August 15- August 22), and three days as an extratropical cyclone (August 23, 24 & 25), lasting for a total of sixteen days. Sarah was also one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Super Typhoon Ruth.
Typhoon Thelma
A 10 knots (19.6 km/h) easterly tropical wave on August 21 after inconclusive data on a surge from the westerlies caused the wave near the coast of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Rapid strengthening occurred as 58W was given the name Thelma. Thelma reached 70 mi/h winds but fell to 55 mi/h in cool air. Thelma gained strength again, reaching typhoon status by the 22nd. Thelma continued to intensify reaching 140 mi/h winds as a peak with a pressure of 946 mbar on the 25th near Japan. Thelma made landfall in Japan the next day as a 100 mi/h typhoon and turned to the east, making a second landfall in Japan as a minimal tropical storm, dissipating soon after.
The remnants of Thelma moved to the east and soon to the northeast, reaching a pressure of 988 mbar as an extratropical cyclone. Thelma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island
Little Sitkin Island
Little Sitkin Island is a volcanic island in the Rat Islands archipelago of the Western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, about three miles east of Davidof Island. Great Sitkin Island lies 185 mi further east in the Andreanof Islands.Little Sitkin is roughly circular and about 6 miles in diameter...
in the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical cyclone entered the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, becoming the fourth typhoon this season to do such, where the JMA ceased advisories on September 1 in the Central Pacific
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...
.
No damage or fatality reports are available. Thelma was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Super Typhoon Ruth and Typhoon Sarah.
Typhoon Vera
As Typhoons Ruth and Sarah were weakening, a new tropical system formed on August 23 far to the southeast of Okinawa, Japan near the active Typhoon Thelma. The system quickly moved to the northeast, strengthening into Tropical Storm Vera on the morning of August 25. Rapid strengthening occurred as Vera went from a 55 mi/h tropical storm to a 75 mi/h typhoon within 24 hours. Vera peaked the next morning as a 85 mi/h, 983 mbar typhoon, west of Iwo Jima. Weakening occurred slowly as Vera stayed a maximum tropical storm until the storm started affecting Japan. Vera quickly weakened into a tropical depression over southern Japan where it dissipated on the morning of August 28.No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Typhoon Vera.
Typhoon Wanda
The precursor to Wanda formed on August 23 southwest of PonapePohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
from a tropical wave from the Southern Hemisphere outdrafts. On the 24th, the first advisory was released near Truk. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression Fifty-Nine on the afternoon of August 27, and in the evening, it became Tropical Storm Wanda. Strengthening was slow as Wanda did not reach typhoon status until early August 29 northeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Typhoon Wanda reached a Category 2 strength as it moved through the Luzon strait on August 30. It continued its westward motion, peaking at 110 mi/h before cold air was entrained in the circulation. Wanda hit near Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on September 1 as a well-developed typhoon and dissipated later that day. The Japan Meteoroloical Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories.
Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, with millions of damage occurring. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then.
Wanda is considered the second worst typhoon in the recorded history of Hong Kong (second only to the catastrophic typhoon of September 2, 1937. Wanda also created the record of being the last of three typhoons to have caused sustained hurricane winds in Hong Kong in three consecutive years (after Typhoon Mary of 1960 and Typhoon Alice of 1961). This record has never been equalled ever since.
Super Typhoon Amy
The precursor to Super Typhoon Amy formed on August 27 far northeast of Truk as a surge from the westerlies moved into the easterlies . The wave moved west and became Tropical Depression 62W west of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
two days later. The depression quickly strengthened, becoming a tropical storm and being given the name Amy. Amy strengthened rapidly, becoming a typhoon on the 30th northeast of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Amy's movement was erratic, and reached super typhoon status on September 1 while making a curve to the northeast.
Amy strengthened into a weak Category 5 super typhoon northeast of the Philippines, peaking at 160 mi/h with a pressure of 932 mbar around midnight on September 1. Weakening was slow, and Amy made landfall in 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...
as a Category 4 super typhoon on September 4. Amy weakened quickly, making landfall in China as a 85 mi/h typhoon. Amy moved out into 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...
, sped up and made landfall in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as a 45 mi/h tropical storm on September 7. Amy was declared extratropical as a depression on September 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Amy for two more days. During that time, Amy made landfall in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
on the 9th, and entered the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, the sixth typhoon this season to do so. The JMA ceased advisories on September 10 in the sea.
Amy's flooding killed 24 people, with millions of dollars in damage (1962 USD) to crops, power, communication lines and buildings.
Tropical Storm Babe
The sixty-seventh tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on September 11 over several islands in the Philippines. Tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the wave began progressing westward, passing over the tip of an island in the South China SeaSouth 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...
. On September 13, about midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Sixty-Seven. There, the depression made a curve to the northwest, starting a progression in that direction. The depression continued for another two days out into the South China Sea, where the storm was upgraed to Tropical Storm Babe.
Tropical Storm Babe continued to the northwest, making its way towards the coast of Vietnam. On September 15, Tropical Storm Babe passed to the south of Hainan
Hainan
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...
, an island claimed as part of China. The storm peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on the same day, with a minimal pressure of 994 millibars (29.35 inches of Mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
). On September 16, Tropical Storm Babe made landfall in the central of the Vietnam coast. The depression then crossed the country, weakening into a tropical depression on September 17, crossing over the country of Laos. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system just after it left Laos.
The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the weakening system into Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, where it lasted for another day or so. On the evening of September 18, the Agency stopped following the weakening system, as it began to leave Cambodia and into the nearby country of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Typhoon Carla
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT, while Carla formed downstream. From the surge, a tropical wave on September 14 south of YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
. The wave was unable to gain strength, making landfall in 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 it was a tropical wave. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression 65W on September 19 off the Luzon coast. Tropical Depression 65W strengthened into a tropical storm on September 20, quickly gaining strength. Carla made landfall on Hainan Island on the 21st as a 85 mi/h typhoon, its peak winds. Carla continued moving west and made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 22 as a 65 mi/h tropical storm. Carla dissipated over land on September 23 from lack of moisture.
No damage reports are available in association with Carla, however at least 13 people were killed.
Typhoon Dinah
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT, while Dinah formed downstream. From the surge, a tropical wave formed near the coast 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...
on September 24. The wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Sixty-Nine twelve hours later. Strengthening was very slow, as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until September 29. During the depression stage, it made a curve to the northwest. Finally at the second advisory on September 29, the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was given the name Dinah.
Dinah moved to the west, continuing to strengthen and by the morning of September 30, Dinah was the sixteenth typhoon of the season. Dinah continued moving to the west, reaching Category 2 status on October 1, and Category 3 the next day. Dinah peaked on October 2 with 115 mi/h winds, a minimal Category 3 typhoon and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.10 inHg). Weakening was slow and Dinah made landfall in Hong Kong on October 3 as a maximum tropical storm with winds of 70 mi/h. Dinah quickly weakened into a depression over land and dissipated over Hong Kong on October 4.
Damage data for Hong Kong are unavailable.
Super Typhoon Emma
The seventy-third tropical wave of the season formed north of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on September 30 and moved south. The wave strengthened into Tropical Storm Emma at the first advisory on October 1. Emma strengthened into the eighteenth typhoon of the 1962 season and grazed Guam during a turn back to the north on October 1.
Emma continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on October 2, while passing Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and Category 3 intensity the next day. By the 4th, Emma became a category four super typhoon and reached Category 5 status. The next day, Emma peaked at 160 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 903 mbar. Weakening was slow, as Emma turned to the northeast. Emma peaked at 125 mi/h winds on October 7 and refused to weaken until October 9 when Emma fell to 120 mi/h winds. Emma sped up to the northeast and was declared extratropical on October 11 as a moderate Category 1 typhoon, due to cool air temperatures.
The remnants of Emma moved to the northeast, reaching a peak pressure of 950 mbar on October 12. Emma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island in the Aleutian Islands on October 13 as a 55 mi/h extratropical storm, and entered the Bering Sea the same day, dissipating soon afterwards at the 180°latitude line, entering the Central Pacific. Emma was the sixth typhoon to enter the Bering Sea.
Damage in Guam and Saipan totaled out at $250,000 (1962 USD), from damages to communication equipment, buildings and fishing boats ($1.6 million 2006 USD). Emma was the fifth super typhoon of the 1962 season.
Typhoon Freda
A 15 mi/h outdraft formed on the morning of September 28 south of Eniwetok Atoll. The outdraft became an ordinary tropical cyclone on October 3, when it developed 500 miles (804.7 km) off Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
. It moved to the northeast, then turned to a northwest where it strengthened into a typhoon and peaked at 115 mi/h on the 5th. Freda then turned and accelerated to the northeast, where it weakened until becoming extratropical on October 10 to the south of the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical remnants of Freda headed to the east, and hit Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
on October 12 with winds of 45-50 mph, with wind gusts up to 90 mi/h. There, great damage was seen across the Pacific Northwest, causing a major disruption in daily life with power outages and store closings from shattered windows.
As an extratropical storm, Freda caused an estimated $10 million in damage (1962 USD, $517 million 2006 USD), with 46 deaths occurring.
Typhoon Gilda
A tropical wave formed on October 18 and struck YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
as a wave. The wave strengthened with a flow from the Southern Hemisphere and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Four on the next day. Organization of the system was slow as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until it performed a cyclonic loop on October 22. and was given the name Gilda. Gilda strengthened rapidly and became a typhoon on October 23. Gilda strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon on October 26, peaking at 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Gilda kept this intensity until the next day when the storm weakened into a Category 3 typhoon. On the 28th, Gilda absorbed the weakening Typhoon Ivy southeast of Okinawa, Japan as a Category 2 typhoon after have a Fujiwhara interaction. Gilda sped up and weakened to a tropical storm on October 30 near Japan. Typhoon Gilda entered cool air and was declared an extra-tropical storm the same day at the 47th advisory near the Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Gilda to the northwest Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Islands, where Gilda was declared over on November 1 in the Central Pacific.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Gilda. Gilda had the same notability of Typhoon Kate earlier in the season by have a discontinuous track but of secondary lows on the lee.
Tropical Storm Harriet
The Japan Meteorological Agency first tracked Tropical Storm Harriet as a tropical wave on the morning on October 19 with a minimum pressure of 1003 mbar off the Philippines. The wave weakened to 1006 mbar and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Eight on October 22 out in the open South China Sea. The depression was raised into Tropical Storm Harriet on October 25 by the JMA, where a minimal pressure of 1000 mbar was recorded.Tropical Storm Harriet was first observed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on October 25, just off the east coast of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It hit that night as a 60 mi/h tropical storm, and crossed into the Indian Ocean. During landfall its storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
flooded the Laem Talumphuk peninsula in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand...
. There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast. It hit Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
on October 30, and dissipated the next day. In the urbanized area of Pak Phanang, water rose to a depth of four meters at the river nearby. Laem Talumpuk was swept clean by Harriet as all but five houses were destroyed in the village of four thousand people at the end of the peninsula, which had been battered with three meter high waves. In a town near the River Bang Chak, 30 percent of the houses were destroyed as well as half of the rice crop in the area.
The destruction from Tropical Storm Harriet took the lives of at least 769 residents of Thailand's southern provinces. 142 others were also deemed missing as of November 4, 1962, with over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD; $248.0 million 2011 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.
Typhoon Ivy
A tropical wave formed on October 26 near UlithiUlithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
and Woleai Atoll
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
. The wave moved to the northwest and strengthened from a wave into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mi/h. Interaction from the active Typhoon Gilda caused a Fujiwhara effect between the two and caused Ivy to weaken at a rapid pace from a Category 3 typhoon to a minimal tropical storm in 48 hours. The stronger Typhoon Gilda absorbed the weak Ivy on October 29 south of Iwo Jima.
Ivy never made landfall thus no damage or fatalities were reported.
Typhoon Jean
A easterly tropical wave after the polar trough fractured the superposition formed on November 3 near YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
. The wave made landfall in the Philippines on the 6th and strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-One over land. Strengthening occurred and the depression became Tropical Storm Jean on the 6th near Manila. Rapid strengthening occurred and Jean peaked at a 100 mi/h typhoon on November 9 near 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 –...
. Jean started weakening and dissipated on November 13 because of lack of upper level divergence.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Jean for six more days. During that time, Jean made an anti-cyclonic loop to the south, where Jean was declared an extra-tropical low on November 19 in the open 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...
. No damage or fatalities were reported.
Super Typhoon Karen
Typhoon Karen, which formed on November 7 in the open Western Pacific, explosively intensified to a 185 mi/h super typhoon on the 9th. It turned to the west, maintaining its powerful winds of 175-185 mph for 4 days as it crossed the islands of the West Pacific. Cool air weakened Karen as it turned to the north, and was only a minimal typhoon at its nearest approach to Japan. The storm turned eastward, where it became extratropical on November 18. Karen's strong winds caused $250 million in damage (1962 USD) and 11 casualties. Karen passed over the southern part 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...
in 1962. Wind gusts estimated near 185 mi/h destroyed 95% of all homes on the island.
Typhoon Lucy
A surge from the westerlies into MPT which was followed by cut-off low formed on November 24, while a depression formed downstream. This kind of formation is not unusual, both Typhoons Carla and Dinah formed in the same way. The system strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Six near KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
on November 25 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Lucy on the same day. Strengthening occurred slowly, as Lucy did not gain typhoon status until November 27. That same day, Lucy made landfall in the Philippines as an 80 mi/h typhoon. Lucy kept moving west and peaked at 115 mi/h, as a Category 3 typhoon on November 29. Lucy made landfall in the Philippines and southern 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 –...
on November 30. Lucy dissipated in the Strait of Taiwan on December 1 from cold air and land interaction. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased advisories that same day.
Five people were killed, with five million dollars in damage. ($32.6 million in 2006 USD). Winds of 60 mi/h were felt Cebu City Airport when Lucy passed over the area.
Tropical Storm Mary
The eighty-ninth (and second-to-last) tropical wave of the season formed in the South China Sea, several hundred miles west of the Philippines. The wave was upgraded by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as Tropical Storm Mary (instead of Tropical Depression Eighty-Nine) on December 1, following suit with the names used before. The depression was never followed by the Japan Meteorological Agency, however, the system was tracked by the Warning Center its entire time in the South China Sea. Mary went towards the southwest, peaking at winds of 55 mph (95 km/h) on December 2.After that, the storm went on a slow weakening process, weakening to a minimal tropical storm on December 3. The next advisory, Mary was downgraded to a tropical depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the storm. Mary did not affect land its in entire lifetime.
Tropical Storm Nadine
An easterly wave, the ninetieth (and final) of the season, was first sighted on December 6 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...
several hundred miles 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...
. The wave strengthened that day into Tropical Depression Ninety, appearing in 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...
's track data at that point. The depression curved to the northwest, striking the island 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...
on December 7. Tropical Depression Ninety curved to the southeast of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on December 8, strengthening into a tropical storm. Given the name Nadine by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it progressed northward, peaking at a minimal pressure of 974 millibars (28.76 inHg) and a wind speed of 60 mph (90 km/h) on December 10. Nadine began to approach the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
(180°), but started an extratropical transition that same day.
Nadine was declared an extratropical storm on December 10, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking the storm. On December 11, just after passing the 170°E longitude line
170th meridian east
The meridian 170° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, Nadine was declared extratropical by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The extratropical remains of Nadine crossed the International Date Line and on the night of December 11, the Agency ceased following Nadine as it had crossed into the Central Pacific basin.
Although Nadine posed a threat to the island 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...
(which had been struck by Typhoon Karen less than a month before), there were no reports of fatalities, damage or strong winds. With the minimal impact, the name Nadine was not retired after the 1962 season and remained in use for years after. When names were changed in 1979 for both male and female, the name Nadine has only been used for a tropical storm in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season since.
Other storms
In addition to the 30 storms, nine tropical depressions formed, most were unable to strengthen into a tropical storm.Tropical Depression Twenty-One
The 21st tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on May 21 in the open South China SeaSouth 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...
, east of the Philippines. The systems strengthened into a tropical depression moved to the southeast toward southwestern Vietnam. However, the depression returned to its northern progression on May 22 and dissipated on the same day without threatening land.
Tropical Depression Thirty-Nine
A tropical system formed on July 7 north of the island of KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. The system strengthened into a tropical depression the next day when the first advisory was released. The depression continuously changed directions, once on the 8th to the northwest, again the next day to the southwest and the final one on the 10th to the northwest again. The tropical depression continued to the northwest, but degenerated into a remnant low on the morning of July 12. The remnants continued moving away, dissipating on July 15.
The depression never made landfall, so no damage or fatalities were reported.
Tropical Depression Forty-One
As Typhoon Joan was weakening, a new tropical system formed in the South China Sea on the afternoon of July 10. The system strengthened while moving west, becoming Tropical Depression Forty-One the same day. The depression continued moving west at a rapid pace, passing Hainan Island and made landfall in northern Vietnam on July 11. The depression dissipated over land late that evening.Damage and fatalities in Vietnam from the depression are unavailable.
Tropical Depression Fifty-Five
A tropical system formed on August 14, off where the stronger Super Typhoon Ruth was, near the International Date LineInternational Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
. The system intensified into a tropical depression at the first advisory on the morning of the 14th. The depression made a turn and dissipated by the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-Five never made landfall, therefore no fatalities or damage was reported.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Four
An easterly tropical wave formed off northwest of Woleai AtollWoleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
and Buoy 317 (off the coast of Woleai) on September 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the wave that same day into Tropical Depression Sixty-Four. The depression progressed to the northeast, passing to the south of Ulithi six hours after formation. The depression continued, passing to the south of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, an island near Ulithi. It then began to straighten its progression, dissipating north of the island of Koror
Koror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
at about 135°W longitude. Once the depression dissipated, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression, never making landfall with any landmass in the Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Six
Like most of the tropical cyclones of the season, the sixty-sixth formed on September 11, around where Tropical Depression Fifty-Five had formed earlier in the season. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the disturbance, which was out in the open Pacific OceanPacific 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...
. The disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression on September 12. The depression progressed westward, with the Japan Meteorological Agency following suit as a tropical depression. As the depression became to make a curve towards 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 Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued following the strengthening depression. The depression, beginning to parallel the coast of Japan, strengthened into a tropical storm on September 15. The depression peaked in intensity with a pressure of 1002 mbar (29.58 inHg) on the same day, at its closest proximity to Japan. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on September 16, and started to make a curve to the northeast. The depression moved away from the coast of Japan and began its track out into the Pacific on September 17. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased following the system that day, located off the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. During its entire lifetime, the depression never made landfall.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight
The sixty-eighth easterly tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on September 22 a couple of hundred miles off the coast of the Philippines. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then upgraded the wave into Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight that day. The depression made a curve to the southwest, turning to the northwest just a few hours later. After starting a northwest progression, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight began running along the eastern coast of the Philippines. The depression eventually switched to a straightened, westward progression, as the cyclone neared landfall. On the afternoon of September 24, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight made landfall on the eastern shore of southern 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...
. The depression crossed the country, maintaining its strength.
The depression crossed over the capital of the Philippines, Manila and in six hours after landfall, the depression had returned to water. The depression then began its northwestern progression once again, heading on a path towards China. However, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight turned to the southwest and away from China. This progression did not last either. The system turned back to the northwest, heading towards 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 –...
. This progression remained stable, and the depression made landfall on September 26 in Vietnam. Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight crossed over land, dissipating the next day nearing the Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
border.
Tropical Depression Seventy-Five
Tropical Depression Seventy-Five formed on October 20 in the open Pacific Ocean, near a buoy close to the International Date LineInternational Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
. The depression moved to the northwest, dissipating on after two days near the island of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. The short-lived system never made landfall, and no damage or fatalities were reported to ships or buoys in the Ocean.
Tropical Depression Eighty-Five
The eighty-fifth tropical wave of the season formed in the South China SeaSouth 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...
on November 18. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Five over the sea the same day. The depression got near 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 –...
but cool air caused it to dissipate into a remnant low before landfall on November 20. No damage or fatalities were reported in Vietnam in association with the depression.
Storm names
In addition to the 30 named storms, an unnamed storm was tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency, 6219 and also known by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as Tropical Depression Sixty-Six. The name Karen was retired after this year and was replaced with Kim.{| style="width:90%;"
|
The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. Most tropical cyclones tend to form 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...
between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The majority of the Pacific typhoons in 1962 formed in the Pacific Ocean (north of the equator and west of the international date line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
) with two exceptions: Tropical Depressions Fifty and Sixty-three formed in the Central Pacific. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1962 Pacific hurricane season
1950-1969 Pacific hurricane seasons
The 1950–1963 Pacific hurricane seasons all began on May 15, 1950-65 in the northeast Pacific Ocean and on June 1, 1950-65 in the central Pacific. They ended on November 30, 1950-65...
. All tropical depressions are assigned a number. Most systems reaching tropical storm strength were assigned a name; all typhoons were named.
Season activity
1964 Pacific typhoon season
The 1964 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1964, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
with 26 typhoons. Six super typhoons formed in 1962 which were Georgia, Emma, Ruth, Opal, Amy and Karen. Even with the high activity, only about half the cyclones in 1962 made landfall. There were also seventeen suspect cyclones discovered by the JTWC in post-season reports. Three were reported to reach typhoon intensity, three at tropical storm status and two needed tropical depression warnings.
Two depressions, 50 and 63, formed in the Central Pacific under the Joint Hurricane Warning Center's (now The Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
) jurisdiction and were included in the JTWC archives. Both depressions stayed out to sea and had no effects on land. The Central Pacific also got Nora, Opal, Ruth, Gilda, Emma and Thelma, the remnants of Nadine and the ending of Karen near the end of the season.
Six typhoons entered the Bering Sea: Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Amy and Emma. Four of the six were super typhoons. Three typhoons just missed entering the Bering Sea: Typhoons Hope, Sarah and Gilda. Also, Typhoons Georgia, Hope, Joan, Nora, Opal, Ruth, Thelma, Wanda, Amy, Emma, Gilda, Jean and Karen all lasted for at least one week with Opal lasting for eighteen straight days from a wave to the day the JMA ceased advisories.
Tropical Storm Fran
The second tropical wave formed on the morning of February 2 off the southeastern coast of the PhilippinesPhilippines
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...
. The storm quickly intensified into a tropical depression and soon into the first tropical storm of the 1962 season. The intensifying tropical cyclone went through the latter half of February 2 as a 45 mph (70&nbp;km/h) tropical storm, progressing southwest towards Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. However, on the early morning of February 3, the storm curved to the northeast and away from Indonesia. The strength remained unchanged during the day and before long reached its peak winds speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Continuing northward away from the coast of the Philippines, Fran remained at peak winds until the evening of February 4. During the morning hours of February 5, Fran dropped down to 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm and continued northward, weakening to 40 mph (60 km/h). On the morning of February 6, Fran weakened into a tropical depression and the final advisory was released six hours after.
Super Typhoon Georgia
A surge from an outdraft in the Southern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
entered the western Pacific on the afternoon of April 13. This surge began to come together near the island of Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
and progressed northwestward through the Pacific. After crossing over Woleai, the system neared the island of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
and began forming into the second tropical depression of the 1962 season. On the afternoon of April 16, the system was declared a tropical depression. The depression made a curve to the south during the north and early on April 17 reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Georgia on April 17 as the system continued curving, turning to the east. An eye began to form during the afternoon, it got to be 50 miles (80.5 km) wide. The developing cyclone was declared a typhoon on the afternoon with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h). By the morning of April 18, Georgia had curved again, now to the north, gaining strength and developing an elliptical eye. Through the afternoon of April 18, Georgia continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 status during the morning. Rapid strengthening and development continued through the afternoon, with minimum pressures of 953 millibars (28.14 inHg) on the surface reported.
Entering the morning of April 19, Georgia began forming a well-defined eye, having already strengthened into a Category 3 cyclone. Intensification continued throughout the day with sustained winds reaching 145 mph (225 km/h) by the end of the day. The next morning, Typhoon Georgia reached its peak sustained winds of 150 mph (230 km/h) just west of the island 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...
. The lowest minimum pressure recorded at that point was 936 millibars (27.64 inHg). The typhoon retained its strength for most of April 20, but in the late afternoon, the system began to weaken as it entered colder waters. Georgia curved to the northeast and slowly weakened during April 21, by the end of the day, the eye was beginning to come apart. During the morning of April 22, surface winds were reported at only 90 mph (145 km/h) and sustained winds soon followed. The cold waters continued to take its toll on the system, becoming a minimal Category 1 typhoon by the evening with no well-defined eye. On the morning of April 23, Georgia weakened into a tropical storm and slowly weakened during the day as it began a transition into an extratropical cyclone. On the morning of April 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm as it had become extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).
The extratropical remnants of Georgia continued northward east of the coast of 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...
. On April 26, the extratropical remnants passed to the southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
. During the day, the system curved once again, turning westward before another curve to the south. During the day on April 27, the system returned to its northeastern pattern before dissipating on April 29, southeast of the peninsula.
In its wake, the predecessor system to Typhoon Georgia left 9.85 inch (0.25019 m) in rainfall over Yap Island
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, where no damage was recorded. Reported damages caused by Typhoon Georgia were limited. The only report was a ship and its cargo in the Pacific suffered $28,000 in damages (1962 USD ($208,000 in 2011 USD)).
Typhoon Hope
A surge from the easterlies came in contact with a polar trough on May 13, creating an easterly wave which began developing in the afternoon near the island of KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. The wave progressed northwestward away from the island and continued developing over the next few days. On May 16, the wave was upgraded to a tropical storm, the third of the season off the coast of the Philippines with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The storm, named Hope, continued northwestward, peaking first at 60 mph (90 km/h) before striking several islands over the Philippines. While over land, Tropical Storm Hope weakened to a minimal tropical storm on May 17 and into a tropical depression with no circulation later that day. The storm remained a tropical depression over the day, crossing the eastern island of the Philippines. Tropical Depression Hope left the island and began to strengthen back into a minimal tropical storm by May 18. However, the storm interacted with land once more and weakened back into a tropical depression on May 18.
After leaving the Philippines for the final time, the depression began to develop, becoming a tropical storm for the third time since May 16 and developing a small eye. As Tropical Storm Hope turned further northeast, the eye expanded and the storm was soon declared a typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center late evening on May 19. The next day, Hope continued to strengthen and develop, and while just south of Okinawa on May 20, peaked at 90 mph (140 km/h) sustained winds. (Operationally, Typhoon Hope was declared a 100 mph (170 km/h), Category 2 typhoon, but this was demoted in post-analysis.) An internal pressure of 978 millibars (28.88 inHg) was recorded within a 30 miles (48.3 km) wide eye. Hope began to encounter cold air near Okinawa, Japan, weakening rapidly from a typhoon to a tropical storm on May 21. Hope's eye fell apart and started to begin transition to its extratropical stage. On the morning of May 22, Hope's sustained winds fell below tropical storm stage and the system became a tropical depression. By the afternoon, Hope was declared extratropical and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system.
The extratropical remnants of Typhoon Hope continued northeastward towards the coast of Japan on May 23. The system turned just offshore and paralleled the eastern coast for several days. After May 24, the system begins to leave the Japanese coast in favor of the open Pacific Ocean but made a dart to the north towards the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
on May 26. The remains turned once again to the northeast, paralleling the Kamchatka Peninsula for the next day. The storm turned offshore again on May 27 and disappeared near the Aleutian Islands on May 28.
Tropical Storm Iris
An easterly wave, the 22nd of the 1962 season, forming on May 26 met a polar trough northeast of the island of Koror. This fracture caused the wave to began developing during the early morning hours. The system rapidly intensified and became the fourth tropical depression of the season on the same afternoon. Rapid intensification occurred and within six hours, the depression became Tropical Storm Iris on May 26 just east of the Philippines. The eye of Iris began to define itself, as operationally winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h) on May 27, which would classify the system a typhoon. However, in post-analysis, Iris was never able to strengthen into a typhoon, peaking at winds of 70 mph (115 km/h) off the Philippine coast. A minimum central pressure was read of 991 millibars (29.26 inHg) within the storm. Iris paralleled the shore for several hours, beginning a rapid weakening process, falling to a minimal tropical storm with winds of only 40 mph (60 km/h) by the end of the day.During the morning of May 28, Iris began to suffer from its lack of upper-level divergence and as a result was demoted into a tropical depression. The weakening system persisted two more days off the coast and dissipated on the morning of May 30. The dissipating remains of the Iris persisted for another day off the Philippines, dissipating southeast of 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...
on May 31.
Reported impact from Iris in the Philippines were five deaths reported and no estimated damage to crops on the islands.
Typhoon Joan
Another easterly wave formed off to the northeast of the Philippines on the afternoon of July 6 after reaching a polar trough. The system quickly organized itself, strengthening into a tropical storm on the morning of July 7. Named Joan, the storm curved to the northwest through the Pacific, rapidly intensfying into a typhoon by the next day. The storm reached a peak sustained windspeed of 90 mph (150 km/h) just to the southeast of the island of Okinawa. The minimum pressure for the storm was registered at 985 millibars (29.09 inHg). After passing Okinawa on July 9, the forward speed in Typhoon Joan increased and the storm began to weaken. The storm boasted an unorganized, elliptical eye as it soon fell to a minimal hurricane that afternoon. On the evening of July 9, the now-Tropical Storm Joan passed due east of Shanghai, China before turning to the northeast on the morning of July 10. With only sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), the system struck the shore of South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on the afternoon of July 10. The storm continued weakening as it crossed the 38th parallel and entered North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, falling to a minimal tropical storm over land. After emerging from North Korea, the storm raced to the northeast before experiencing cold air and become extratropical on the morning of July 11.
After becoming extratropical, the remains of Joan continued northeastward, curving along the coast of China. The system soon left China and entered the waters of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
July 12, soon making landfall on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin
Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin Oblast is a federal subject of Russia comprising the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.The oblast has an area of 87,100 km² and a population of 546,695...
. After crossing the island, the system entered the Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
, where it turned northward towards mainland Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. During the day of July 14 , the system made landfall near the city of Magadan
Magadan
Magadan is a port town on the Sea of Okhotsk and gateway to the Kolyma region. It is the administrative center of Magadan Oblast , in the Russian Far East. Founded in 1929 on the site of an earlier settlement from the 1920s, it was granted the status of town in 1939...
and crossed the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
. Tracking of the system ceased just north of Magadan on the morning of July 15.
Reported damage from Typhoon Joan was minimal in the Koreas, with estimates of only $500,000 (1962 USD ($3.68 million in 2011 USD). This damage total was estimated from damage to crops in the country and to the communications infastructure.
Typhoon Kate
Another surge from the easterlies, combined with the forty-fourth tropical wave of the season, began to develop off the east coast of 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...
in the Philippines on the morning of July 18. At the time, the tropical wave had winds of 15 mph (25 km/h) on its surface. The wave rapidly intensified during the morning and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upped the system to a tropical depression the same afternoon. The next morning the system was upgraded to a tropical storm and received the name Kate. The new storm had a small, open eyewall which expanded during the day as the storm slowly intensified through and by the late morning of July 20, the storm became a typhoon with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). That morning, the eye had only a 12 miles (19.3 km) diameter and had similar surface winds. During the afternoon, the storm made a curve to the southwest from its track and looped back northward. By the morning of July 21, the storm began a northeastern turn towards Taiwan.
The typhoon continued to intensify, maintaining typhoon status during the day and reaching a peak sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) on the morning of July 22. Central pressures were recorded at a minimum of 964 millibars (28.47 inHg) at peak as well. (Operationally, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had Kate peaking at sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, however this was demoted in post-analysis.) As Kate approached Taiwan, the storm weakened, making landfall on the afternoon of July 22 near Taitung City
Taitung City
Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung...
with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm crossed the island over the afternoon, weakening into a tropical storm by the afternoon. After emerging from Taiwan, Tropical Storm Kate turned to the northwest and made landfall once again near Wenzhou
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
on July 23 with sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). The interaction with land cause quick dissipation of the storm over mainland China, and the warning center ceased following the storm on the morning of July 24. The remains of Kate continued on for a short distance, crossing through China over the next day and into Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
before dissipating on July 25.
The damage left behind from Typhoon Kate were extensive as the storm killed 110 residents and caused $25 million (1962 USD ($184 million in 2011 USD)) in damages to crops, homes and infrastructure.
Typhoon Louise
A tropical wave formed on July 19 southeast of Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
and moved to the north. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Louise on July 20. Rapid strengthening occurred, as Louise was able to reach typhoon status on July 21 at the third advisory. Louise made a curve to west and strengthened into a maximum Category 1 typhoon on July 24. Louise passed by the island of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
and moved to the northeast, whacking Japan as a maximum tropical storm.
Louise moved over land and quickly weakened into a depression, where the JTWC declared that Louise had dissipated, however the JMA continued to release advisories on Louise. Louise moved to the northeast and advisories were discontinued near Japan's northernmost islands on July 29. Louise killed fifteen people and doing $7.5 million (1962 USD- $47 million in 2006 USD) in damage to crops, homes and bridges in Japan.
Tropical Storm Marge
A tropical wave formed in the open Pacific Ocean waters on July 25 and strengthened into Tropical Depression Forty-Seven on July 28 in an area of ocean north of Truk. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name Marge. Marge peaked at a 45 mi/h, 1002 mbar weak tropical storm on July 28. Marge dissipated on the morning of July 29 near 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...
and Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
.
No damage or fatalities were reported, as Marge never made landfall.
Typhoon Nora
Tropical Depression 46 formed on July 26 west 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...
from an easterly tropical wave and a surge from the westerlies at the 200 mbar level. Strengthening occurred slowly as 46W was not given the name Nora until July 29. Nora moved northward, the storm reached typhoon status and soon peaked at 85 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 965 mbar on August 1. Nora made landfall in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on August 2 as a moderate tropical storm, then moved west, making landfall in northern Japan on the 4th and being declared extratropical soon after.
On August 5, the extratropical remnants of Nora entered the Bering Sea, in the Eastern Hemisphere, where Nora got farther north than any other cyclone of the season, reaching about 62°N
62nd parallel north
The 62nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 62 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Asia and North America....
latitude and 178.5°W longitude near the Bering Strait, when advisories by the JMA were discontinued as Nora became an extratropical system.
Across the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, heavy rains from the storm triggered widespread flooding that killed 15 people and left 14 others missing.
Super Typhoon Opal
An easterly wave met with a polar trough just northwest of the island of PonapePonape
Ponape may refer to:*Pohnpei, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia*Ponape , a German sailing ship...
. on the afternoon of July 28. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the wave for the next day, as it headed westward, north of Truk. Slowly curving northeast from the island, the wave soon was upgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) with no eye structure on July 30. The depression strengthened on the morning of July 31 to 35 mph (55 km/h) winds and persisted throughout the day at that strength. The depression continued its northwestern curve, speeding up and weakening once again to 30 mph (50 km/h) on the morning of August 1. After passing Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
, the depression strengthened once again and became Tropical Storm Opal the same afternoon. The storm continued intensifying during the afternoon, with winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) by nightfall. By the next morning, Opal was upgraded into a typhoon, the eighth of the 1962 season.
The typhoon, now northwest of the island of Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, continued turning to the northwest, beginning to slow as the system continued strengthening. By nightfall, the system had an eye forming, wide as 5 miles (8 km). By nightfall, the system was up to winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and passing far east of the Philippines. Opal continued the northwest progression, strengthening throughout the day of August 3 and forming a wider eye. By the end of the day, the storm was now a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Strengthening continued overnight as the typhoon passed to the east of 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...
, strengthening close to super typhoon status by nightfall on August 4 with a shrinking eye. The next morning, Typhoon Opal strengthened into the second super typhoon of the season, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). During the day on August 5, Opal continued strengthening, peaking with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) just east of 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...
. (Operationally, Opal was classified as a 170 mph (275 km/h) typhoon, but this was downgraded to a 165 mph (270 km/h) in post-analysis.) Minimum recorded central pressures for Opal were registered at 910 millibars (26.87 inHg).
Soon after peaking, the storm struck the island of Taiwan with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). The storm weakened over land to 135 mph (220 km/h) after crossing the island and continued weakening into a 90 mph (145 km/h) typhoon as it made landfall in mainland China. The typhoon continued to weaken over land, weakening into a tropical storm on the morning of August 6. Opal persisted as a tropical storm on August 6, weakening into a tropical depression the next morning. During the afternoon of August 7, with influences from land, the storm became extratropical.
The extratropical remains of Opal crossed eastern mainland China, entering the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
in the late evening. Early in the morning of August 8, the storm struck North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
near the capital city of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. After crossing the country, the system reappeared in the sea before crossing. On the morning of August 9, the system made landfall on the Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
region of Japan, near the town of Rumoi. After crossing the island, the storm entered the Sea of Okhtosk on August 10. During the afternoon, the system crossed the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
and began a parallel with the Kamchatka Peninsula the next day. On the morning of August 13, the system entered the Aleutian Islands, passing west of Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
and the Rat Islands
Rat Islands
The Rat Islands are a volcanic group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska, between Buldir Island and the Near Islands group to its west, and Amchitka Pass and the Andreanof Islands group to its east, at about ....
before entering the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
. The extratropical remains disappeared on August 14 in the middle of the sea, just south of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
.
The impact of Typhoon Opal was most devastating in Taiwan, where originally 87 deaths were reported on the island, with 20 people missing and over 1400 injured. Some 5,000 people were homeless in Yilan City
Yilan City
Yilan City historically spelled Ilan or I-lan, is the capital of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is on the north side of Lanyang River. The first Han Chinese settled there in 1802....
. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Opal, along with 4,700 others damaged due to the high winds. Huge waves kicked up by Opel also sent a storm surge into the city, sweeping away homes. However, by August 8, this number was demoted to only 12 deaths on the island, 966 injured and five people missing. The 170 mph (275 km/h) strong winds took a freighter off its anchors and swamping it, along with a number of fishing boats. Although winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) were felt in 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...
, no fatalities were reported because of ample warning, causing residents to evacuate. In Taipei, Opal caused streets to flood, uprooted trees and tore down telephone lines. 38 injuries were also reported, with 35 houses destroyed. 180 were also damaged in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Opal caused two deaths in the islands of Japan, centered on the island of Southern Hokkaido. Nine people there were also injured and one person was reported missing. After Typhoon Opal passed through South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, seven fishermen were killed along the coast of the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
. 72 more people were missing. Five ships were also sunk in the Yellow Sea, twelve more were reported missing. The estimated damage total came out to about $25 million. (1962 USD; $184 million (2011 USD)) These totals came in the form of crop, transportation, and structural damage.
Typhoon Patsy
A surge from the westerlies entered the easterlies on August 5 near YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, making landfall there before becoming the 51st tropical system of the season the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-One strengthened into Tropical Storm Patsy, crossed the central Philippines on August 7 and 8, and strengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. After weakening to a tropical storm while moving northwestward, Patsy hit Hainan Island, turned to the west, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and dissipated over 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 –...
on the 11th due to cold air.
Patsy's heavy rain and flooding caused 29 casualties with more than 200 missing. Damage totaled out to $2.5 million (1962 USD ($13.36 million in 2006 USD). Damage included major infrastructural damage at the University of Santo Thomas and the shutting down of the Manila airport. The backlash from Patsy destroyed over 6400 acres (25.9 km²) of rice, and damaged roads through Thailand. Patsy made landfall four times, three as a tropical system.
Super Typhoon Ruth
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT formed on August 11 just north of Truk. The wave moved to the northeast, strengthening into Tropical Storm Ruth on August 13 near 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...
, without starting as a depression. Ruth's movement was slow, but the storm's strength was fast as Ruth became a typhoon on August 14 while grazing the island of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
with winds of 75 mi/h.
Ruth moved north and rapidly strengthened, which included a jump from a Category 1 typhoon to a Category 3 tyhpoon on the 15th and soon to a Category 4 typhoon. Ruth became a Category 5 super typhoon on the same day, peaking at a 185 mi/h super typhoon late on August 16 while passing by Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
with a pressure of 916 mbar. Ruth kept that intensity until the next day when the storm weakened to 160 mi/h near Chichi Jima. Ruth continued to weaken, passing by Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and weakening to a tropical storm on August 22 while losing tropical characteristics. Ruth was declared a moderate extratropical storm on the 46th advisory on August 23. Damage in Saipan from Ruth is unavailable.
Ruth's remnants continued to the northeast where the extratropical storm made landfall on the 24th on the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi
Semisopochnoi Island
Semisopochnoi Island is part of the Rat Islands group in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is uninhabited and provides an important nesting area for maritime birds. The island is of volcanic origin, containing several volcanoes including Mount Cerberus...
, passing 180°
180th meridian
The 180th meridian or antimeridian is the meridian which is 180° east or west of the Prime Meridian passing through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. It is common to both east longitude and west longitude. It is used as the basis for the International Date Line because it for the most part passes...
and thus entering the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. Ruth entered the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as a 986 mbar extratropical low on August 25. However, while an extratropical storm, Ruth underwent drastic changes in wind strength from the 23rd to its death on the 25th, Ruth went from a 45 mi/h storm straight back to a 60 mi/h storm, then to a minimal storm and back to a 55 mi/h storm when Ruth died out.
Ruth was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Typhoon Sarah.
Typhoon Sarah
A tropical wave formed near Iwo JimaIwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
on August 8 and moved gradually to south. The wave made a turn to the east and soon the northeast, lasting for six straight days. The first advisory released jumped the wave into a 70 mi/h tropical storm with the name Sarah. Sarah quickly made a cyclonic loop on the 15th which took until the 18th to complete. During this loop, Sarah reached its peak intensity of 85 mi/h, a Category 1 typhoon on the 16th. Sarah weakened quickly, making landfall in southern Japan as a 40 mi/h minimal tropical storm. Sarah weakened into a tropical depression, and encountered cool air, being declared a weak extratropical depression on the 22nd. No damage in Japan is available.
Sarah's remnants continued to the northeast where the storm missed entering the Bering Sea of Alaska and Russia, where the JMA ceased advisories as Sarah was a 984 mbar extratropical low on August 25.
Sarah spent six days as a tropical wave (August 8 - August 14), seven days as a tropical cyclone (August 15- August 22), and three days as an extratropical cyclone (August 23, 24 & 25), lasting for a total of sixteen days. Sarah was also one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Typhoon Thelma and Super Typhoon Ruth.
Typhoon Thelma
A 10 knots (19.6 km/h) easterly tropical wave on August 21 after inconclusive data on a surge from the westerlies caused the wave near the coast of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Rapid strengthening occurred as 58W was given the name Thelma. Thelma reached 70 mi/h winds but fell to 55 mi/h in cool air. Thelma gained strength again, reaching typhoon status by the 22nd. Thelma continued to intensify reaching 140 mi/h winds as a peak with a pressure of 946 mbar on the 25th near Japan. Thelma made landfall in Japan the next day as a 100 mi/h typhoon and turned to the east, making a second landfall in Japan as a minimal tropical storm, dissipating soon after.
The remnants of Thelma moved to the east and soon to the northeast, reaching a pressure of 988 mbar as an extratropical cyclone. Thelma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island
Little Sitkin Island
Little Sitkin Island is a volcanic island in the Rat Islands archipelago of the Western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, about three miles east of Davidof Island. Great Sitkin Island lies 185 mi further east in the Andreanof Islands.Little Sitkin is roughly circular and about 6 miles in diameter...
in the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical cyclone entered the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, becoming the fourth typhoon this season to do such, where the JMA ceased advisories on September 1 in the Central Pacific
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...
.
No damage or fatality reports are available. Thelma was one of three active systems on August 21 at the same time with Super Typhoon Ruth and Typhoon Sarah.
Typhoon Vera
As Typhoons Ruth and Sarah were weakening, a new tropical system formed on August 23 far to the southeast of Okinawa, Japan near the active Typhoon Thelma. The system quickly moved to the northeast, strengthening into Tropical Storm Vera on the morning of August 25. Rapid strengthening occurred as Vera went from a 55 mi/h tropical storm to a 75 mi/h typhoon within 24 hours. Vera peaked the next morning as a 85 mi/h, 983 mbar typhoon, west of Iwo Jima. Weakening occurred slowly as Vera stayed a maximum tropical storm until the storm started affecting Japan. Vera quickly weakened into a tropical depression over southern Japan where it dissipated on the morning of August 28.No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Typhoon Vera.
Typhoon Wanda
The precursor to Wanda formed on August 23 southwest of PonapePohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
from a tropical wave from the Southern Hemisphere outdrafts. On the 24th, the first advisory was released near Truk. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression Fifty-Nine on the afternoon of August 27, and in the evening, it became Tropical Storm Wanda. Strengthening was slow as Wanda did not reach typhoon status until early August 29 northeast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Typhoon Wanda reached a Category 2 strength as it moved through the Luzon strait on August 30. It continued its westward motion, peaking at 110 mi/h before cold air was entrained in the circulation. Wanda hit near Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on September 1 as a well-developed typhoon and dissipated later that day. The Japan Meteoroloical Agency continued tracking Wanda over China, and soon re-entered water on the 3rd, quickly making landfall again on Hainan Island where the JMA ceased advisories.
Wanda was responsible for 434 fatalities, with millions of damage occurring. Storm surge was significant in Hong Kong and the water level was 17'9" above chart datum in some places. Maximum hourly mean wind and instantaneous minimum pressure at the Royal Observatory were 68 knots (133 km/h) and 953 mbar. Neither record has been surpassed since then.
Wanda is considered the second worst typhoon in the recorded history of Hong Kong (second only to the catastrophic typhoon of September 2, 1937. Wanda also created the record of being the last of three typhoons to have caused sustained hurricane winds in Hong Kong in three consecutive years (after Typhoon Mary of 1960 and Typhoon Alice of 1961). This record has never been equalled ever since.
Super Typhoon Amy
The precursor to Super Typhoon Amy formed on August 27 far northeast of Truk as a surge from the westerlies moved into the easterlies . The wave moved west and became Tropical Depression 62W west of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
two days later. The depression quickly strengthened, becoming a tropical storm and being given the name Amy. Amy strengthened rapidly, becoming a typhoon on the 30th northeast of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Amy's movement was erratic, and reached super typhoon status on September 1 while making a curve to the northeast.
Amy strengthened into a weak Category 5 super typhoon northeast of the Philippines, peaking at 160 mi/h with a pressure of 932 mbar around midnight on September 1. Weakening was slow, and Amy made landfall in 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...
as a Category 4 super typhoon on September 4. Amy weakened quickly, making landfall in China as a 85 mi/h typhoon. Amy moved out into 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...
, sped up and made landfall in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as a 45 mi/h tropical storm on September 7. Amy was declared extratropical as a depression on September 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking Amy for two more days. During that time, Amy made landfall in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
on the 9th, and entered the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, the sixth typhoon this season to do so. The JMA ceased advisories on September 10 in the sea.
Amy's flooding killed 24 people, with millions of dollars in damage (1962 USD) to crops, power, communication lines and buildings.
Tropical Storm Babe
The sixty-seventh tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on September 11 over several islands in the Philippines. Tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the wave began progressing westward, passing over the tip of an island in the South China SeaSouth 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...
. On September 13, about midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Sixty-Seven. There, the depression made a curve to the northwest, starting a progression in that direction. The depression continued for another two days out into the South China Sea, where the storm was upgraed to Tropical Storm Babe.
Tropical Storm Babe continued to the northwest, making its way towards the coast of Vietnam. On September 15, Tropical Storm Babe passed to the south of Hainan
Hainan
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...
, an island claimed as part of China. The storm peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on the same day, with a minimal pressure of 994 millibars (29.35 inches of Mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
). On September 16, Tropical Storm Babe made landfall in the central of the Vietnam coast. The depression then crossed the country, weakening into a tropical depression on September 17, crossing over the country of Laos. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the system just after it left Laos.
The Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the weakening system into Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, where it lasted for another day or so. On the evening of September 18, the Agency stopped following the weakening system, as it began to leave Cambodia and into the nearby country of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Typhoon Carla
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT, while Carla formed downstream. From the surge, a tropical wave on September 14 south of YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
. The wave was unable to gain strength, making landfall in 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 it was a tropical wave. The wave finally strengthened into Tropical Depression 65W on September 19 off the Luzon coast. Tropical Depression 65W strengthened into a tropical storm on September 20, quickly gaining strength. Carla made landfall on Hainan Island on the 21st as a 85 mi/h typhoon, its peak winds. Carla continued moving west and made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 22 as a 65 mi/h tropical storm. Carla dissipated over land on September 23 from lack of moisture.
No damage reports are available in association with Carla, however at least 13 people were killed.
Typhoon Dinah
A surge from the westerlies and a cut-off caused an MPT, while Dinah formed downstream. From the surge, a tropical wave formed near the coast 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...
on September 24. The wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Sixty-Nine twelve hours later. Strengthening was very slow, as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until September 29. During the depression stage, it made a curve to the northwest. Finally at the second advisory on September 29, the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was given the name Dinah.
Dinah moved to the west, continuing to strengthen and by the morning of September 30, Dinah was the sixteenth typhoon of the season. Dinah continued moving to the west, reaching Category 2 status on October 1, and Category 3 the next day. Dinah peaked on October 2 with 115 mi/h winds, a minimal Category 3 typhoon and a minimum pressure of 953 mbar (28.10 inHg). Weakening was slow and Dinah made landfall in Hong Kong on October 3 as a maximum tropical storm with winds of 70 mi/h. Dinah quickly weakened into a depression over land and dissipated over Hong Kong on October 4.
Damage data for Hong Kong are unavailable.
Super Typhoon Emma
The seventy-third tropical wave of the season formed north of SaipanSaipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on September 30 and moved south. The wave strengthened into Tropical Storm Emma at the first advisory on October 1. Emma strengthened into the eighteenth typhoon of the 1962 season and grazed Guam during a turn back to the north on October 1.
Emma continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on October 2, while passing Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and Category 3 intensity the next day. By the 4th, Emma became a category four super typhoon and reached Category 5 status. The next day, Emma peaked at 160 mi/h winds with a minimum pressure of 903 mbar. Weakening was slow, as Emma turned to the northeast. Emma peaked at 125 mi/h winds on October 7 and refused to weaken until October 9 when Emma fell to 120 mi/h winds. Emma sped up to the northeast and was declared extratropical on October 11 as a moderate Category 1 typhoon, due to cool air temperatures.
The remnants of Emma moved to the northeast, reaching a peak pressure of 950 mbar on October 12. Emma made landfall on Little Sitkin Island in the Aleutian Islands on October 13 as a 55 mi/h extratropical storm, and entered the Bering Sea the same day, dissipating soon afterwards at the 180°latitude line, entering the Central Pacific. Emma was the sixth typhoon to enter the Bering Sea.
Damage in Guam and Saipan totaled out at $250,000 (1962 USD), from damages to communication equipment, buildings and fishing boats ($1.6 million 2006 USD). Emma was the fifth super typhoon of the 1962 season.
Typhoon Freda
A 15 mi/h outdraft formed on the morning of September 28 south of Eniwetok Atoll. The outdraft became an ordinary tropical cyclone on October 3, when it developed 500 miles (804.7 km) off Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
. It moved to the northeast, then turned to a northwest where it strengthened into a typhoon and peaked at 115 mi/h on the 5th. Freda then turned and accelerated to the northeast, where it weakened until becoming extratropical on October 10 to the south of the Aleutian Islands. The extratropical remnants of Freda headed to the east, and hit Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
on October 12 with winds of 45-50 mph, with wind gusts up to 90 mi/h. There, great damage was seen across the Pacific Northwest, causing a major disruption in daily life with power outages and store closings from shattered windows.
As an extratropical storm, Freda caused an estimated $10 million in damage (1962 USD, $517 million 2006 USD), with 46 deaths occurring.
Typhoon Gilda
A tropical wave formed on October 18 and struck YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
as a wave. The wave strengthened with a flow from the Southern Hemisphere and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Four on the next day. Organization of the system was slow as the depression did not reach tropical storm status until it performed a cyclonic loop on October 22. and was given the name Gilda. Gilda strengthened rapidly and became a typhoon on October 23. Gilda strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon on October 26, peaking at 933 mbar (hPa; 27.55 inHg) with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Gilda kept this intensity until the next day when the storm weakened into a Category 3 typhoon. On the 28th, Gilda absorbed the weakening Typhoon Ivy southeast of Okinawa, Japan as a Category 2 typhoon after have a Fujiwhara interaction. Gilda sped up and weakened to a tropical storm on October 30 near Japan. Typhoon Gilda entered cool air and was declared an extra-tropical storm the same day at the 47th advisory near the Japanese coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Gilda to the northwest Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Islands, where Gilda was declared over on November 1 in the Central Pacific.
No damage or fatalities were reported in association with Gilda. Gilda had the same notability of Typhoon Kate earlier in the season by have a discontinuous track but of secondary lows on the lee.
Tropical Storm Harriet
The Japan Meteorological Agency first tracked Tropical Storm Harriet as a tropical wave on the morning on October 19 with a minimum pressure of 1003 mbar off the Philippines. The wave weakened to 1006 mbar and became Tropical Depression Seventy-Eight on October 22 out in the open South China Sea. The depression was raised into Tropical Storm Harriet on October 25 by the JMA, where a minimal pressure of 1000 mbar was recorded.Tropical Storm Harriet was first observed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on October 25, just off the east coast of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It hit that night as a 60 mi/h tropical storm, and crossed into the Indian Ocean. During landfall its storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
flooded the Laem Talumphuk peninsula in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand...
. There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast. It hit Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
on October 30, and dissipated the next day. In the urbanized area of Pak Phanang, water rose to a depth of four meters at the river nearby. Laem Talumpuk was swept clean by Harriet as all but five houses were destroyed in the village of four thousand people at the end of the peninsula, which had been battered with three meter high waves. In a town near the River Bang Chak, 30 percent of the houses were destroyed as well as half of the rice crop in the area.
The destruction from Tropical Storm Harriet took the lives of at least 769 residents of Thailand's southern provinces. 142 others were also deemed missing as of November 4, 1962, with over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD; $248.0 million 2011 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.
Typhoon Ivy
A tropical wave formed on October 26 near UlithiUlithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
and Woleai Atoll
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
. The wave moved to the northwest and strengthened from a wave into a Category 3 typhoon with winds of 115 mi/h. Interaction from the active Typhoon Gilda caused a Fujiwhara effect between the two and caused Ivy to weaken at a rapid pace from a Category 3 typhoon to a minimal tropical storm in 48 hours. The stronger Typhoon Gilda absorbed the weak Ivy on October 29 south of Iwo Jima.
Ivy never made landfall thus no damage or fatalities were reported.
Typhoon Jean
A easterly tropical wave after the polar trough fractured the superposition formed on November 3 near YapYap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
. The wave made landfall in the Philippines on the 6th and strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-One over land. Strengthening occurred and the depression became Tropical Storm Jean on the 6th near Manila. Rapid strengthening occurred and Jean peaked at a 100 mi/h typhoon on November 9 near 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 –...
. Jean started weakening and dissipated on November 13 because of lack of upper level divergence.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to track Jean for six more days. During that time, Jean made an anti-cyclonic loop to the south, where Jean was declared an extra-tropical low on November 19 in the open 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...
. No damage or fatalities were reported.
Super Typhoon Karen
Typhoon Karen, which formed on November 7 in the open Western Pacific, explosively intensified to a 185 mi/h super typhoon on the 9th. It turned to the west, maintaining its powerful winds of 175-185 mph for 4 days as it crossed the islands of the West Pacific. Cool air weakened Karen as it turned to the north, and was only a minimal typhoon at its nearest approach to Japan. The storm turned eastward, where it became extratropical on November 18. Karen's strong winds caused $250 million in damage (1962 USD) and 11 casualties. Karen passed over the southern part 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...
in 1962. Wind gusts estimated near 185 mi/h destroyed 95% of all homes on the island.
Typhoon Lucy
A surge from the westerlies into MPT which was followed by cut-off low formed on November 24, while a depression formed downstream. This kind of formation is not unusual, both Typhoons Carla and Dinah formed in the same way. The system strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Six near KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
on November 25 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Lucy on the same day. Strengthening occurred slowly, as Lucy did not gain typhoon status until November 27. That same day, Lucy made landfall in the Philippines as an 80 mi/h typhoon. Lucy kept moving west and peaked at 115 mi/h, as a Category 3 typhoon on November 29. Lucy made landfall in the Philippines and southern 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 –...
on November 30. Lucy dissipated in the Strait of Taiwan on December 1 from cold air and land interaction. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased advisories that same day.
Five people were killed, with five million dollars in damage. ($32.6 million in 2006 USD). Winds of 60 mi/h were felt Cebu City Airport when Lucy passed over the area.
Tropical Storm Mary
The eighty-ninth (and second-to-last) tropical wave of the season formed in the South China Sea, several hundred miles west of the Philippines. The wave was upgraded by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as Tropical Storm Mary (instead of Tropical Depression Eighty-Nine) on December 1, following suit with the names used before. The depression was never followed by the Japan Meteorological Agency, however, the system was tracked by the Warning Center its entire time in the South China Sea. Mary went towards the southwest, peaking at winds of 55 mph (95 km/h) on December 2.After that, the storm went on a slow weakening process, weakening to a minimal tropical storm on December 3. The next advisory, Mary was downgraded to a tropical depression, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the storm. Mary did not affect land its in entire lifetime.
Tropical Storm Nadine
An easterly wave, the ninetieth (and final) of the season, was first sighted on December 6 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...
several hundred miles 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...
. The wave strengthened that day into Tropical Depression Ninety, appearing in 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...
's track data at that point. The depression curved to the northwest, striking the island 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...
on December 7. Tropical Depression Ninety curved to the southeast of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on December 8, strengthening into a tropical storm. Given the name Nadine by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, it progressed northward, peaking at a minimal pressure of 974 millibars (28.76 inHg) and a wind speed of 60 mph (90 km/h) on December 10. Nadine began to approach the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
(180°), but started an extratropical transition that same day.
Nadine was declared an extratropical storm on December 10, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased following the storm. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued tracking the storm. On December 11, just after passing the 170°E longitude line
170th meridian east
The meridian 170° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, Nadine was declared extratropical by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The extratropical remains of Nadine crossed the International Date Line and on the night of December 11, the Agency ceased following Nadine as it had crossed into the Central Pacific basin.
Although Nadine posed a threat to the island 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...
(which had been struck by Typhoon Karen less than a month before), there were no reports of fatalities, damage or strong winds. With the minimal impact, the name Nadine was not retired after the 1962 season and remained in use for years after. When names were changed in 1979 for both male and female, the name Nadine has only been used for a tropical storm in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season since.
Other storms
In addition to the 30 storms, nine tropical depressions formed, most were unable to strengthen into a tropical storm.Tropical Depression Twenty-One
The 21st tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on May 21 in the open South China SeaSouth 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...
, east of the Philippines. The systems strengthened into a tropical depression moved to the southeast toward southwestern Vietnam. However, the depression returned to its northern progression on May 22 and dissipated on the same day without threatening land.
Tropical Depression Thirty-Nine
A tropical system formed on July 7 north of the island of KororKoror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
. The system strengthened into a tropical depression the next day when the first advisory was released. The depression continuously changed directions, once on the 8th to the northwest, again the next day to the southwest and the final one on the 10th to the northwest again. The tropical depression continued to the northwest, but degenerated into a remnant low on the morning of July 12. The remnants continued moving away, dissipating on July 15.
The depression never made landfall, so no damage or fatalities were reported.
Tropical Depression Forty-One
As Typhoon Joan was weakening, a new tropical system formed in the South China Sea on the afternoon of July 10. The system strengthened while moving west, becoming Tropical Depression Forty-One the same day. The depression continued moving west at a rapid pace, passing Hainan Island and made landfall in northern Vietnam on July 11. The depression dissipated over land late that evening.Damage and fatalities in Vietnam from the depression are unavailable.
Tropical Depression Fifty-Five
A tropical system formed on August 14, off where the stronger Super Typhoon Ruth was, near the International Date LineInternational Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
. The system intensified into a tropical depression at the first advisory on the morning of the 14th. The depression made a turn and dissipated by the next day. Tropical Depression Fifty-Five never made landfall, therefore no fatalities or damage was reported.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Four
An easterly tropical wave formed off northwest of Woleai AtollWoleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
and Buoy 317 (off the coast of Woleai) on September 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded the wave that same day into Tropical Depression Sixty-Four. The depression progressed to the northeast, passing to the south of Ulithi six hours after formation. The depression continued, passing to the south of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
, an island near Ulithi. It then began to straighten its progression, dissipating north of the island of Koror
Koror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
at about 135°W longitude. Once the depression dissipated, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression, never making landfall with any landmass in the Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Six
Like most of the tropical cyclones of the season, the sixty-sixth formed on September 11, around where Tropical Depression Fifty-Five had formed earlier in the season. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center began following the disturbance, which was out in the open Pacific OceanPacific 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...
. The disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression on September 12. The depression progressed westward, with the Japan Meteorological Agency following suit as a tropical depression. As the depression became to make a curve towards 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 Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased tracking the depression.
However, the Japan Meteorological Agency continued following the strengthening depression. The depression, beginning to parallel the coast of Japan, strengthened into a tropical storm on September 15. The depression peaked in intensity with a pressure of 1002 mbar (29.58 inHg) on the same day, at its closest proximity to Japan. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on September 16, and started to make a curve to the northeast. The depression moved away from the coast of Japan and began its track out into the Pacific on September 17. The Japan Meteorological Agency ceased following the system that day, located off the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. During its entire lifetime, the depression never made landfall.
Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight
The sixty-eighth easterly tropical wave of the 1962 season formed on September 22 a couple of hundred miles off the coast of the Philippines. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then upgraded the wave into Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight that day. The depression made a curve to the southwest, turning to the northwest just a few hours later. After starting a northwest progression, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight began running along the eastern coast of the Philippines. The depression eventually switched to a straightened, westward progression, as the cyclone neared landfall. On the afternoon of September 24, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight made landfall on the eastern shore of southern 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...
. The depression crossed the country, maintaining its strength.
The depression crossed over the capital of the Philippines, Manila and in six hours after landfall, the depression had returned to water. The depression then began its northwestern progression once again, heading on a path towards China. However, Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight turned to the southwest and away from China. This progression did not last either. The system turned back to the northwest, heading towards 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 –...
. This progression remained stable, and the depression made landfall on September 26 in Vietnam. Tropical Depression Sixty-Eight crossed over land, dissipating the next day nearing the Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
border.
Tropical Depression Seventy-Five
Tropical Depression Seventy-Five formed on October 20 in the open Pacific Ocean, near a buoy close to the International Date LineInternational Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
. The depression moved to the northwest, dissipating on after two days near the island of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. The short-lived system never made landfall, and no damage or fatalities were reported to ships or buoys in the Ocean.
Tropical Depression Eighty-Five
The eighty-fifth tropical wave of the season formed in the South China SeaSouth 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...
on November 18. The wave quickly strengthened into Tropical Depression Eighty-Five over the sea the same day. The depression got near 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 –...
but cool air caused it to dissipate into a remnant low before landfall on November 20. No damage or fatalities were reported in Vietnam in association with the depression.
Storm names
In addition to the 30 named storms, an unnamed storm was tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency, 6219 and also known by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as Tropical Depression Sixty-Six. The name Karen was retired after this year and was replaced with Kim.{| style="width:90%;"
|
- AgnesBessCarmenDellaElaineFayeGloriaHesterIrmaJudyKitLolaMamieNinaOraPhyllisRitaSusanTessViolaWinnie
|- AliceBettyCoraDorisElsieFlossieGraceHelenIdaJuneKathyLornaMarieNancyOlgaPamelaRubySallyTildaVioletWilda
|- AnitaBillieClaraDotEllen
- Fran
- Georgia
- Hope
- Iris
- Joan
- Kate
- Louise
- Marge
- Nora
- Opal
- Patsy
- Ruth
- Sarah
- Thelma
- Vera
- Wanda
|- Amy
- Babe
- Carla
- Dinah
- Emma
- Freda
- Gilda
- Harriet
- Ivy
- Jean
- Karen
- Lucy
- Mary
- Nadine
- OlivePollyRoseShirleyTrixVirginiaWendy
|}
See also
- 1950-1969 Pacific hurricane seasons1950-1969 Pacific hurricane seasonsThe 1950–1963 Pacific hurricane seasons all began on May 15, 1950-65 in the northeast Pacific Ocean and on June 1, 1950-65 in the central Pacific. They ended on November 30, 1950-65...
- 1962 Atlantic hurricane season1962 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1962 Atlantic hurricane season was the least active since 1939, with only five named storms. Although the season officially began on June 15, the first storm did not form until August 26. Hurricane Alma brushed the outer banks before becoming extratropical southeast of New England,...
External links
- Japan Meteorological Agency
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
- China Meteorological Agency
- National Weather Service Guam
- Hong Kong Observatory
- Macau Meteorological Geophysical Services
- Korea Meteorological Agency
- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
- Taiwan Central Weather Bureau
- Digital Typhoon - Typhoon Images and Information
- Typhoon2000 Philippine typhoon website
