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Tropical Storm Vongfong (2008)
Encyclopedia
Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong (International Designation 0811, JTWC designation 12W) was the 12th tropical depression and the 11th tropical storm of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season
recognised by both the JMA and the JTWC. Vongfong was a severe tropical storm that was active in August 2008. Vongfong originally formed on August 14 as a tropical depression to the south of Japan
. The next morning Vongfong was upgraded to a tropical storm by both the JMA and the JTWC and then reached its peak intensity early the next morning and became extratropical at that strength early on August 18.
and designated it as a Tropical Disturbance. The JTWC at this time also assessed the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as fair. This was due to the tropical disturbance having a broad Low Level Circulation Center
however the strongest winds were displaced on the eastern side of the disturbance. Early the next morning the JTWC reassessed the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as good and issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
on the developing disturbance. This was because the Low Level Circulation Center had become well defined.
Later on August 14, the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the tropical disturbance as a minor tropical depression whilst the JTWC also upgraded the disturbance and designated it as Tropical Depression 12W. Early the next day the JMA designated the depression as a full tropical depression, whilst the JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm. Later that day the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm, and assigned the name Vongfong to the storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then reported that Vongfong had reached its peak winds of 50 knots (60 mph, 95 km/h1-Min) whilst it was located approximately 390 nautical miles (722.3 km) to the southwest of Tokyo
, Japan
. The JMA also then reported that it Vongfong had reached its operational peak winds of 40 knots (45 mph 75 km/h 10-Min) however this was later revised in its best track when the JMA upgraded Vongfong peak winds to 50 knots (60 mph 110 km/h 10-Min). Later on August 15, the JTWC reported that Vongfong had started to weaken from its peak. During the next day Vongfong carried on weakening. The JTWC then issued its final warning on Vongfong later that day as it had begun its extratropical transition. whilst the JMA kept issuing warnings on Vongfong until early on August 17 when they downgraded it to an extratropical low. The extratropical low of Vongfong then crossed the International Dateline and moved out of the JMA’s area of responsibility and moved in to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
's area of responsibility but they did not issue any warnings on Vongfong as it was extratropical.
s (96.3 acre
s) were damaged by the storm and 15,520 people were left without power. The storm also damaged 139 roads and caused 54 landslides.
The name "Vongfong" was one of the 10 original names submitted by Macau
to the WMO's Typhoon Committee for use from January 1, 2000. Vongfong was last used in the 2002 Pacific typhoon season
and is the Macau word for wasp
.
2008 Pacific typhoon season
The 2008 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it runs year-round in 2008, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
recognised by both the JMA and the JTWC. Vongfong was a severe tropical storm that was active in August 2008. Vongfong originally formed on August 14 as a tropical depression to the south 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...
. The next morning Vongfong was upgraded to a tropical storm by both the JMA and the JTWC and then reached its peak intensity early the next morning and became extratropical at that strength early on August 18.
Meteorological history
Early on August 13, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, noted that an area of convection had persisted approximately 370 nautical miles (685.2 km) to the southeast of Okinawa, JapanJapan
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...
and designated it as a Tropical Disturbance. The JTWC at this time also assessed the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as fair. This was due to the tropical disturbance having a broad Low Level Circulation Center
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...
however the strongest winds were displaced on the eastern side of the disturbance. Early the next morning the JTWC reassessed the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as good and issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
on the developing disturbance. This was because the Low Level Circulation Center had become well defined.
Later on August 14, the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the tropical disturbance as a minor tropical depression whilst the JTWC also upgraded the disturbance and designated it as Tropical Depression 12W. Early the next day the JMA designated the depression as a full tropical depression, whilst the JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm. Later that day the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm, and assigned the name Vongfong to the storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then reported that Vongfong had reached its peak winds of 50 knots (60 mph, 95 km/h1-Min) whilst it was located approximately 390 nautical miles (722.3 km) to the southwest of 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...
, 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 JMA also then reported that it Vongfong had reached its operational peak winds of 40 knots (45 mph 75 km/h 10-Min) however this was later revised in its best track when the JMA upgraded Vongfong peak winds to 50 knots (60 mph 110 km/h 10-Min). Later on August 15, the JTWC reported that Vongfong had started to weaken from its peak. During the next day Vongfong carried on weakening. The JTWC then issued its final warning on Vongfong later that day as it had begun its extratropical transition. whilst the JMA kept issuing warnings on Vongfong until early on August 17 when they downgraded it to an extratropical low. The extratropical low of Vongfong then crossed the International Dateline and moved out of the JMA’s area of responsibility and moved in to 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...
's area of responsibility but they did not issue any warnings on Vongfong as it was extratropical.
Impact and naming
As Vongfong brushed by Japan, heavy rains triggered flood which killed one person. A total of 523 homes and 39 hectareHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s (96.3 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s) were damaged by the storm and 15,520 people were left without power. The storm also damaged 139 roads and caused 54 landslides.
The name "Vongfong" was one of the 10 original names submitted by Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
to the WMO's Typhoon Committee for use from January 1, 2000. Vongfong was last used in the 2002 Pacific typhoon season
2002 Pacific typhoon season
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued on July 19 for a Tropical Disturbance that was located east of the international Date Line. The Next day the Disturbance crossed the international date line and was classified as a Tropical Depression by the JMA. The JMA then upgraded the depression to...
and is the Macau word for wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
.
See also
- Other Tropical Cyclones Named Vongfong
- 2008 Pacific typhoon season2008 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2008 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it runs year-round in 2008, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
- Timeline of the 2008 Pacific typhoon seasonTimeline of the 2008 Pacific typhoon seasonThis timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation during the 2008 Pacific typhoon season. The 2008 Pacific typhoon season officially started on January 1, 2008 and ended on January 1, 2009. The first tropical...