Typhoon Babs
Encyclopedia
Super Typhoon Babs was the second typhoon to strike the nation days after Typhoon Zeb
made landfall.
and drifting for several days. In proximity to Typhoon Zeb, the Babs barely strengthened until October 19.
Babs rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon with 140 mph (115 Kt) winds, then twelve hours later Babs reached a peak intensity of 155 mph before passing over Catanduanes Island
on the 21st. The typhoon continued to move westward where it paralleled the coast of Luzon
and then entered the South China Sea
. Babs then recurved north and then northeast before dissipating west of Taiwan
.
days earlier, Babs was very destructive to the Philippines
. According to several observers, about 221 people were killed with 199 of them in the southern tip of Luzon
. Elsewhere there were 22 fatalities. Catanduanes Island
was hardest hit as 71 deaths were reported. Most of the deaths were caused by mudslides and flash flooding. Across the Philippines
there were scattered reports of indirect deaths (mostly from snakebites and clean up accidents).
Babs left PHP
6.57 billion ($138 million 1998 USD) and devastated the coconut and rice harvest which forced the country into an economic recession.
In Taiwan, the dissipating remnants of Babs left 24 people dead.
Due to destruction, its PAGASA
name, Loleng, was retired after this season. Because PAGASA
changed names in 2001
, there is no need for a replacement name.
Typhoon Zeb
Typhoon Zeb was a very powerful Category 5 typhoon with a minimum central pressure reading of 900 millibars and 180 mph sustained winds....
made landfall.
Meteorological history
A tropical depression formed on October 13 and the next day it was upgraded to a tropical storm and was named Babs. Babs moved westward before stalling off the 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...
and drifting for several days. In proximity to Typhoon Zeb, the Babs barely strengthened until October 19.
Babs rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon with 140 mph (115 Kt) winds, then twelve hours later Babs reached a peak intensity of 155 mph before passing over Catanduanes Island
Catanduanes Island
Catanduanes Island is the main island of Catanduanes Province. It lies east of the Bicol Peninsula. The island is bounded by the Maqueda Channel in the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay on the south....
on the 21st. The typhoon continued to move westward where it paralleled the coast 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...
and then entered the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. Babs then recurved north and then northeast before dissipating west 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...
.
Impact
Just like Typhoon ZebTyphoon Zeb
Typhoon Zeb was a very powerful Category 5 typhoon with a minimum central pressure reading of 900 millibars and 180 mph sustained winds....
days earlier, Babs was very destructive to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to several observers, about 221 people were killed with 199 of them in the southern tip 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...
. Elsewhere there were 22 fatalities. Catanduanes Island
Catanduanes Island
Catanduanes Island is the main island of Catanduanes Province. It lies east of the Bicol Peninsula. The island is bounded by the Maqueda Channel in the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay on the south....
was hardest hit as 71 deaths were reported. Most of the deaths were caused by mudslides and flash flooding. Across the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
there were scattered reports of indirect deaths (mostly from snakebites and clean up accidents).
Babs left PHP
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
6.57 billion ($138 million 1998 USD) and devastated the coconut and rice harvest which forced the country into an economic recession.
In Taiwan, the dissipating remnants of Babs left 24 people dead.
Due to destruction, its PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
name, Loleng, was retired after this season. Because PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
changed names in 2001
2001 Pacific typhoon season
The 2001 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2001, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
, there is no need for a replacement name.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- 1998 Pacific typhoon season1998 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1998 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
