Typhoon Chaba (2010)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Chaba was the first typhoon to impact Japan
since Typhoon Melor
in October 2009. Chaba means Hibiscus in Thai.
(JMA) upgraded an area of low pressure into a tropical depression. Later that day, the JMA reported that the tropical depression slightly intensified. The next day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
started monitoring the system as tropical depression 16W. On October 23, the system entered the Philippine Area of responsibility and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) started monitoring the system as Tropical Depression "Katring" On October 24, the JMA and JTWC upgraded the tropical depression into a tropical storm and the JMA named it "Chaba". On October 25, the JMA further upgraded the storm into a Severe Tropical Storm. Later that day, the JTWC upgraded the storm into a Category 1 Typhoon. Early on October 26, the JMA further upgraded the storm into a Typhoon. Early on October 27, the JTWC upgraded the typhoon into a Category 2 Typhoon. Later that day, the JTWC further upgraded the typhoon into a Category 3 Typhoon. The following day JTWC upgraded the system into a Category 4 Typhon. Later that day, the JTWC downgraded Chaba into a Category 3 Typhoon. Early on October 29, the JTWC further downgraded Chaba into a Category 2 Typhoon, while the JTWC downgraded it into a Category 1 Typhoon. Early on October 30, the JTWC reported that Chaba had transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
. During the afternoon of October 30, the JMA downgraded Chaba to a remnant low as passed near Japan. The remnants of Chaba continued to weaken as it moved northeast, but strengthened again in approaching the Gulf of Alaska
into a major storm with 55-knot winds, kicking up 40–50 foot waves, with pressure as low as 939 mb. The storm's center came ashore in the vicinity of Cordova, Alaska
on November 1, but not before pulling an atmospheric river
of moisture into the American Pacific Northwest
, setting a record for that date of precipitation in Seattle.
started sandbagging doors and reinforcing windows as Chaba churned closer. Strong winds and heavy rains lashed through Okinawa and there were a lot of concerns about the island of Amami which was in the typhoon's path. Over 257 residents were evacuated from the Amami Islands to higher grounds, schools and town halls which were converted into evacuation centers. Late on October 29, Chaba approached Amami island region in Kagoshima. Strong winds injured five people and felled electric poles cutting electricity supply. Landfall was predicted on the main island of Honshu
.
On Minami-Daito Island in Okinawa Prefecture, winds from the typhoon gusted up to 160 km/h (99.4 mph), resulting in roughly 500 residences losing power. Five people were also injured across the island. Chaba dumped nearly 50 mm (2 in) of rain per hour across southern Japan. The Japan Racing Association postponed races in Tokyo until November 1 because of the typhoon.
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...
since Typhoon Melor
Typhoon Melor (2009)
Typhoon Melor was the second category 5 typhoon in 2009...
in October 2009. Chaba means Hibiscus in Thai.
Meteorological history
Early on October 20, the Japan Meteorological AgencyJapan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
(JMA) upgraded an area of low pressure into a tropical depression. Later that day, the JMA reported that the tropical depression slightly intensified. The next day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint 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...
started monitoring the system as tropical depression 16W. On October 23, the system entered the Philippine Area of responsibility and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
(PAGASA) started monitoring the system as Tropical Depression "Katring" On October 24, the JMA and JTWC upgraded the tropical depression into a tropical storm and the JMA named it "Chaba". On October 25, the JMA further upgraded the storm into a Severe Tropical Storm. Later that day, the JTWC upgraded the storm into a Category 1 Typhoon. Early on October 26, the JMA further upgraded the storm into a Typhoon. Early on October 27, the JTWC upgraded the typhoon into a Category 2 Typhoon. Later that day, the JTWC further upgraded the typhoon into a Category 3 Typhoon. The following day JTWC upgraded the system into a Category 4 Typhon. Later that day, the JTWC downgraded Chaba into a Category 3 Typhoon. Early on October 29, the JTWC further downgraded Chaba into a Category 2 Typhoon, while the JTWC downgraded it into a Category 1 Typhoon. Early on October 30, the JTWC reported that Chaba had transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
. During the afternoon of October 30, the JMA downgraded Chaba to a remnant low as passed near Japan. The remnants of Chaba continued to weaken as it moved northeast, but strengthened again in approaching the Gulf of Alaska
Gulf of Alaska
The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west to the Alexander Archipelago in the east, where Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage are found.The entire shoreline of the Gulf is...
into a major storm with 55-knot winds, kicking up 40–50 foot waves, with pressure as low as 939 mb. The storm's center came ashore in the vicinity of Cordova, Alaska
Cordova, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 958 households, and 597 families residing in the city. The population density was 40.0 per square mile . There are 1,099 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile...
on November 1, but not before pulling an atmospheric river
Atmospheric river
An atmospheric river is a narrow corridor or filament of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. Atmospheric rivers consist of narrow bands of enhanced water vapor transport, typically along the boundaries between large areas of divergent surface air flow, including some frontal zones in...
of moisture into the American Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, setting a record for that date of precipitation in Seattle.
Preparations and impact
In preparation for Chaba, more than 160 flights were cancelled. Islanders in southern Japanstarted sandbagging doors and reinforcing windows as Chaba churned closer. Strong winds and heavy rains lashed through Okinawa and there were a lot of concerns about the island of Amami which was in the typhoon's path. Over 257 residents were evacuated from the Amami Islands to higher grounds, schools and town halls which were converted into evacuation centers. Late on October 29, Chaba approached Amami island region in Kagoshima. Strong winds injured five people and felled electric poles cutting electricity supply. Landfall was predicted on the main island of Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
.
On Minami-Daito Island in Okinawa Prefecture, winds from the typhoon gusted up to 160 km/h (99.4 mph), resulting in roughly 500 residences losing power. Five people were also injured across the island. Chaba dumped nearly 50 mm (2 in) of rain per hour across southern Japan. The Japan Racing Association postponed races in Tokyo until November 1 because of the typhoon.
External links
- The JMA's Best Track Data on Typhoon Chaba (1014)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Graphics) on Typhoon Chaba (1014)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Text)
- The JTWC's Best Track Data on Typhoon 16W (Chaba)
