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Typhoon Fitow (2007)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Fitow was the ninth named tropical storm of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season
that made landfall in Japan
.
At its peak, it was thought to have been a minimal category 2 Typhoon by the JTWC, but was, in post-storm analysis, downgraded to a Category 1-equivalent
typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
. The name Fitow was contributed by the Federated States of Micronesia
, and is Yapese for a beautiful fragrant flower. The typhoon killed at least 2 people in Tokyo and was the first typhoon to hit the city since Typhoon Mawar in 2005. Damage from Fitow totaled to around 1 billion (2007 USD).
and was designated as a minor tropical depression by the Japan Meteorological Agency early that day. The next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
assessed the disturbances chances of forming, in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as poor. On August 27 the JTWC reassessed the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as fair and then later that day upgraded the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone as good and issued a tropical cyclone formation alert
.
Later that day The JTWC began issuing warnings on Tropical Depression 10W, The next morning the system intensified quickly, under favourable conditions, becoming Tropical Storm Fitow that morning and then a severe tropical storm by the afternoon of August 29.
Late on the August 29, the JTWC upgraded Tropical storm 10W (Fitow) to Typhoon 10W (Fitow). "due to rapid intensification of the system", which had continued to consolidate.
However it was not designated as a Typhoon by the JMA until August 30 Fitow then maintained Typhoon intensity with peak 10 minute wind speeds of 65 knots (127.4 km/h) until late on September 1 where it weakened in to a Severe Tropical Storm with wind speeds of 60 knots (117.6 km/h) it then Re-strengthened in to Typhoon Fitow on September 5 Then Late on the September 6 Typhoon Fitow made landfall on the Izu Peninsula
with winds gusting to 65 kt
(75 mph 120 km/h) winds. Early the next day The JMA then downgraded Fitow to a Severe tropical Storm The JTWC released their final advisory on the system due to Fitow undergoing its Extra-Tropical Transition. The JMA then downgraded Fitow to a Tropical Storm and then dissipated on the 8 September.
and the highest accumulation was 694 mm (27.3 in) in Tokyo
. Twenty-nine people were rescued from sandbanks on the Tama River on September 7 after the storm impacted Japan with powerful winds and heavy rain. At least 80,000 people were left without power as high winds from Fitow knocked down power lines. A 76-year-old man was killed when a tree limb fell on him. Several homes were reportedly destroyed by the typhoon. Three people were killed and 87 others were injured by Fitow throughout Japan. Heavy rains triggered 527 landslides throughout the country. Fourteen structures were destroyed, 62 were damaged, and another 1,941 were affected. A total of 17,037 hectares of farmland was damaged or destroyed by Fitow. About 1,113 km of roads, 1 km of railway, 14 ports, seven bridges, and six dykes were damaged. A total of 229,916 families were left without power at the height of the storm of which 4,010 also lost water supply. Nineteen ships sank during the storm. Agricultural losses amounted to $137 million (2007 USD
). Total damages from the typhoon were estimated at $1 billion (2007 USD).
2007 Pacific typhoon season
The 2007 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season which featured 24 named storms and 14 typhoons, compared to the average of 27 and 17 respectively. had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and...
that made landfall in 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...
.
At its peak, it was thought to have been a minimal category 2 Typhoon by the JTWC, but was, in post-storm analysis, downgraded to a Category 1-equivalent
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
typhoon by 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...
. The name Fitow was contributed by the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
, and is Yapese for a beautiful fragrant flower. The typhoon killed at least 2 people in Tokyo and was the first typhoon to hit the city since Typhoon Mawar in 2005. Damage from Fitow totaled to around 1 billion (2007 USD).
Meteorological history
On August 26 a Tropical disturbance developed in the Western Pacific Ocean to the northeast 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...
and was designated as a minor tropical depression by the Japan Meteorological Agency early that day. 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...
assessed the disturbances chances of forming, in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as poor. On August 27 the JTWC reassessed the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone within 24 hours as fair and then later that day upgraded the disturbances chances of forming in to a significant tropical cyclone 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...
.
Later that day The JTWC began issuing warnings on Tropical Depression 10W, The next morning the system intensified quickly, under favourable conditions, becoming Tropical Storm Fitow that morning and then a severe tropical storm by the afternoon of August 29.
Late on the August 29, the JTWC upgraded Tropical storm 10W (Fitow) to Typhoon 10W (Fitow). "due to rapid intensification of the system", which had continued to consolidate.
However it was not designated as a Typhoon by the JMA until August 30 Fitow then maintained Typhoon intensity with peak 10 minute wind speeds of 65 knots (127.4 km/h) until late on September 1 where it weakened in to a Severe Tropical Storm with wind speeds of 60 knots (117.6 km/h) it then Re-strengthened in to Typhoon Fitow on September 5 Then Late on the September 6 Typhoon Fitow made landfall on the Izu Peninsula
Izu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
with winds gusting to 65 kt
KT
-Science:* kT in Physics* Knot , a unit of velocity * Kardashev scale, method of measuring an advanced civilization's level of technological advancement...
(75 mph 120 km/h) winds. Early the next day The JMA then downgraded Fitow to a Severe tropical Storm The JTWC released their final advisory on the system due to Fitow undergoing its Extra-Tropical Transition. The JMA then downgraded Fitow to a Tropical Storm and then dissipated on the 8 September.
Preparations
In Japan Flood Warnings and Evacuation Orders were issued from the west of Tokyo to the Tama River. At least 140 flights in and out of Japan were cancelled, stranding over 30,000 passengers. Several oil companies halted shipping due to Fitow. Bullet train services were also cancelled. A total of 223 flights were cancelled due to the storm, stranding over 36,000 people.Japan
The water level of the Tama River exceeded dangerous level because of the heavy rain by Typhoon Fitow. Rainfall rates peaked at 66 mm/h (2.5 in/h) in Miyagi PrefectureMiyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
and the highest accumulation was 694 mm (27.3 in) in 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...
. Twenty-nine people were rescued from sandbanks on the Tama River on September 7 after the storm impacted Japan with powerful winds and heavy rain. At least 80,000 people were left without power as high winds from Fitow knocked down power lines. A 76-year-old man was killed when a tree limb fell on him. Several homes were reportedly destroyed by the typhoon. Three people were killed and 87 others were injured by Fitow throughout Japan. Heavy rains triggered 527 landslides throughout the country. Fourteen structures were destroyed, 62 were damaged, and another 1,941 were affected. A total of 17,037 hectares of farmland was damaged or destroyed by Fitow. About 1,113 km of roads, 1 km of railway, 14 ports, seven bridges, and six dykes were damaged. A total of 229,916 families were left without power at the height of the storm of which 4,010 also lost water supply. Nineteen ships sank during the storm. Agricultural losses amounted to $137 million (2007 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
). Total damages from the typhoon were estimated at $1 billion (2007 USD).
Russia
Fitow brought high winds, heavy rains, and large swells to parts of eastern Russia after transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. At least four villages, with a total population of 2,000, were affected by floods triggered by the remnants of the typhoon. In a 24 hour span, some areas recorded rainfalls equivalent to a monthly rainfall total, causing numerous rivers to overflow their banks. Power was knocked out to several communities and a few roads and bridges were washed out by floods. Officials evacuated most of the residents in the flooded areas as a precaution.See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- 2007 Pacific typhoon season2007 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2007 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season which featured 24 named storms and 14 typhoons, compared to the average of 27 and 17 respectively. had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and...
- Timeline of the 2007 Pacific typhoon seasonTimeline of the 2007 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2007 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...