Typhoon Gay (1992)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Gay was an extremely powerful and long-lived super typhoon that formed in the 1992 Pacific typhoon season. It had a minimum pressure of 872, making it the strongest tropical cyclone of the season. Gay reached peak winds of 185 mph (298 km/h) and its pressure of 872 (The second strongest tropical cyclone pressure ever) winds over the open Western Pacific in mid-November, and went on to threaten the Marina islands at peak strength, but weakened greatly due to interaction with Typhoon Hunt thus causing a surprisingly low death toll over the Marianas Islands with moderate damage.Super Typhoon Gay. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. The storm finally dissipated on December 1.
in the middle of November 1992, along a monsoon trough
that extended west to the South China Sea
. The same trough spawned earlier Tropical Storm Forrest and would later create Typhoon Hunt. The disturbance that became Gay moved westward across dateline, gradually becoming better organized with increased convection. On November 14, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert
, and at 1800 UTC
that day, the agency initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 31W to the east of the Marshall Islands
. The Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMA) also assessed that the depression developed
at that time. The next day, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Gay.
After forming, Tropical Storm Gay maintained a general west to west-northwest track to the south of a strong anticyclone
. The JTWC upgraded it to typhoon status early on November 17, and the JMA followed suit the next day. Typhoon Gay first affected Mejit Island, and it eventually crossed the central portion of the Marshall Islands
. With favorable sea surface temperature
s and upper-level wind pattern
, the storm underwent rapid deepening
, similar to other November typhoons near that location. On November 19, the JTWC upgraded Gay to a super typhoon, which is a typhoon with 1-minute sustained wind
s of 240 km/h (150 mph). Gradual intensification continued, and based on satellite estimates, the JTWC estimated that Gay attained peak winds of 305 km/h (190 mph) at 0000 UTC on November 21. The agency also estimated that the typhoon reached a minimum barometric pressure of 872 mb, which would have made Gay the most intense typhoon since Typhoon Tip
in 1979. However, at the same time, the JMA estimated peak 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph), with a pressure of 900 mbar (26.6 inHg).
Around the time that Gay attained peak winds, outflow
from Typhoon Hunt to its northwest increased wind shear
; this caused the deterioration of the northern eyewall, which resulted in steady weakening. In the 24 hours after peak intensity, the JTWC estimated that the winds decreased by 65 km/h (40 mph) to below super typhoon status. Tropical cyclone forecast models anticipated a turn to the north and northeast, although Gay maintained a west-northwest track toward Guam
. Despite weakening steadily, the typhoon maintained a large size, with a wind diameter of 1480 km (919.6 mi). Around 0000 UTC on November 23, Gay made landfall
on Guam, becoming the third typhoon in three months to strike the island; the others were Typhoon Omar
in August and Typhoon Brian in October. Both the JTWC and the JMA estimated the landfall intensity at 160 km/h (100 mph) winds. After affecting Guam, the influence from Typhoon Hunt diminished, allowing Gay to re-intensify. Late on November 25, the JTWC estimated that the typhoon attained a secondary peak intensity of 215 km/h (135 mph). Shortly thereafter, Gay slowed its motion as it reached the western periphery of the subtropical ridge
. The typhoon gradually weakened as it turned to the north. On November 28, the JMA downgraded Gay to a tropical storm, and the JTWC followed suit the next day. The JMA assessed that Gay became an extratropical cyclone
at 0000 UTC on November 30, although the JTWC maintained advisories until December 1, making it the longest-lasting typhoon of the season with 63 advisories. The remnants of Gay turned and accelerated to the northeast, passing southeast of Japan. The storm continued to the northeast and crossed the International Date Line, and the JMA last reported the storm on December 4 near the Aleutian Islands.
in the Marshall Islands
, the typhoon destroyed an automated meteorological observing station that had been installed in 1989.
The effects on the Marianas Islands by Gay was moderate overall. Because Gay caused interactions with Typhoon Hunt, the death toll was kept low, and moderate damage occurred.
In the Marshall Islands, Gay caused low impacts. It caused overall minimal damage. No deaths were reported in the Marshall Islands.
The eye of Gay moved over all but the southernmost tip of Guam. In Guam, heavy rainfall occurred, causing flooding and minimal damage. No deaths were reported.
Meteorological history
The origins of Typhoon Gay were from a tropical disturbance that was located east of 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...
in the middle of November 1992, along a monsoon trough
Monsoon trough
The monsoon trough is that portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone which extends into or through a monsoon circulation, as depicted by a line on a weather map showing the locations of minimum sea level pressure, and as such, is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and...
that extended west to 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...
. The same trough spawned earlier Tropical Storm Forrest and would later create Typhoon Hunt. The disturbance that became Gay moved westward across dateline, gradually becoming better organized with increased convection. On November 14, 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...
(JTWC) 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...
, and at 1800 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
that day, the agency initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 31W to the east of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. 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...
(JMA) also assessed that the depression developed
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
at that time. The next day, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Gay.
After forming, Tropical Storm Gay maintained a general west to west-northwest track to the south of a strong anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
. The JTWC upgraded it to typhoon status early on November 17, and the JMA followed suit the next day. Typhoon Gay first affected Mejit Island, and it eventually crossed the central portion of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. With favorable sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
s and upper-level wind pattern
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
, the storm underwent rapid deepening
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
, similar to other November typhoons near that location. On November 19, the JTWC upgraded Gay to a super typhoon, which is a typhoon with 1-minute sustained wind
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s of 240 km/h (150 mph). Gradual intensification continued, and based on satellite estimates, the JTWC estimated that Gay attained peak winds of 305 km/h (190 mph) at 0000 UTC on November 21. The agency also estimated that the typhoon reached a minimum barometric pressure of 872 mb, which would have made Gay the most intense typhoon since Typhoon Tip
Typhoon Tip
Typhoon Tip was the largest and most intense tropical cyclone on record. The nineteenth tropical storm and twelfth typhoon of the 1979 Pacific typhoon season, Tip developed out of a disturbance in the monsoon trough on October 4 near Pohnpei...
in 1979. However, at the same time, the JMA estimated peak 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph), with a pressure of 900 mbar (26.6 inHg).
Around the time that Gay attained peak winds, outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
from Typhoon Hunt to its northwest increased wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
; this caused the deterioration of the northern eyewall, which resulted in steady weakening. In the 24 hours after peak intensity, the JTWC estimated that the winds decreased by 65 km/h (40 mph) to below super typhoon status. Tropical cyclone forecast models anticipated a turn to the north and northeast, although Gay maintained a west-northwest track toward 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...
. Despite weakening steadily, the typhoon maintained a large size, with a wind diameter of 1480 km (919.6 mi). Around 0000 UTC on November 23, Gay made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
on Guam, becoming the third typhoon in three months to strike the island; the others were Typhoon Omar
Typhoon Omar
Super Typhoon Omar was the 15th tropical depression, the 15th named storm, and the 9th typhoon of the 1992 Pacific typhoon season...
in August and Typhoon Brian in October. Both the JTWC and the JMA estimated the landfall intensity at 160 km/h (100 mph) winds. After affecting Guam, the influence from Typhoon Hunt diminished, allowing Gay to re-intensify. Late on November 25, the JTWC estimated that the typhoon attained a secondary peak intensity of 215 km/h (135 mph). Shortly thereafter, Gay slowed its motion as it reached the western periphery of the subtropical ridge
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
. The typhoon gradually weakened as it turned to the north. On November 28, the JMA downgraded Gay to a tropical storm, and the JTWC followed suit the next day. The JMA assessed that Gay became 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...
at 0000 UTC on November 30, although the JTWC maintained advisories until December 1, making it the longest-lasting typhoon of the season with 63 advisories. The remnants of Gay turned and accelerated to the northeast, passing southeast of Japan. The storm continued to the northeast and crossed the International Date Line, and the JMA last reported the storm on December 4 near the Aleutian Islands.
Impact
On Ujae AtollUjae Atoll
Ujae Atoll is a coral atoll of 15 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , but it encloses a lagoon of...
in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, the typhoon destroyed an automated meteorological observing station that had been installed in 1989.
The effects on the Marianas Islands by Gay was moderate overall. Because Gay caused interactions with Typhoon Hunt, the death toll was kept low, and moderate damage occurred.
In the Marshall Islands, Gay caused low impacts. It caused overall minimal damage. No deaths were reported in the Marshall Islands.
The eye of Gay moved over all but the southernmost tip of Guam. In Guam, heavy rainfall occurred, causing flooding and minimal damage. No deaths were reported.
See also
- Other storms of the same name
- 1992 Pacific typhoon season1992 Pacific typhoon seasonOne person was killed and eight others were reported missing when the storm moved through the Philippines. Extensive damage took place in China with losses amounting to $235 million.-Typhoon Gary :At least 48 people were killed by Typhoon Gary...