Typhoon Maemi
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Maemi was a powerful category 5
supertyphoon that struck South Korea
, killing 117 people. The name Maemi is contributed by North Korea
and it means cicada
. Maemi was one of the two strongest typhoons of the 2003 Pacific typhoon season
(the other being Typhoon Lupit), with a barometric pressure reading of 885 millibars according to the U.S. Navy.
. The developing disturbance moved west-northwest where it reached tropical storm status, and it was named Maemi. On September 7, Maemi became a typhoon about 650 miles southeast of Okinawa, Japan. The storm then rapidly intensified as it underwent recurvature. By September 9, it was a strong Category 4 typhoon with 130 kt (145 mph) winds. After reaching a Category 5 peak of 140 kt (160 mph) winds, Maemi bypassed Miyakojima, with the center of the storm coming within ten miles of the island. After brushing Miyakojima, Maemi approached Okinawa. On September 11, the eye of the storm was 130 miles away from land as the storm brushed the island.
Maemi then weakened into a moderate Category 4 storm as it moved north-northwest towards the Korean Peninsula
. On September 12, Maemi made landfall on the South Korean coast as a Category 2 typhoon. Later, the storm became extratropical and by the 15th, the remnants were tracked over the Kamchatka Peninsula
.
province, where 41 deaths were reported.
Maemi made landfall during a high tide, causing extreme storm surge
damage along coastal sections. About 282 ships were either sunk or were badly damaged. Inland, over 12,000 acres (49 km²) of farmland were flooded, ruining South Korea's rice harvest. The floods also swept several cars off the road and caused numerous landslides. One of the landslides derailed a passenger train, injuring 28 people.
Lastly, the storm caused nuclear power plants and factories to shut down and left 1.4 million people without power.
. Maemi was also Japan's fourth strongest typhoon, as a 912 mbar pressure was recorded offshore.
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...
supertyphoon that struck South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, killing 117 people. The name Maemi is contributed by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and it means cicada
Cicada
A cicada is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha , in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the world, and many of them remain unclassified...
. Maemi was one of the two strongest typhoons of the 2003 Pacific typhoon season
2003 Pacific typhoon season
The 2003 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2003, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
(the other being Typhoon Lupit), with a barometric pressure reading of 885 millibars according to the U.S. Navy.
Meteorological history
A tropical depression formed on September 5 near GuamGuam
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...
. The developing disturbance moved west-northwest where it reached tropical storm status, and it was named Maemi. On September 7, Maemi became a typhoon about 650 miles southeast of Okinawa, Japan. The storm then rapidly intensified as it underwent recurvature. By September 9, it was a strong Category 4 typhoon with 130 kt (145 mph) winds. After reaching a Category 5 peak of 140 kt (160 mph) winds, Maemi bypassed Miyakojima, with the center of the storm coming within ten miles of the island. After brushing Miyakojima, Maemi approached Okinawa. On September 11, the eye of the storm was 130 miles away from land as the storm brushed the island.
Maemi then weakened into a moderate Category 4 storm as it moved north-northwest towards the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. On September 12, Maemi made landfall on the South Korean coast as a Category 2 typhoon. Later, the storm became extratropical and by the 15th, the remnants were tracked over the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
.
Impact
Maemi killed 117 people and left $4.1 billion in damage, making it the worst typhoon ever to hit the Korean Peninsula.Miyakojima
Maemi injured 700 people when the storm passed near the island. About 22,000 people were left without electricity and there was one indirect death. The storm also damaged an airport control tower, which disrupted air traffic.South Korea
According to press reports, about 85 people died (with 25 others reported missing) in the storm and 250,000 people were forced to evacuate. Most of the deaths were in the GyeongsangGyeongsang
Gyeongsang was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea....
province, where 41 deaths were reported.
Maemi made landfall during a high tide, causing extreme storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
damage along coastal sections. About 282 ships were either sunk or were badly damaged. Inland, over 12,000 acres (49 km²) of farmland were flooded, ruining South Korea's rice harvest. The floods also swept several cars off the road and caused numerous landslides. One of the landslides derailed a passenger train, injuring 28 people.
Lastly, the storm caused nuclear power plants and factories to shut down and left 1.4 million people without power.
Economic Impact
The economic impact from Typhoon Maemi was severe as the storm damaged ports and harbors and disrupted trade to and from South Korea. The total industrial losses amounted up to $577 million (2003 USD). There was also $43 million (2003 USD) in agricultural damage.Retirement
Due to the damage and deaths caused by the storm in South Korea, the name "Maemi" was later retired and replaced by "Mujigae".Records
Maemi set numerous records throughout its life. A weather station in Okinawa recorded a gust of 144 kt (163 mph), which is the fourth highest wind gust measured in 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...
. Maemi was also Japan's fourth strongest typhoon, as a 912 mbar pressure was recorded offshore.
