Typhoon Omar
Encyclopedia
Super Typhoon Omar was the 15th tropical depression, the 15th named storm, and the 9th typhoon of the 1992 Pacific typhoon season
. It caused 2 deaths in Taiwan
and $457 million (1992 USD, $618.9 million 2005 USD) in damage.
re-established itself to spawn an area of convection near the Marshall Islands
on August 20. It tracked westward, and slowly organized into Tropical Depression 15W four days later. Another monsoon depression to 15W's west caused some vertical shear due to its large outflow, but it still managed to become Tropical Storm Omar on the night of August 24.
The other monsoon depression, which became Tropical Storm Polly, moved far enough to the west to allow Omar to slowly strengthen. Had the shear from Polly continued, Omar might not have made it past tropical storm strength, but it held together and became a typhoon on August 27. As the cyclone neared Guam
, Omar quickly intensified, and reached winds of 115 mph. On the afternoon of August 28, the typhoon crossed Guam, and continued to the west-northwest. On the following evening, the storm reached a peak intensity of 150 mph, making it the 2nd super typhoon of the season.
Shortly after its peak, Typhoon Omar slowly weakened, becoming a minimal typhoon on September 2. It turned to the west, and hit eastern Taiwan
on September 4 as a 50 mph tropical storm. Omar crossed the island and the Taiwan Strait
, and struck eastern China
on the 5th as a 45 mph tropical storm. The system quickly weakened over land, and dissipated on September 6.
occurred, further increasing the damage. 2,158 homes were destroyed, leaving nearly 3,000 people homeless. The storm caused $457 million (1992 USD, $618.9 million 2005 USD) in damage there, though there were no deaths. There were 200 typhoon-related injuries, however. Well-organized task forces cleaned and repaired the island, and Guam was back to normal within weeks.
Omar's passage in Taiwan led to torrential rains, though not as severe as in Guam. Two people were killed from the flooding, with 12 injuries and major power outages also experienced. Damage totals are not available.
1992 Pacific typhoon season
One 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...
. It caused 2 deaths in 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...
and $457 million (1992 USD, $618.9 million 2005 USD) in damage.
Meteorological history
After an active early part to August, the monsoon troughMonsoon 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...
re-established itself to spawn an area of convection near 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...
on August 20. It tracked westward, and slowly organized into Tropical Depression 15W four days later. Another monsoon depression to 15W's west caused some vertical shear due to its large outflow, but it still managed to become Tropical Storm Omar on the night of August 24.
The other monsoon depression, which became Tropical Storm Polly, moved far enough to the west to allow Omar to slowly strengthen. Had the shear from Polly continued, Omar might not have made it past tropical storm strength, but it held together and became a typhoon on August 27. As the cyclone neared 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...
, Omar quickly intensified, and reached winds of 115 mph. On the afternoon of August 28, the typhoon crossed Guam, and continued to the west-northwest. On the following evening, the storm reached a peak intensity of 150 mph, making it the 2nd super typhoon of the season.
Shortly after its peak, Typhoon Omar slowly weakened, becoming a minimal typhoon on September 2. It turned to the west, and hit eastern 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...
on September 4 as a 50 mph tropical storm. Omar crossed the island and the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
, and struck eastern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on the 5th as a 45 mph tropical storm. The system quickly weakened over land, and dissipated on September 6.
Impact
The typhoon's heavy rain flooded Guam, causing almost a foot of rain in some locations. In addition, an extraordinary high tideHigh Tide
High Tide was a band formed in 1969 by Tony Hill , Simon House , Peter Pavli and Roger Hadden .-History:...
occurred, further increasing the damage. 2,158 homes were destroyed, leaving nearly 3,000 people homeless. The storm caused $457 million (1992 USD, $618.9 million 2005 USD) in damage there, though there were no deaths. There were 200 typhoon-related injuries, however. Well-organized task forces cleaned and repaired the island, and Guam was back to normal within weeks.
Omar's passage in Taiwan led to torrential rains, though not as severe as in Guam. Two people were killed from the flooding, with 12 injuries and major power outages also experienced. Damage totals are not available.
