.gif)
Typhoon Patsy (1970)
Encyclopedia
Super Typhoon Patsy was the twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth typhoon, and seventh super typhoon of the 1970 Pacific typhoon season
.
November 14, 1970 brought sufficient organization for a tropical disturbance to be designated a tropical depression. A steady intensification carried Tropical Storm Patsy's windspeeds up to 155 mph (250 km/h) and a pressure of 918 mbar. It made landfall in Luzon
with 130 mph (210 km/h) sustained wind speeds on November 19. After emerging in the South China Sea
, Patsy remained at tropical storm strength. It struck Vietnam
during its Civil War
as a weak tropical storm on November 22. The 8-day-old cyclone dissipated shortly after its final landfall.
US$80 million ($403 million in 2005) in damage was reported to have been caused by Patsy, though the total was likely higher. Deaths were officially reported to be 241, but an estimated 30 people unofficially died in Vietnam, raising the toll to 271+. And additional 351 people were reported missing. The total deaths and damage will likely be never known, as the Vietnam War
was raging on at the same time.
on November 10 and moved west. Warm waters and weakened shear allowed the storm to organize into Tropical Depression 27W on November 14 near the Marianas Islands. A strong ridge to its north forced it westward, where it strengthened to tropical storm status later on November 14, receiving the name Patsy.
When Patsy was just barely above the threshold of tropical storm-strength, it slowed down and passed just north of Saipan
. Patsy continued to steadily intensify, reaching typhoon strength on November 16, 200 miles (322 km) northwest of Guam
. The tropical cyclone and peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h) on November 18.
Its inflow became disrupted by the Philippines to its west, and Patsy hit Luzon on November 19 with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h), making it the 3rd strong typhoon to strike the island since September. After crossing the island and weakening to a Category 2, Patsy traversed the South China Sea
, where cooler waters kept the system from strengthening. This caused the cyclone to continue a weakening trend until it was downgraded to a tropical storm on November 20. On November 22, Patsy struck Vietnam as a 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm, and dissipated soon after.
80 million (US$403 million in 2005), mostly in the Philippines.
. Another two ships were blown ashore in the Bay. On land, 31,380 of the refugees' homes were either destroyed or damaged.
sank the same day to the south of YFU 63's resting place. Death totals from them are not available.
since the establishment of the Philippine Weather Bureau
in 1865 until the 2009 strike of Tropical Storm Ketsana (Pagasa Codename "Ondoy")..
1970 Pacific typhoon season
The 1970 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1970, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
.
November 14, 1970 brought sufficient organization for a tropical disturbance to be designated a tropical depression. A steady intensification carried Tropical Storm Patsy's windspeeds up to 155 mph (250 km/h) and a pressure of 918 mbar. It made landfall in Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
with 130 mph (210 km/h) sustained wind speeds on November 19. After emerging in 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...
, Patsy remained at tropical storm strength. It struck Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
during its Civil War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as a weak tropical storm on November 22. The 8-day-old cyclone dissipated shortly after its final landfall.
US$80 million ($403 million in 2005) in damage was reported to have been caused by Patsy, though the total was likely higher. Deaths were officially reported to be 241, but an estimated 30 people unofficially died in Vietnam, raising the toll to 271+. And additional 351 people were reported missing. The total deaths and damage will likely be never known, as the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was raging on at the same time.
Meteorological history
A tropical disturbance was spotted south-southeast of Wake IslandWake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
on November 10 and moved west. Warm waters and weakened shear allowed the storm to organize into Tropical Depression 27W on November 14 near the Marianas Islands. A strong ridge to its north forced it westward, where it strengthened to tropical storm status later on November 14, receiving the name Patsy.
When Patsy was just barely above the threshold of tropical storm-strength, it slowed down and passed just north of Saipan
Saipan
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...
. Patsy continued to steadily intensify, reaching typhoon strength on November 16, 200 miles (322 km) northwest of 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...
. The tropical cyclone and peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h) on November 18.
Its inflow became disrupted by the Philippines to its west, and Patsy hit Luzon on November 19 with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h), making it the 3rd strong typhoon to strike the island since September. After crossing the island and weakening to a Category 2, Patsy traversed 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...
, where cooler waters kept the system from strengthening. This caused the cyclone to continue a weakening trend until it was downgraded to a tropical storm on November 20. On November 22, Patsy struck Vietnam as a 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm, and dissipated soon after.
Impact
Deaths caused by Patsy reached 262 people, injured 1,756, and another 351 people were missing. Damage totals came in at US$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....
80 million (US$403 million in 2005), mostly in the Philippines.
Philippines
Typhoon Patsy was one of the deadliest typhoons to strike the Philippines in its history. 106 people were killed (with 351 other missing) on the island, and 135 people were killed at sea from shipping failures. The USS President Taft was separated from its anchorage and collided with the Alikimon, a Greek vessel, while in Manila BayManila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
. Another two ships were blown ashore in the Bay. On land, 31,380 of the refugees' homes were either destroyed or damaged.
Vietnam
In the South China sea off Vietnam's coast on November 2, an American ship, Army YFU-63, was fighting in the Vietnam War. It got caught in the bad weather from Patsy and capsized. At 10 am local time the next day, the ship was found and hauled ashore. All eleven men on board perished. One man was discovered dead near Cu Lao Island on November 6. Drowning was the cause of his death. Nine of the men were never discovered, but were considered to have died of drowning. The men were all posthumously promoted to a higher rank and families of the dead received a higher level pension. Seven years later on March 16, 1977, another body was recovered. In addition, two gunboats from the former country of South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
sank the same day to the south of YFU 63's resting place. Death totals from them are not available.
Records
Patsy was the deadliest tropical cyclone to strike ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
since the establishment of the Philippine Weather Bureau
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...
in 1865 until the 2009 strike of Tropical Storm Ketsana (Pagasa Codename "Ondoy")..