Typhoon Wanda (1962)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Wanda was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in Hong Kong
. It was the 59th disturbance in the record-breaking 1962 Pacific typhoon season
, forming in August east of the Philippines. Typhoon Wanda reached peak winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) in the South China Sea, and it made landfall on Hong Kong on September 1, producing gusts of 261 km/h (161 mph) which, in combination with a high storm surge
, damaged thousands of huts and left 72,000 people homeless. Wanda left a total of 434 deaths, and it is estimated that an identical typhoon striking today would cause HK$
2.6 billion ($335 million USD) in losses.
in the Federated States of Micronesia
. That day, a circulation formed in the interaction between the Mid-Pacific trough
and an easterly wave
, with energy from a surge in the Easterlies
in the Southern Hemisphere. Initially winds were very weak, and it tracked west-northwestward while slowly gaining intensity. The official track from the Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMA) indicated the system first developed into a tropical cyclone on August 25, whereas the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) initiated advisories two days later, after it was observed by the Hurricane Hunters
. It was designated Tropical Depression 59 while located about 1120 km (700 mi) northeast of the Philippines.
Throughout most of its duration, the cyclone maintained a general west-northwest track, although initial forecasts had a northward bias that anticipated a track into Taiwan
. On August 28, reconnaissance aircraft reported winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), or tropical storm status; as such, the JTWC named the system Wanda. Throughout the day, Wanda quickly intensified, with the pressure dropping to 992 mbar and the winds reaching 110 km/h (70 mph) by the end of the day. The next day, Wanda attained typhoon status, and on August 30 it traversed the Luzon Strait
between the Philippines and Taiwan. By that time, the typhoon was about 1600 km (1000 mi) wide, and the next day rainbands began affecting southeastern China and Hong Kong.
While approaching southeastern China, Wanda reached its peak strength of 175 km/h (110 mph), with reconnaissance aircraft reporting a minimum pressure of 949 mbar. The typhoon weakened slightly before making landfall
on Hong Kong
at 0000 UTC
on September 1, with winds of 150 km/h (90 mph). A combination of cold air and land interaction caused Wanda to weaken rapidly, and the JTWC discontinued advisories about 18 hours after Wanda moved ashore. According to the JMA track, the system turned southwest into the Gulf of Tonkin
, intensifying slightly before shifting southeastward and dissipating over Hainan
on September 4.
Typhoon Wanda was fairly well-forecasted, compared to other storms during the year. The average forecast error for 24 hours was about 260 km (160 mi), whereas for 48 hours, it was 415 km (255 mi); both values were less than the seasonal average.
of at least 5 m (17 feet) above normal, which caused widespread flooding and damaged or destroyed thousands of huts and houses. The strong winds and waves blew fishing vessels from the water onto the streets. Maximum sustained winds were 145 km/h (90 mph 10-minute sustained), while gusts reached 260 km/h (161 mph), stronger than any previous typhoon on record. Additionally, the lowest pressure during its passage was 953 mbar
, which was the lowest on record at the RHKO
.
Overall, the typhoon caused 434 deaths and left 72,000 people homeless. There was never a finalized damage total, although it was estimated in the millions of dollars. Over 2,000 boats in the colony were either wrecked or damaged. As damage was so severe in Hong Kong, there were little reports of impact elsewhere, although the storm did move across portions of southern China. It is estimated that a storm identical to Wanda would cause HK$
2.6 billion ($335 million USD) in losses if it were to strike today.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It was the 59th disturbance in the record-breaking 1962 Pacific typhoon season
1962 Pacific typhoon season
The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. Most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between...
, forming in August east of the Philippines. Typhoon Wanda reached peak winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) in the South China Sea, and it made landfall on Hong Kong on September 1, producing gusts of 261 km/h (161 mph) which, in combination with a high storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
, damaged thousands of huts and left 72,000 people homeless. Wanda left a total of 434 deaths, and it is estimated that an identical typhoon striking today would cause HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
2.6 billion ($335 million USD) in losses.
Meteorological history
The precursor disturbance to Typhoon Wanda was first observed on August 23 near PohnpeiPohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
in 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...
. That day, a circulation formed in the interaction between the Mid-Pacific trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
and an easterly wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
, with energy from a surge in the Easterlies
Easterlies
The easterlies commonly refer to the low latitude trade winds near the equator . These winds carry tropical waves and cyclones from east to west in lower latitudes...
in the Southern Hemisphere. Initially winds were very weak, and it tracked west-northwestward while slowly gaining intensity. The official track from 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) indicated the system first developed into a tropical cyclone on August 25, whereas 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) initiated advisories two days later, after it was observed by the Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
. It was designated Tropical Depression 59 while located about 1120 km (700 mi) northeast of the Philippines.
Throughout most of its duration, the cyclone maintained a general west-northwest track, although initial forecasts had a northward bias that anticipated a track into 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 August 28, reconnaissance aircraft reported winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), or tropical storm status; as such, the JTWC named the system Wanda. Throughout the day, Wanda quickly intensified, with the pressure dropping to 992 mbar and the winds reaching 110 km/h (70 mph) by the end of the day. The next day, Wanda attained typhoon status, and on August 30 it traversed the Luzon Strait
Luzon Strait
The Luzon Strait is the strait between the island country of Taiwan and Luzon island of the Philippines. The strait thereby connects the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea in the western Pacific Ocean....
between the Philippines and Taiwan. By that time, the typhoon was about 1600 km (1000 mi) wide, and the next day rainbands began affecting southeastern China and Hong Kong.
While approaching southeastern China, Wanda reached its peak strength of 175 km/h (110 mph), with reconnaissance aircraft reporting a minimum pressure of 949 mbar. The typhoon weakened slightly before making 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 Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
at 0000 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...
on September 1, with winds of 150 km/h (90 mph). A combination of cold air and land interaction caused Wanda to weaken rapidly, and the JTWC discontinued advisories about 18 hours after Wanda moved ashore. According to the JMA track, the system turned southwest into the Gulf of Tonkin
Gulf of Tonkin
The Gulf of Tonkin is an arm of the South China Sea, lying off the coast of northeastern Vietnam.-Etymology:The name Tonkin, written "東京" in Hán tự and Đông Kinh in romanised Vietnamese, means "Eastern Capital", and is the former toponym for Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam...
, intensifying slightly before shifting southeastward and dissipating over Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
on September 4.
Typhoon Wanda was fairly well-forecasted, compared to other storms during the year. The average forecast error for 24 hours was about 260 km (160 mi), whereas for 48 hours, it was 415 km (255 mi); both values were less than the seasonal average.
Impact
During its passage of Hong Kong, Wanda produced 263 mm (10.4 in) of rainfall. The typhoon moved ashore during the daily high tide, resulting in a storm surgeStorm 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...
of at least 5 m (17 feet) above normal, which caused widespread flooding and damaged or destroyed thousands of huts and houses. The strong winds and waves blew fishing vessels from the water onto the streets. Maximum sustained winds were 145 km/h (90 mph 10-minute sustained), while gusts reached 260 km/h (161 mph), stronger than any previous typhoon on record. Additionally, the lowest pressure during its passage was 953 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
, which was the lowest on record at the RHKO
Hong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory is a department of the Hong Kong government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards...
.
Overall, the typhoon caused 434 deaths and left 72,000 people homeless. There was never a finalized damage total, although it was estimated in the millions of dollars. Over 2,000 boats in the colony were either wrecked or damaged. As damage was so severe in Hong Kong, there were little reports of impact elsewhere, although the storm did move across portions of southern China. It is estimated that a storm identical to Wanda would cause HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
2.6 billion ($335 million USD) in losses if it were to strike today.