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Typhoon Wayne (1986)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Wayne is the longest-lived tropical cyclone
on record for the western Pacific ocean. The system meandered for 22 days between the South China sea
and far western tropical North Pacific ocean, staying within the monsoon trough
and causing heavy rains across the Philippines
, Taiwan
, southeast China
, Hainan Island, and Vietnam
. Its maximum sustained wind
s peaked at category two strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Various signals were raised for Hong Kong
three times due to Wayne's unusual track. A total of 490 perished and US$399 million (1986 dollars) in damage was due to the typhoon.
This system began its long life on August 16 in the South China Sea
, having formed within the monsoon trough. It drifted to the southwest, then looped back to the northwest, becoming a tropical storm on August 18. Wayne, which remained embedded in the monsoon trough throughout its lifetime, turned to the northeast in response to a relocation of the trough, and became a typhoon according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on August 19, and on August 20 according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). At 2 p.m. that day, the ship M. V. Fossarus recorded 78 knots (152.9 km/h) winds just west of its center. The typhoon came close but remained offshore of southeastern China, and after reaching maximum sustained wind
s of 75 knots (147 km/h) it hit western Taiwan
on August 22. The building subtropical ridge
forced Wayne west and southwestward through the Luzon Strait, where after weakening to a tropical storm it restrengthened briefly to a typhoon on August 24, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The JMA did not upgrade Wayne back to a typhoon during this segment of Wayne's existence.
Vertical shear caused Wayne to weaken to a depression on August 25 according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and August 26 according to the JMA, as the cyclone began to rotate around the circulation of Vera to its north. Tropical Depression Wayne sped up to the northeast, but when Vera moved far enough away, Wayne drifted northeastward through the South China Sea, becoming a tropical storm again on August 27. Ridging to its north forced Wayne southward, where it again became a typhoon on August 30 according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and August 31 according to the JMA. Wayne passed close to northern Luzon
on September 2 as a 75 knots (147 km/h) typhoon, but turned back to the west. The JMA lowered Wayne back to a tropical storm on September 3 before restrengthening the cyclone back into a typhoon by early September 4. On September 4 while moving quickly westward through the South China Sea, Wayne reached a peak of 85 knots (166.6 km/h) winds according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, or 70 knots (137.2 km/h) winds according to the JMA, before it weakened due to land interaction. It hit northern Hainan
on September 5 as an 70 knots (137.2 km/h) typhoon. Its center passed just north of Haikou, whose pressure fell to 970.1 hectopascals (28.6 inHg). Wayne then entered the Gulf of Tonkin
, and made its final landfall on northern Vietnam
later that day as a tropical storm. The next day, Wayne dissipated over Vietnam, after 85 JTWC advisories and being the longest lasting Western Pacific system in history.
, winds gusted to 78 knots (152.9 km/h) at Tate's Cairn. During its various passages of Hong Kong, a total of 295 millimetres (11.6 in) of rainfall accumulated at Sai Kung. A total of 523.5 millimetres (20.6 in) of rainfall was recorded at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Thirty-six perished in the Philippines. A total of 490 fatalities (with dozens of casualties in Vietnam), tens of thousands left homeless, and US$399 million (1986 dollars) in damage can be attributed to Typhoon Wayne. Despite its impact on the region and longevity, the name Wayne was not retired from the western Pacific naming list, being used again in 1989. At the same time, President
Corazon Aquino
declared a state of calamity over Northern Luzon.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
on record for the western Pacific ocean. The system meandered for 22 days between 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...
and far western tropical North Pacific ocean, staying within the 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...
and causing heavy rains across the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 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...
, southeast 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...
, Hainan Island, and 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 –...
. Its maximum 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 peaked at category two strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Various signals were raised for 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...
three times due to Wayne's unusual track. A total of 490 perished and US$399 million (1986 dollars) in damage was due to the typhoon.
Meteorological history
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...
, having formed within the monsoon trough. It drifted to the southwest, then looped back to the northwest, becoming a tropical storm on August 18. Wayne, which remained embedded in the monsoon trough throughout its lifetime, turned to the northeast in response to a relocation of the trough, and became a typhoon according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on August 19, and on August 20 according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). At 2 p.m. that day, the ship M. V. Fossarus recorded 78 knots (152.9 km/h) winds just west of its center. The typhoon came close but remained offshore of southeastern China, and after reaching maximum 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 75 knots (147 km/h) it hit western 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 22. The building 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...
forced Wayne west and southwestward through the Luzon Strait, where after weakening to a tropical storm it restrengthened briefly to a typhoon on August 24, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The JMA did not upgrade Wayne back to a typhoon during this segment of Wayne's existence.
Vertical shear caused Wayne to weaken to a depression on August 25 according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and August 26 according to the JMA, as the cyclone began to rotate around the circulation of Vera to its north. Tropical Depression Wayne sped up to the northeast, but when Vera moved far enough away, Wayne drifted northeastward through the South China Sea, becoming a tropical storm again on August 27. Ridging to its north forced Wayne southward, where it again became a typhoon on August 30 according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and August 31 according to the JMA. Wayne passed close to northern 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...
on September 2 as a 75 knots (147 km/h) typhoon, but turned back to the west. The JMA lowered Wayne back to a tropical storm on September 3 before restrengthening the cyclone back into a typhoon by early September 4. On September 4 while moving quickly westward through the South China Sea, Wayne reached a peak of 85 knots (166.6 km/h) winds according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, or 70 knots (137.2 km/h) winds according to the JMA, before it weakened due to land interaction. It hit northern 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 5 as an 70 knots (137.2 km/h) typhoon. Its center passed just north of Haikou, whose pressure fell to 970.1 hectopascals (28.6 inHg). Wayne then entered 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...
, and made its final landfall on northern 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 –...
later that day as a tropical storm. The next day, Wayne dissipated over Vietnam, after 85 JTWC advisories and being the longest lasting Western Pacific system in history.
Preparations
In Hong Kong, the Stand By Signal 1 was hoisted at 11:30 a.m. on August 19. As Wayne approached, the Strong Wind Signal 3 was raised at 11:00 a.m. on August 20. During its first approach, the Northeast Gale/Storm Signal 8 was issued at 10 p.m. on August 20. As winds relaxed, the Strong Wind Signal 3 replaced the Storm Signal 8 at 2 a.m. on August 21, with all signals lowered by 5 a.m. on August 21. During Wayne's second approach, the Stand By Signal 1 was raised at 11:45 a.m. on August 25. Signals were again lowered once Wayne moved farther away at 2:35 p.m. on August 26. During Wayne's third approach, the Stand By Signal 1 was hoisted at 1:30 a.m. on September 4. As Wayne continued its approach, the Strong Wind Signal 3 was raised at 3 p.m. the same day. Once Wayne moved away to the west of the area, signals were lowered for their final time at 2:10 p.m. on September 5.Impact
During its passage of Taiwan, 63 died, 12,000 houses collapses, and a thousand fishing vessels were wrecked. Total damage to the island reached US$360 million (1986 dollars). As a result of its consistent variance in track and drifting track, Wayne brought torrential rains through its path to the Philippines, Taiwan, southeastern China, Hainan Island, and Vietnam. In Hong KongHong 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...
, winds gusted to 78 knots (152.9 km/h) at Tate's Cairn. During its various passages of Hong Kong, a total of 295 millimetres (11.6 in) of rainfall accumulated at Sai Kung. A total of 523.5 millimetres (20.6 in) of rainfall was recorded at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Thirty-six perished in the Philippines. A total of 490 fatalities (with dozens of casualties in Vietnam), tens of thousands left homeless, and US$399 million (1986 dollars) in damage can be attributed to Typhoon Wayne. Despite its impact on the region and longevity, the name Wayne was not retired from the western Pacific naming list, being used again in 1989. At the same time, President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
declared a state of calamity over Northern Luzon.