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1972 Pacific typhoon season

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1972 Pacific typhoon season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedJanuary 5, 1972
Last system dissipatedDecember 19, 1972
Strongest storm
NameRita
 • Maximum winds270 km/h (165 mph)
(1-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure910 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions38
Total storms30
Typhoons22
Super typhoons2
Total fatalities860
Total damage$290 million (1972 USD)
Pacific typhoon seasons
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974

The 1972 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1972, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the international date line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1972 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west Pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

Storms

This ESSA 9 weather satellite mosaic image captures Tropical Cyclones Susan (A), Rita (B), Phyllis (C), and Tess (D) across the northwest Pacific ocean on July 13, 1972

A total of 36 tropical depressions formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 30 became tropical storms. Twenty-two storms reached typhoon intensity, of which two reached super typhoon strength.[1]

Typhoon Kit (Asiang)

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 5 – January 15
Peak intensity220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min);
940 hPa (mbar)

A tropical disturbance generated by an upper tropospheric low in the mid-Pacific trough moved westward through the Caroline Islands, slowly organizing into Tropical Depression 1W on January 5. The depression quickly strengthened, reaching tropical storm status later that day and becoming a typhoon on the 6th as it neared the Philippines. Kit rapidly intensified on the 6th and 7th to a 140 mph (230 km/h) typhoon, the strongest ever in January, but its inflow was cut off to the west, weakening the typhoon as it continued westward. Kit hit the eastern Philippines as a 100 mph (200 km/h) typhoon on January 7, and turned north through the archipelago in response to a break in the subtropical ridge. This brought Kit eastward then southward, where after completing its large loop it dissipated on January 15, just 170 nautical miles (310 km) from its starting location.[2]

This unusual, unexpected, and unseasonably strong typhoon killed 204 people and caused and nearly $23 million in damage (1972 USD) in the Philippines. The destruction was mostly due to rains and flooding.[2]

Tropical Depression Biring

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
 
DurationJanuary 9 – January 11
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Depression 02W

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 30 – April 4
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min);
1000 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Lola

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationMay 29 – June 7
Peak intensity195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min);
955 hPa (mbar)

The northern hemisphere part of a "cyclone twin" developed into a tropical depression west of Kwajalein on May 29. It headed west and slowly strengthened. As it turned to the northwest and then the north northeast, it reached its maximum intensity on June 5. It continued heading north northeast, steadily weakened, and went extratropical on June 7.[3]

Lola passed close enough to some of the islands in Micronesia to cause damage. Two fishermen were reported missing. Wind and waves caused $18 thousand (1972 USD) in damage to Pohnpei and nearby atolls. They also destroyed the fresh water system, causing a shortage of drinking water. On Pingelap and Mokil, sixty houses were destroyed.[3]

Tropical Storm Mamie

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMay 31 – June 7
Peak intensity85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Storm Nina

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJune 1 – June 8
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min);
995 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Ora (Konsing)

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJune 22 – June 30
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min);
980 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Typhoon Ora (1972)

Typhoon Ora, which formed on June 22, crossed the northern Philippines on the 24th and 25th as an 85 mph (137 km/h) typhoon. It weakened over land, but restrengthened in the South China Sea to a 90 mph (140 km/h) typhoon before hitting southern China on June 27. An unusual feature about Ora was while crossing the South China Sea, it never featured a wall cloud, even though it had winds of typhoon strength.[4]

Ora caused heavy damage to the Manila area in the Philippines. It killed 131 people, including four who died when a ferry in the Bicol region capsized. In Manila Harbor, several ships were blown ashore. All in all, Ora left 385 thousand people homeless and caused $15 million (1972 USD) in damage.[4]

Tropical Depression Didang

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
 
DurationJune 28 – June 30
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Typhoon Phyllis

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 5 – July 15
Peak intensity220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min);
945 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Storm Phyllis, which formed on July 5, quickly intensified from late on July 9 to early July 11 to a 140 mph (230 km/h) typhoon. The typhoon turned to the northwest, steadily weakening as it approached Japan. Phyllis struck southeastern Japan on July 15 as a tropical storm, and became extratropical that night.[5]

In Japan, Phyllis caused 3 deaths, more than 300 landslides, and flooded more than 6000 homes. Overall damage was moderate.[5]

Super Typhoon Rita (Gloring)

Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 5 – July 26
Peak intensity270 km/h (165 mph) (1-min);
910 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Typhoon Rita (1972)

The near-equatorial trough spawned four tropical cyclones on July 5, one of which would become Super Typhoon Rita. Having originated over the open Western Pacific, the depression tracked westward, becoming a tropical storm on July 7 and a typhoon the next day. Rita quickly intensified, reaching super typhoon strength on July 10 and a peak of 165 mph (266 km/h) on July 11. The typhoon stalled and weakened over the next two days as it headed to the northeast. On the July 15 and July 16, Rita again stalled, weakening down to 75 mph (121 km/h), as Tropical Storm Phyllis swung around its circulation and struck Japan. Rita then turned to the north, where it was able to restrengthen. Typhoon Tess at that time was just located some 800 nm east of Rita. A Fujiwhara interaction took place, forcing Rita executed a large loop from July 21 to July 25. In that loop the Rita caught USS Alamo and USS Juneau as they sought to evade to the south after dropping of US Marines and equipment in Okinawa. Both ships weathered the storm but Alamo sustained minor damage in the plunging seas. After looping and passing Okinawa, she continued to the northwest and began to accelerate as she entered a confluent zone created by a trough over Manchuria and a building ridge over the Sea of Japan. She passed by western South Korea, made landfall at Shidao port, Shandong and then weakened into a tropical storm. Rita entered the Gulf of Chihli, hit northeastern China, and dissipated over the Yanshan mountain northwest of Peking, China on the night of July 27.[6]

Rita's large size and long life caused heavy rains throughout the areas it hit.[6] Rita and Tropical Storm Susan's presence strengthened the southwest monsoon flow over Luzon, where torrential rains occurring between July 17 and July 21 lead to disastrous flooding which killed 214 and with over $150 million in damage.[7] Near Guam, on July 8, the typhoon caused an Air Force Boeing B-52 to crash into the ocean, killing one member of its six-man crew. The remaining crew members were rescued by a US Navy nuclear attack submarine which surfaced in the roiling seas and literally fished the men out by using a line attached to a periscope and reeling them in as the boat rolled in the seas. In Taiwan, heavy rains caused landslides, one of which derailed a train, killing three. In Korea, eight people were killed, more fifty small vessels were lost, and more than two hundred buildings were destroyed. In the Ryukyu Islands, three people were killed. Crop damage was heavy, numerous boats were sunk, and several highways were blocked by mudslides.[6]

Rita killed 229 people, making it this season's deadliest typhoon.[1]

Typhoon Susan (Edeng)

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 5 – July 16
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

A disturbance in the ITCZ became a tropical depression on July 5. It headed northwest over the Philippines. It intensified into a tropical storm almost immediately after entering the South China Sea on July 8. It then turned north, and erratically drifted and looped for four days. On July 11, Susan became a typhoon. On July 14, Susan moved close to the Taiwan Strait. It made landfall on the coast of Fujian province, and dissipated inland on July 15.[8]

Susan caused heavy waves on the western coast of Luzon. Along with Super Typhoon Rita, Susan altered the monsoon winds over the Philippines,[8] which caused flooding that killed 214 people;[7] however, as Rita was primarily responsible for these conditions,[8] the Joint Typhoon Warning Center attributes these deaths to the former system.[1] By itself, Susan killed four people in Taiwan.[8]

Typhoon Tess

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 7 – July 24
Peak intensity230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min);
940 hPa (mbar)

The same near-equatorial trough that developed Rita also developed Typhoon Tess. Tess, having developed on July 7 near the Marshall Islands, tracked westward, reaching typhoon status on July 12. Over the next two days, as Tess turned to the northwest, it rapidly intensified to a 145 mph (233 km/h) typhoon. Steadily weakening as it continued northwestward, Tess bent back to the west in response to the building of a high pressure cell over Japan. The Fujiwhara effect between Tess and Rita brought 75 mph (121 km/h) Typhoon Tess into Japan on July 23. After dissipating over Sea of Japan, Tess continued northward, and merged with a front south of Vladivostok on July 25.[9]

In Japan, Tess caused strong flooding and strong surf. This killed 29 people, with 20 missing. These casualties were mostly swimmers caught in the surf.[9]

Tropical Storm Viola

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 23 – July 28
Peak intensity110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min);
975 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Depression Huaning

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
 
DurationJuly 29 – July 30
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Tropical Storm Winnie (Isang)

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 30 – August 4
Peak intensity110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Alice

Category 2 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationJuly 31 – August 12
Peak intensity165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min);
965 hPa (mbar)

A tropical disturbance emerged from the ITCZ on July 29 and passed through the Marshalls. It became a tropical depression on July 30 and a tropical storm the next day. It and headed in the direction of Japan. Alice became a typhoon on August 2 and reached its maximum intensity on August 4 while southwest of Marcus. As Alice continued approaching Japan, it steadily weakened. It recurved, brushed Honshu, and went extratropical on August 8. It never made landfall.[10]

Waves generated by Alice's storm surge caused a river to overflow in Iwaki, which affected three hundred houses. No one was killed.[10]

Super Typhoon Betty (Maring)

Category 4 super typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationAugust 8 – August 19
Peak intensity250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min);
910 hPa (mbar)

A tropical depression formed near the Caroline Islands on August 8. It passed through the Marianas Islands after becoming a tropical storm. Betty turned to the west and peaked as a super typhoon on August 15. It turned to more to the west northwest, passed over the southern Ryukyus and just north of Taiwan, and made landfall on the coast China on August 17. It rapidly weakened inland, and dissipated the next day.[11]

Betty had minimal effects in the Ryukyu Islands. In the Philippines, it enhanced monsoon rains. This caused flooding, which killed seven people in Ilocos Sur. Four other people were presumed dead after a light aircraft went missing. In Taiwan, rains were heavy. The resulting floods in Sanchung District stranded 300 thousand people, and washed out roads and railways. More than 220 houses were totally destroyed, with at least another 130 badly damaged. Betty killed eighteen people in Taiwan, and twenty-nine overall. The total cost of damage is unknown.[11]

Tropical Depression Lusing

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
 
DurationAugust 10 – August 13
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min);

Typhoon Cora

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationAugust 24 – August 30
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min);
975 hPa (mbar)

A disturbance west of Luzon became a tropical depression on August 22. It headed into the South China Sea and strengthened into a tropical storm. As it approached Hainan, it became only the fourth August tropical cyclone to intensify into a typhoon in the South China Sea since 1945. It made landfall on Hainan on August 28, emerged into the Gulf of Tonkin, and made a second landfall north of Haiphong. Cora had dissipated inland by August 29.[12]

No damage was reported, and no one was killed.[13]

Tropical Storm Doris

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationAugust 24 – August 31
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min);
985 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Elsie

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationAugust 30 – September 6
Peak intensity140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min);
975 hPa (mbar)

West of Leyte Gulf, a tropical depression formed on August 30. It intensified into a tropical storm after entering the South China Sea. It strengthened into a typhoon on September 1 and slowed down. It made landfall in central Vietnam on September 4. It rapidly weakened inland but kept its identity. It transited the Indochina Peninsula[13] and emerged into the Bay of Bengal on September 7, becoming Tropical Cyclone 24-72 of the 1972 North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season. Ex-Elsie gradually restrengthened as it crossed the Bay of Bengal. It made landfall on the coast of India on September 10 and rapidly dissipated inland.[14]

While crossing Thailand, Elsie caused heavy flooding.[12] No other impact was reported to the JTWC.[1][14]

Typhoon Flossie (Nitang)

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 9 – September 18
Peak intensity140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min);
975 hPa (mbar)

This became Tropical Cyclone 25-72 in the Bay of Bengal.

Tropical Storm Grace (Osang)

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 11 – September 20
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Helen (Paring)

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 11 – September 21
Peak intensity185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min);
955 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Typhoon Helen (1972)

Typhoon Helen was the most destructive tropical cyclone to strike Japan during the 1972 Pacific typhoon season. Originating from a tropical disturbance on September 11 near the Northern Mariana Islands, Helen gradually intensified as it moved northwestward. By September 14, it reached typhoon strength and soon turned northeast towards Japan. Accelerating due to a trough over the East China Sea, Helen rapidly approached the country and made landfall near Cape Kushimoto as a Category 3 equivalent typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Later that day, a weakened Helen emerged into the Sea of Japan. After merging with an upper-level low, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 19 and was last noted two days later after moving through southern Hokkaido.

In Japan, Typhoon Helen produced torrential rain, peaking at 790 mm (31 in) in Hokkaido, and damaging winds that caused widespread damage. A total of 4,213 homes were destroyed and another 146,547 were damaged as a result of flash flooding and landslides. Numerous vessels ran aground due to rough seas associated with the storm, including several thousand ton cargo freighters. In all, 87 fatalities and $102 million in damage was attributed to Typhoon Helen.

Tropical Depression 21W

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 12 – September 17
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min);

Typhoon Ida

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 16 – September 27
Peak intensity205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min);
930 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Depression Reming

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 17 – September 19
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min);

Tropical Storm Kathy

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 30 – October 8
Peak intensity110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Lorna

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 30 – October 4
Peak intensity140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Marie

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 4 – October 16
Peak intensity215 km/h (130 mph) (1-min);
935 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Nancy

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 15 – October 29
Peak intensity195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min);
945 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Depression Seniang

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
 
DurationOctober 17 – October 19
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Typhoon Olga

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 20 – October 31
Peak intensity195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min);
940 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Pamela (Toyang)

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 3 – November 9
Peak intensity205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min);
940 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Pamela struck Hong Kong killing one person.[15]

Typhoon Ruby

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 14 – November 21
Peak intensity205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min);
940 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Sally

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 30 – December 5
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min);
985 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Therese (Undang)

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 30 – December 12
Peak intensity195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min);
945 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Therese, having developed on November 30, struck the Philippines on December 3. After crossing the islands, the typhoon reached a peak of 120 mph (190 km/h) winds in the South China Sea, a rare event for December. Therese's intensity fluctuated as it continued westward, and hit eastern Vietnam on the 9th as a 115 mph (185 km/h) typhoon. Therese dissipated on the 12th, after causing 90 deaths and extensive damage on its path.

Tropical Storm Violet

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 11 – December 19
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min);
995 hPa (mbar)

1972 storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1972 was named Kit and the final one was named Violet.

  • Agnes
  • Bess
  • Carmen
  • Della
  • Elaine
  • Faye
  • Gloria
  • Hester
  • Irma
  • Judy
  • Kit 1W
  • Lola 3W
  • Mamie 4W
  • Nina 5W
  • Ora 6W
  • Phyllis 7W
  • Rita 8W
  • Susan 9W
  • Tess 10W
  • Viola 11W
  • Winnie 12W
  • Alice 13W
  • Betty 14W
  • Cora 15W
  • Doris 16W
  • Elsie 17W
  • Flossie 18W
  • Grace 19W
  • Helen 20W
  • Ida 22W
  • June 23C
  • Kathy 24W
  • Lorna 25W
  • Marie 26W
  • Nancy 27W
  • Olga 28W
  • Pamela 29W
  • Ruby 30C
  • Sally 31W
  • Therese 32W
  • Violet 33W
  • Wilda
  • Anita
  • Billie
  • Clara
  • Dot
  • Ellen
  • Fran
  • Georgia
  • Hope
  • Iris
  • Joan
  • Kate
  • Louise
  • Marge
  • Nora
  • Opal
  • Patsy
  • Ruth
  • Sarah
  • Thelma
  • Vera
  • Wanda
  • Amy
  • Babe
  • Carla
  • Dinah
  • Emma
  • Freda
  • Gilda
  • Harriet
  • Ivy
  • Jean
  • Kim
  • Lucy
  • Mary
  • Nadine
  • Olive
  • Polly
  • Rose
  • Shirley
  • Trix
  • Virginia
  • Wendy

Two Central Pacific system developed, Tropical Storms June and Ruby. The naming policy at the time was to use Western Pacific names the Central Pacific.

Philippines

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration used its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones within its area of responsibility. Lists were recycled every four years.[16]

  • Gloring
  • Huaning
  • Isang
  • Lusing
  • Maring
  • Nitang
  • Osang
  • Paring
  • Reming
  • Seniang
  • Toyang
  • Undang
  • Welpring
  • Yoning
  • Aring
  • Basiang
  • Kayang
  • Dorang
  • Enang
  • Grasing

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. p. 15. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  2. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  3. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  4. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 22–25. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  5. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  6. ^ a b c "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 28–31. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  7. ^ a b Philippine Weather Bureau (April 1973). Report No. 25 UDC 551.515.2 (914) Tropical Cyclones of 1972. National Weather Service. pp. 12–14.
  8. ^ a b c d "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 32–33. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  9. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 34–35. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  10. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 36–37. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  11. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  12. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 40–41. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  13. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  14. ^ a b "1972 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. p. 127. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  15. ^ Historical Information
  16. ^ "TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES for the WESTERN PACIFIC". Tropical Cyclone FAQ. Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory. 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
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