Tropical Storm Linfa (2015)
| Severe tropical storm (JMA scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 1 (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Tropical Storm Linfa near its peak strength southwest of Taiwan on July 8
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| Formed | July 1, 2015 |
| Dissipated | July 10, 2015 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph) 1-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 980 mbar (hPa); 28.94 inHg |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | $217.8 million (2015 USD) |
| Areas affected | Philippines, Taiwan, China |
| Part of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season | |
Severe Tropical Storm Linfa, known in the Philippines as Severe Tropical Storm Egay, was a tropical cyclone which affected the northern Philippines, Taiwan and southern China in early July 2015. The tenth named storm of the annual typhoon season, Linfa was first discovered as a weak tropical disturbance over in the Philippine Sea, embedded in an active Intertropical Convergence Zone on June 30. The disturbance gradually intensified, and was upgraded to a tropical depression by the JMA and PAGASA on July 1. The JTWC followed suit the next day, whilst the JMA upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Linfa.
Both Linfa and Chan-hom, combined with the southwest monsoon, brought heavy rainfall and flooding throughout the Philippines for several days.
Contents
Meteorological history[edit]
A weak low-pressure area developed into a tropical disturbance near Palau on June 30. The system stalled over the Philippine Sea for several hours, and there was initially no intensification of the system. However, several hours later, the system began to organize into a tropical depression according to the JMA. By the early hours of July 2, the tropical depression showed an increase of deep convection which allowed it to intensify further. With this, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression, designating it as 10W.[1] The PAGASA also issued their first advisory on the system, naming it as Egay. Later in the same day, the tropical depression was upgraded to a weak tropical storm by both the JMA and JTWC, with the JMA naming it as Linfa.[2]
On July 3, Linfa entered an area of favorable conditions with low to moderate vertical wind shear and warm sea-surface temperatures. Good outflow also surrounded the system.[3] Linfa then intensified into a severe tropical storm.[4] A central dense overcast developed over the circulation of Linfa, and with a slow southwesterly track, the favorable environments had now reduced to fair which Linfa had now retained its intensity.[5] By the evening of July 4, the center of Linfa made landfall over Palanan, Isabela.[6][7] Due to land reaction, Linfa's Low-level Circulation Center (LLCC) and convection became disorganized, however windspeeds around the system remained the same.[8][9] The JMA downgraded the system to a tropical storm a few hours later as it entered the South China Sea.[10] Later the same day, the JTWC had assessed an increase of Linfa's windspeeds and good organization started to form again.[11]
By July 6, Linfa encountered moderate to high vertical wind shear. Its LLCC became fully exposed, and both the JMA and the JTWC lowered Linfa's intensity.[12][13] In the next several hours, Linfa maintained its intensity as it moved in a northerly projection really slowly as it was located around a few miles west of southwest of Taiwan, whilst the PAGASA issued its final bulletin on the storm as it exited their area of responsibility.[14][15] The next day, Linfa entered another area of favorable conditions, so both the JMA and JTWC slightly raised Linfa's wind speed.[16][17] Linfa reached a secondary peak late on July 8, but this time it was stronger than before, with the JTWC assessing 1-minute sustained winds of 65 kn (120 km/h; 75 mph), Category 1 typhoon strength. However, the JMA maintained Linfa's intensity at severe tropical storm strength, although with a lower minimum pressure of 975 mbar.
Preparations and impact[edit]
Philippines[edit]
On July 4, according to PAGASA's advisory at that time, Linfa (known as Egay) has maintained its intensity as it continued to move closer to Luzon. With this, Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) #2 was raised over Isabela, Quirino and Aurora whilst the rest of most areas over Luzon is at PSWS #1.[18] The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) was on heightened alert following the storm's landfall in Palanan, Isabela province late evening of that day.[19] Due to the southwest monsoon ehanced by Egay, all ships in the Port of Manila were ordered to remain in harbor and some flights were canceled in northern Luzon, while schools were closed in Metro Manila on July 6 through to 8 due to flooding and landslides.[20]
In the Ilocos region where Linfa lingered throughout July 4, a Chinese fishing vessel docked at Currimao port ran aground after being battered by huge waves.[21] Throughout the region, 1,603 families from the provinces of La Union, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur were also evacuated from their homes.[20] La Union province declared a state of calamity on July 6 because of the storm.[22]
According to the NDRRMC, no casualties have been reported while total damages had reached ₱214.6 million ($4.8 million USD).[23]
China[edit]
Mainland[edit]
According to preliminary estimates in southern China, economic losses from the storm reached ¥1.2 billion (US$213 million). A total of 288 homes collapsed and 56,000 people were displaced.[24] A gust of 171 km/h (106 mph) was observed in Jieyang.[25]
Hong Kong[edit]
As Linfa posed a threat of direct hit with typhoon intensity, Hong Kong Observatory issued No. 8 NW Gale or Storm Signal at 4:40 p.m. local time on 9th July. However, local winds peaked in the afternoon and gradually decreased after Signal No. 8 was issued due to rapid weakening of the system, despite Linfa scoring the first direct hit to HK since Typhoon Usagi in 2013. Gale was not recorded in the territory during the issuance of No. 8 NW Signal, making this the weakest Signal No. 8 in at least 40 years. Linfa was the closest to HK when it skirted 50 km north of the Observatory Headquarters at 9:00PM. Shortly afterwards, the Observatory issued Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 10:10 p.m. to replace Signal No. 8.[26]
The storm resulted in the closure of Hong Kong International Airport on July 9. Approximately 1,020 flights were been canceled and rescheduled because of Linfa.[27]
Macau[edit]
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Taiwan[edit]
Linfa was originally forecast to move northwards and make landfall in Taiwan. however, Linfa curved to the west and hit Southern China instead. Only heavy rains and gusty winds were felt in Southern and Central Taiwan.[28]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 10W (TEN) WARNING NR 01". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ^ "TS 1510 LINFA (1510)". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 2, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 04". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ "STS 1510 LINFA (1510)". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 3, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 06". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Storm Linfa (Egay) makes landfall over Palanan, Isabela in the Philippines; expected to leave landmass by Sunday". Breakingnews.com. July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Egay makes landfall over Palanan, Isabela; Signal 2 up over 6 areas". GMA News. July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 14". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
- ^ "STS 1510 LINFA (1510)". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 5, 2015.
- ^ "TS 1510 LINFA (1510)". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 5, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 15". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 17". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- ^ "TS 1510 LINFA (1510)". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 6, 2015.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin No. 20 (FINAL) & Gale Warning No. 10A re TS EGAY" (PDF). NDRRMC. July 7, 2015.
- ^ "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 22". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Storm 10W (Linfa) WARNING NR 23". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Storm Egay slightly accelerates". Rappler.com. 4 July 2015.
- ^ "Typhoon Egay batters extreme Northern Luzon provinces". Freddie Lazaro. 5 July 2015.
- ^ a b "‘Egay’ lashes Luzon, shuts down Metro Manila". Inquirer.net. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Chinese fishing vessel runs aground in Ilocos Norte town". GMA News Online. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "La Union declares state of calamity due to 'Egay'". InterAksyon. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ FINAL Report re Severe Tropical Storm EGAY (LINFA) (Report). National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. July 9, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Typhoon Linfa affects over one million in China". Beijing, China: Zee News. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ "台风“莲花”登陆 陆丰48万人受灾" (in Chinese). Southcn. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ Live: T8 in Effect as Typhoon Linfa Rolls into Hong Kong
- ^ "Typhoon Chan-hom slams eastern China's Zhoushan city". CNN. July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Weakening Linfa Brings Lingering Rain, Wind to Southeast China". AccuWeather.com. July 10, 2015.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Severe Tropical Storm Linfa (2015). |
- JMA General Information of Tropical Storm Linfa (1510) from Digital Typhoon
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