Typhoon Noul (2015)

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This article is about the 2015 tropical cyclone. For other storms of the same name, see Typhoon Noul.
Typhoon Noul (Dodong)
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Noul 2015-05-10 0530Z.png
Typhoon Noul at peak intensity, just before landfall on May 10
Formed May 2, 2015
Dissipated May 16, 2015
(Extratropical after May 12)
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph)
1-minute sustained: 260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure 920 mbar (hPa); 27.17 inHg
Fatalities 2 indirect
Damage $23.5 million (2015 USD)
Areas affected Caroline Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan
Part of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Noul, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Dodong, was a powerful tropical cyclone which impacted Okinawa, Taiwan, the northeast portion of Luzon, and the Caroline Islands in May 2015. The sixth named storm and third typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Noul formed as a tropical depression over the eastern Caroline Islands on May 2, and it was upgraded to a tropical storm late on May 3. After rapid deepening on May 9, Noul became the second-strongest tropical cyclone of the basin in 2015 in terms of windspeeds. Subsequently, increasing vertical wind shear and decreasing water temperatures caused it to start weakening.

Meteorological history[edit]

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

On April 30, a tropical disturbance formed southwest of Chuuk, and it was recognized as a low-pressure area by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) early on the next day.[1][2] Due to deep convection consolidating with the low-level circulation center, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on May 2, shortly before the JMA upgraded system to a tropical depression.[3][4] Soon, the JMA started to issue tropical cyclone warnings to the system, expecting a tropical storm within 24 hours;[5] additionally, the JTWC also upgraded the system to a tropical depression early on May 3.[6] When the system had formed a compact central dense overcast late on the same day, the JMA upgraded it to a tropical storm and named it Noul, while the JTWC upgraded it to a tropical storm at the same time.[7][8]

Owing to moderate vertical wind shear on May 4, Noul’s low-level circulation center was briefly partial-exposed, and the system itself drifted very slowly under the steering influence of a weak subtropical ridge.[9][10] Late on May 5, after slowly consolidating, Noul was upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA and a typhoon by the JTWC, when it was located near Yap with an unstable low-level eye revealed by a microwave imagery.[11][12] Steered by the deep-layered subtropical ridge on May 6, Noul began tracking west-northwestward faster and was upgraded to a typhoon by the JMA at noon.[13][14] Right after Noul entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was assigned the name Dodong by the PAGASA early on May 7, the typhoon briefly formed a cloud-filled eye but collapsed very quickly.[15][16] Noul formed a cloud-filled eye again on May 8 but also collapsed quickly.[17]

Infrared satellite loop of Typhoon Noul making landfall over northeastern Luzon on May 10

Due to radial outflow, low vertical wind shear and sea surface temperature above 30°C, Noul started rapid deepening on May 9, forming a sharply well-defined 35-km (20-mile) eye embedded in a deepening symmetric core; therefore, the JTWC upgraded it to a super typhoon late on the same day.[18] The JMA declared that Noul reached peak intensity early on May 10, with central pressure at 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) and ten-minute maximum sustained winds at 205 km/h (125 mph), becoming the strongest typhoon in 2015 in terms of sustained winds, although it was surpassed by Typhoon Soudelor in August.[19] The JTWC did the same concurrently, with one-minute maximum sustained winds at 260 km/h (160 mph), equivalent to Category 5 of the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[20] Shortly before 17:00 PST (09:00 UTC), Noul made landfall over the town of Santa Ana, Cagayan in the Philippines.[21]

Due to land interaction as well as increasing vertical wind shear, Noul began to weaken in the afternoon on May 10 with a cloud-filled eye and warming cloud tops, while the typhoon rounded the southwestern periphery of a deep-layered subtropical ridge and turning poleward.[22] Therefore, the JTWC downgraded Noul to a typhoon late on the same day.[23] Despite the significant weakening trend, Typhoon Noul still maintained a large low-level eyewall structure on May 11 when accelerating northeastward towards Okinawa, Japan, supported by radar fixes.[24] Later, high vertical wind shear caused the low-level circulation center to break apart, and the system started its extratropical transition as it entered the westerlies.

After passing through Amami Ōshima early on May 12, the JTWC downgraded Noul to a tropical storm, shortly before the JMA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm.[25][26] Soon, the JTWC issued the final tropical cyclone warning and declared that Noul had become extratropical, so did the JMA.[27][28] As a new developing storm-force extratropical low, the system quickly passed through the Kantō region of Japan in the afternoon and arrived at the Pacific Ocean again.[29] However, it quickly weakened to a gale-force low when it was located southeast of Hokkaido.[30] The weak system then started to drift east-northeastward for three days until it was absorbed into its new center immediately after crossing the International Date Line on May 16.[31][32]

Preparations and impact[edit]

Typhoon Noul approaching Japan on May 12

Federated States of Micronesia[edit]

As a Category 1-equivalent typhoon, Noul passed near Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, where typhoon warnings were issued and heavy rainfall occurred.[33]

Philippines[edit]

Typhoon Noul, known as Typhoon Dodong within the country, entered the Philippine area of Responsibility on May 7.[34] The Philippines raised signal 4, the highest warning level. In northern Luzon, at least 2500 people were evacuated ahead of the typhoon.[35] PAGASA had warned residents in low-lying areas and mountainous areas. Areas under public storm signal numbers were advised to watch out for possible floods and landslides. Fisherfolk were advised not to venture over the eastern seaboard of the Luzon coast on May 9.[36]

After Noul made a direct hit on northeastern Luzon at Santa Ana, Cagayan, at least two indirect deaths were attributed to Noul after they were electrocuted while preparing their houses in advance of the typhoon.[37][38] Despite the destructive effects of the storm, its rains were generally welcomed by local farmers after an extended dry spell.[38] Damage from the storm was fairly limited, with total losses amounting to 15.5 million (US$345,000).[39]

Mount Bulusan[edit]

People were also evacuated from the vicinity of Mount Bulusan after rains from Noul threatened to cause lahars and mudslides from ash of a recent eruption.[40] They were allowed to return after Noul recurved to the north and the threat did not materialize.[41]

Taiwan[edit]

In advance of Typhoon Noul's arrival, domestic flights from mainland Taiwan to the outlying Green Island and Orchid Island were canceled for May 10.[42] Heavy rains from the storm's outer bands and a frontal system brought much needed rain to areas of northern Taiwan suffering from a severe drought. A total of 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain fell at the Shihmen Dam,[43] amounting to an increase of approximately 7 million tonnes of water in the reservoir.[44] This brought the reservoir to 30.5 percent capacity.[43] Several major cities were able to lift water rationing as a result.[44] Rainfall amounted to 69 mm (2.7 in) at the Baoshan Reservoir, 60.5 mm (2.38 in) at the Mingte Reservoir, and 52.5 mm (2.07 in) at the Feistui Reservoir.[43]

Japan[edit]

On May 11, Noul impacted the Ryukyu Islands as a weakening typhoon. The Yaeyama Islands experienced unexpectedly strong winds, with Ishigaki measuring its highest sustained winds during May on record at 104 km/h (65 mph). Records there began in 1897. To the east, sustained winds of 131 km/h (81 mph) and gusts to 172 km/h (107 mph) were observed on Shimoji-shima.[45] One person in Kyoto sustained significant injuries after falling amid high winds.[46]

Agricultural damage across Okinawa reached ¥2.8 billion (US$23.2 million), the vast majority of which was endured in the Miyako District.[47]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

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