1951 Pacific typhoon season

1951 Pacific typhoon season
Season summary map
First system formed February 19, 1951
Last system dissipated December 16, 1951
Strongest storm1 Marge – 886 hPa (mbar), 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions 31
Total storms 25
Typhoons 16
Super typhoons 1  (unofficial)
Total fatalities 1,185 (including missing and injured)
Total damage $106.15 million (1951 USD)
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
Pacific typhoon seasons
1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953

The 1951 Pacific typhoon season was a generally below average season with multiple tropical cyclones striking the Philippines. With the exception of January, each month saw at least one tropical system develop; October was the most active month with four tropical cyclones forming. Overall, there were 21 tropical depressions, of which 17 became named storms; of those, there were 16 typhoons.

The season began with the formation of a short-lived unnamed tropical storm on February 19, well east of the Philippines; Typhoon Georgia became the season's first named storm and typhoon after first developing in the open Pacific on March 20. In April, Typhoon Iris developed before intensifying into a super typhoon the following month; Iris was the first recorded instance of a Category 5-equivalent typhoon in the western Pacific. The final typhoon and storm of the year was Typhoon Babs, which remained at sea before dissipating on December 17.

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 1951 Pacific hurricane season. At the time, tropical storms that formed within this region of the western Pacific were named and identified by the United States Fleet Weather Center in Guam. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which was established five years later, identified four additional tropical cyclones during the season not tracked by the Fleet Weather Center; these analyzed systems did not receive names.

Storms

Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

JMA Tropical Storm One

Tropical storm (JMA)
Duration February 19 – February 21
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

At 0600 UTC on February 19, a tropical cyclone developed well east of the Philippines and began to track northeastward. Late on February 20, the tropical cyclone reached its peak intensity with a minimum central pressure of 990 mbar (hPa; 29.23 inHg) shortly before becoming extratropical; the consequent extratropical cyclone continued to strengthen before dissipating on February 21. This cyclone was not operationally tracked by the Guam Fleet Weather Center, and as such was added to the season by the Japan Meteorological Agency in 1990.[1]

Typhoon Georgia

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration March 18 – March 27
Peak intensity 220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min)  970 hPa (mbar)

A persistent low-pressure area south of Kusaie was first noted on March 14. The origins of the cyclonic circulation remain disputed, with one hypothesis indicating initial development south of Nauru and another suggesting that the system originated from a minor tropical wave east of the Marshall Islands. Nonetheless, southeasterly flow associated with an unusually strong high pressure area positioned over northeastern Australia aided the tropical cyclogenesis of the disturbance,[2] and at 1200 UTC on March 18, the circulation developed into a tropical depression. In its initial stages, the disturbance steadily intensified as it moved in a northeasterly direction, attaining tropical storm strength by 1800 UTC the next day. At 0600 UTC on March 20, Georgia reached typhoon intensity;[3] however, the Guam Fleet Warning Center only issued its first typhoon bulletin on the tropical cyclone at 0600 UTC the following day,[2] by which time Georgia already had winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[3] At the same time, the typhoon began to develop an eye.[2] Subsequently, Georgia attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), equivalent to a modern-day Category 4 hurricane. Afterwards, the intense typhoon began to quickly lose organization and strength,[2] and degenerated into a remnant low after 0600 UTC on March 25,[3] coinciding with the last typhoon bulletin issued by the Guam Fleet Warning Center.[2] The remnants tracked westward before dissipating after 0600 UTC on March 28.[4]

As a developing tropical system, the precursor to Georgia and resultant tropical depression moved near Kusaie, producing a peak rainfall total of 137 mm (5.31 in) over a three-day period and gusts in excess of 95 km/h (55 mph). On March 20, Georgia passed to the south of Kwajalein. As such, the island's station observed "strong surface winds" and 236 mm (9.28 in) of rain in an eighteen-hour period.[2] As a weakening tropical cyclone, Georgia threatened Wake Island and Eniwetok Atoll; the latter of which was expected to be the site of American nuclear testing operations.[5] Though both islands were warned of by the Guam Fleet Weather Center, however, the typhoon had weakened considerably before reaching them, and effects remained marginal. Nonetheless, 52 mm (2.03 in) of rain was reported on a weather station in Eniwetok.[2] The nuclear testing operation, termed Operation George, remained unaffected,[6] though the first test was detonated on July 4, well after Georgia dissipated.[7]

Typhoon Hope

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration April 15 – April 23
Peak intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

In early April, several cyclonic vorticies were noted south of the Marshall Islands. One of these circulation centers tracked westward and later developed into a tropical depression near Micronesia early on April 15.[8][9] Steadily intensifying, the disturbance intensified into a tropical storm by 1800 UTC the next day. At roughly the same time, Hope began to curve slightly to the north. The Guam Fleet Warning Center estimated that the tropical storm intensified into a typhoon by 1800 UTC on April 17, before strengthening further to reach its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) at 0000 UTC.[9] At the same time, the weather center at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam began issuing bulletins on the storm. Shortly after, Hope executed a small anticyclonic loop, which resulted in the tropical cyclone tracking westward. After this loop was completed, however, the typhoon began to weaken.[8] This weakening trend continued, and the Guam Fleet Warning Center ceased the issuance of bulletins at 1200 UTC on April 20, by which time Hope was deemed too weak to be classified as a tropical cyclone. However, the China Meteorological Agency (CMA), in analysis of the system, determined that Hope had persisted up until late on April 23 before dissipating.[9]

Super Typhoon Iris

Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration April 28 – May 13
Peak intensity 280 km/h (175 mph) (1-min)  909 hPa (mbar)

In late April, a well-developed tropical wave began developing east of Chuuk Lagoon.[10] Tracking westward, the easterly wave was analyzed to have organized into a tropical depression by 0000 UTC on April 29.[11] Twelve hours later, Iris was estimated to have strengthened into a tropical storm.[12] At roughly the same time, a vessel in the vicinity of the storm reported winds in excess of 65 km/h (40 mph), prompting the Guam Fleet Weather Center to initiate reconnaissance flights into the cyclone.[8] Midday on April 30, Iris intensified into the equivalent of a modern-day typhoon as it moved in a slightly oscillatory path towards the Philippines.[8][12] After a slight fluctuation in intensity during the overnight hours of May 1, Iris rapidly intensified to reach its peak intensity with a minimum pressure of 909 mbar (hPa; 26.85 inHg) and maximum sustained winds of 280 km/h (175 mph) early on May 4,[12] making it the equivalent of a Category 5 super typhoon;[11] at the time this was the first confirmed instance of a typhoon reaching such intensities.[3] Afterwards, Iris weakened slightly before making landfall on South Luzon around 1800 UTC the following day.[12]

After passing and weakening through the Philippines, Iris emerged into the South China Sea on May 6 as a tropical storm. At the same time, it began to recurve towards the northeast. On May 9, Iris reached a secondary peak intensity south of the Ryukyu Islands with winds of 160 km/h (100 mph), before subsequently weakening.[12] Afterwards, the tropical cyclone underwent extratropical transition, though the timing of such an event is disputed between the JMA and the CMA, with the former indicating that such a transition occurred on May 11,[13] and the latter indicating a transition on May 14.[11] Nonetheless, Iris made an anticyclonic loop beginning on May 11, before accelerating northeastward and dissipating entirely on May 15.[12] Upon its dissipation, Iris set Guam Fleet Weather Center records for number of tropical cyclone bulletins issued, at 50, and number of reconnaissance fixes, at 54.[8][12] At its landfall in the Philippines, the typhoon caused nine fatalities and injured an additional 39 people.[14]

Typhoon Joan

Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration May 6 – May 13
Peak intensity 140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 05

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration May 12 – May 14
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  998 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Storm 06

Tropical storm (CMA)
Duration June 17 – June 22
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  992 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Kate

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration June 26 – July 2
Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min)  975 hPa (mbar)

JMA Severe Tropical Storm Seven

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Duration June 30 – July 5
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  992 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 10

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration July 22 – July 24
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  1002 hPa (mbar)

JMA Tropical Storm Eight

Tropical storm (JMA)
Duration July 24 – July 25
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  1005 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 11

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration July 27 – July 27
Peak intensity 45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min)  1006 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Louise

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration July 26 – August 5
Peak intensity 220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min)  904 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 13

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration August 4 – August 6
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  1002 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 14

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration August 5 – August 7
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  995 hPa (mbar)

JMA Tropical Storm Ten

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Duration August 9 – August 19
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  989 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Marge

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration August 10 – August 24
Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min)  886 hPa (mbar)

Marge reached a pressure below 900 hPa becoming the strongest of the season, however the typhoon never reached Category 5 or at least super typhoon intensity.

CMA Tropical Depression 17

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration August 22 – August 23
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  1005 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Nora

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration August 27 – September 4
Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min)  970 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 19

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration September 4 – September 6
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  995 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 20

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration September 8 – September 8
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  1000 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Ora

Category 2 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration September 11 – September 21
Peak intensity 155 km/h (100 mph) (1-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Pat

Category 2 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration September 20 – September 28
Peak intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Ruth

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration October 8 – October 15
Peak intensity 220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min)  924 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Ruth struck Japan on October 15, killing 1294 people and destroying 34,000 buildings.

Typhoon Sarah

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration October 22 – October 27
Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min)  960 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Thelma

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration October 27 – November 2
Peak intensity 230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min)  950 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Storm Vera

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration October 28 – November 1
Peak intensity 110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Wanda

Category 2 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration November 16 – November 26
Peak intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min)  985 hPa (mbar)

CMA Tropical Depression 28

Tropical depression (CMA)
Duration November 26 – November 27
Peak intensity 45 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  1004 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Amy

Category 4 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration December 3 – December 17
Peak intensity 220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min)  950 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Typhoon Amy (1951)

On December 3, an area of low pressure first noted near the Kwajalein Atoll developed into a tropical cyclone. Tracking in a general westward direction, the storm quickly intensified to reach typhoon intensity the next day. However, the typhoon's asymmetricity resulted in a fluctuation of intensity over the following few days.[8][15] Afterwards, Amy was able to intensify to reach its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) on December 8. Over the ensuing two days, Amy moved over several islands in the central Philippines before emerging in the South China Sea on December 11 as the equivalent of a minimal typhoon. Shortly after, the tropical cyclone executed a tight anticyclonic loop while oscillating in strength several times before eventually weakening and dissipating on December 17,[8][15] just east of Vietnam.[15]

In the Philippines, Amy was considered one of the worst typhoons to strike the island chain on record.[16] Making its initial landfall along with the concurrent eruption of Mount Hibok-Hibok on Camiguin, the typhoon disrupted volcanic relief operations and forced the displacement of victims already displaced by the volcano.[17][18] Cebu City suffered the worst impacts of Amy – most of the city's buildings were heavily damaged, and 29 people died in the city.[19][20] Strong winds and rainfall in the city associated with Amy also set records which still remain unbroken today.[21] Damage there was estimated at ₱560 million.[22] Along the east coast of Leyte, where Amy initially struck, ninety percent of homes were destroyed,[23] and a large swath of coconut plantations were wiped out.[24] In Panay, located on the western side of the Philippines, at least a thousand homes were destroyed in 41 towns.[25] Overall, Amy caused $30 million in damage,[26][27] and at least 556 fatalities,[28] though the final death toll may have been as high as 991, making the typhoon one of the deadliest in modern Philippine history.[16] An additional 50,000 people were displaced by the storm.[26]

Typhoon Babs

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration December 10 – December 16
Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Season effects

The following table lists all of the tropical cyclones that formed during the 1951 Pacific typhoon season, including their names, duration, intensities, damages, and death totals. Damage and deaths include totals for storms before tropical cyclogenesis and after extratropical transition. The duration of storms is based on data provided from the China Meteorological Administration, while maximum sustained wind data is provided by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Pressure data is provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds		 Pressure Land areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Unnamed February 19 – 21 Tropical storm Unknown 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) None affected None None
Georgia March 18 – 25 Category 4 typhoon 220 km/h (140 mph) 970 hPa (28.67 inHg) Marshall Islands, Wake Island Minimal None [2]
Hope April 15 – 23 Category 1 typhoon 130 km/h (80 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) None affected None None [9]
Iris April 29 – May 13 Category 5 super typhoon 280 km/h (175 mph) 910 hPa (26.88 inHg) Philippines None 13 [14]
Amy December 3 – 17 Category 4 typhoon 220 km/h (140 mph) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) Philippines $30 million 569 –991 [16][26][27][28]
Season Aggregates
21 systems February 18 – December 16 280 km/h (175 mph) 886 mbar (hPa; 26.17 inHg)

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Digital Typhoon (October 17, 1990). "Typhoon 195101 (NO-NAME)". Digital Typhoon Detailed Track Information. National Institute of Informatics. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pate, Elbert W.; Taylor, George F. (September 1951). Operation Greenhouse (PDF) (Technical Meteorological Report). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
    3. 1 2 3 4 "IrBTRACS For the Northern Hemisphere" (FTP). International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
    4. ↑ Digital Typhoon (March 19, 2013). "Typhoon 195102 (GEORGIA)". Digital Typhoon Detailed Track Information. National Institute of Infomatics. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
    5. ↑ "Typhoon Heading For Atomic Blast Testing Grounds At Eniwetok". Schenectady Gazette 57 (149) (Schenectady, New York). Associated Press. March 22, 2013. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
    6. ↑ "Typhoon Blows Itself Out In Eniwetok Area". The Telegraph-Herald 115 (72) (Dubuque, Iowa). Associated Press. March 25, 2013. p. 23. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
    7. ↑ "Operation Greenhouse - 1951". SonicBomb. September 15, 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
    8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Air Weather Service; Military Air Transport Service; United States Air Force (September 1951). 1951 Annual Report Of Typhoon Post-Analysis Program (PDF) (Air Weather Service Technical Report). Washington, D.C.: Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    9. 1 2 3 4 "1951 02W:HOPE (1951105N08152)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. University of North Carolina-Asheville. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    10. ↑ Climatological Division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (August 25, 2010). Tropical Cyclones. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    11. 1 2 3 China Meteorological Administration. "China Meteorological Administration Best Track Data For the 1951 Pacific Typhoon Season". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "1951 03W:IRIS (1951119N06145)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. University of North Carolina-Asheville. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    13. ↑ Digital Typhoon (March 19, 2013). "Typhoon 195104 (IRIS)". Digital Typhoon Detailed Track Information. National Institute of Infomatics. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    14. 1 2 "Typhoon Takes South Luzon Toll". New York Times (Manila, Philippines). IMP. May 6, 1951. Retrieved 20 July 2013. (subscription required)
    15. 1 2 3 "1951 16W:AMY (1951337N09150)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. University of North Carolina-Asheville. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    16. 1 2 3 Alojado, Dominic (July 29, 2010). "The Twelve Worst Typhoons Of The Philippines (1947 –2009)". Typhoon2000.com. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
    17. ↑ "Philippines Threatened By Typhoon". The Victoria Adovcate (Victoria, Texas). Associated Press. December 9, 1951. p. 1A. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    18. ↑ "Typhoon Kills 3, Volcano Erupts Again". The Victoria Advocate 6 (186) (Victoria, Texas). Associated Press. December 10, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    19. ↑ White, Frank L. (December 13, 1951). "569 Perish in Typhoon". The Ludington Daily News 62 (34) (Ludington, Michigan). Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
    20. ↑ "Philippine Typhoon Kills At Least 14". Nashua Telegraph 83 (238) (Nashua, New Hampshire). Associated Press. December 10, 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    21. ↑ Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. "Cebu Port Study". Monterrey, California: Navy Research Laboratory. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    22. ↑ Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. "Most Disastrous Tropical Cyclones Affecting Cebu Province Selection By Year From 1948 –2012". Monterrey, California: Navy Research Laboratory. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    23. ↑ "23 Killed, 200 Lost In Typhoon". Miami Daily News 56 (313) (Miami, Florida). Associated Press. December 11, 1951. p. 13A. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
    24. ↑ "Typhoon Causes Heavy Damage". The Spokesman-Review 69 (211) (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 11, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
    25. ↑ "16 Known Dead From Typhoon In Philippines". The News and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina). Associated Press. December 11, 1951. p. 2A. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
    26. 1 2 3 "Two Typhoons Menace Manila". Sarasota Herald-Tribune 27 (61) (Sarasota, Florida). Associated Press. December 12, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
    27. 1 2 "Typhoon Rips Philippines". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 25 (113) (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Associated Press. December 11, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
    28. 1 2 SuperAdminEMDAT (July 26, 2013). "EM-DAT Disaster List". EM-DAT Disaster Database. Brussels, Belgium: Centre de Recherche sur l’Epidemiologie des Desastres. Retrieved 26 July 2013.

    External links

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