Overview of Tropical Cyclones in October 2008

Four tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and South China Sea in October 2008, of which Higos necessitated the issuance of the Standby Signal No. 1 in Hong Kong.

After making landfall over the northern part of Vietnam at the end of last month, Tropical Depression Mekkhala weakened into an area of low pressure over Indochina on the early hours of 1 October. According to press reports, eight people were killed and eight others missing in Vietnam during the passage of Mekkhala.

After forming over the western North Pacific in late September, Higos moved west-northwestwards across the central part of the Philippines on 1 October and entered the central part of the South China Sea on the early hours of 2 October.  Higos intensified into a tropical storm on the morning of 3 October and moved northwestwards.  It turned to move northwards that night and made landfall near Wenchong in the eastern tip of Hainan.  Higos weakened into a tropical depression on the early hours of 4 October and made landfall again near Wuchuan in western Guangdong that night.  Higos weakened into an area of low pressure on the early hours of 5 October.  The remnant low pressure area of Higos moved generally eastwards along the coast of Guangdong that day and dissipated over the northern part of the South China Sea two days later. 

A tropical depression formed in the southern part of Beibu Wan about 240 km north of Danang on 13 October and moved slowly north-northwestwards. It turned to move westwards the next evening and  west-southwestwards on 15 October.  It made landfall over the northern part of Vietnam and weakened into an area of low pressure that evening.

Bavi formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 740 km east of Iwo Jima on 19 October and moved north-northwestwards initially. Bavi intensified into a tropical storm and moved north-northeastwards that afternoon, and became an extra-tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific to the east of Japan on 20 October.