Overview of Tropical Cyclones

Overview of Tropical Cyclones in December 2017

Tuesday, 23rd January 2018

 

Two tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in December 2017.

Kai-tak formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 820 km east-southeast of Manila on the morning of 14 December and moved slowly at first. It intensified into a tropical storm at night, reaching its peak intensity the next day with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 85 km/h near its centre. Kai-tak then tracked west to west-southwestards across the central part of the Philippines on 16 – 17 December and weakened into a tropical depression. After entering the southern part of the South China Sea, Kai-tak re-intensified into a tropical storm and turned southwestwards on 19 December, before finally degenerating into an area of low pressure over the sea areas south of Vietnam early on 22 December.

According to press reports, Kai-tak caused severe flooding and landslides in the Philippines. At least 54 people were killed and 24 people were missing.

Tembin formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1250 km east-southeast of Manila on the early morning of 21 December. It intensified gradually, moving west-southwest and then westwards across the southern part of the Philippines over the next two days. After entering the southern part of the South China Sea, Tembin developed into a typhoon and reached its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 130 km/h near its centre on 24 December. It then started to weaken and finally degenerated into an area of low pressure over the sea areas south of Vietnam on 26 December.

According to press reports, torrential rain and squalls brought by Tembin caused severe flooding and landslides in the Philippines. At least 240 people were killed, more than 180 people were missing and over 70 000 people were made homeless.