Overview of Tropical Cyclones

Overview of Tropical Cyclones in June 2018

Monday, 9th July 2018

 

Four tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in June 2018.

Ewiniar formed on 2 June and moved generally northwards, making landfall near Yangjiang over the coast of western Guangdong on 7 June and necessitating the issuance of the tropical cyclone warning signals by the Observatory for the first time this year. Details and the impact on Hong Kong can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Report of Ewiniar.

Maliksi formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 760 km east-northeast of Manila on the early morning of 8 June. It moved north-northwestwards at first and intensified gradually. Maliksi then turned to the northeast towards the sea areas south of Japan the next day. It developed into a severe tropical storm that night, reaching its peak intensity on the morning of 10 June with an estimated sustained wind of 110 km/h near its centre. Maliksi finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Japan on 12 June.

Gaemi formed as a tropical depression over the northeastern part of the South China Sea about 180 km southwest of Gaoxiong on 14 June. It moved northeastwards and swept across the southern part of Taiwan the next day. Gaemi intensified into a tropical storm near Okinawa on 16 June, reaching its peak intensity that night with an estimated sustained wind of 75 km/h near its centre and evolving into an extratropical cyclone over the seas south of Japan the next day.

According to press reports, electricity supply to around 13,500 households was interrupted and two oil tankers went aground near Gaoxiong during the passage of Gaemi over Taiwan. Gaemi caused extensive flooding and landslides in Okinawa and at least two persons were injured.

Prapiroon formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 740 km south-southeast of Okinawa on the early morning of 29 June. It tracked northwestwards towards the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands and intensified gradually.