Overview of Tropical Cyclone in September 2022

Eight tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in September 2022.

Hinnamnor formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 960 km east of Iwo Jima in the small hours on 28 August. It generally moved northwestwards and intensified gradually. Hinnamnor tracked westwards towards the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands and intensified rapidly on 29 August. Hinnamnor developed into a super typhoon on the morning of 30 August, reaching its peak intensity that night with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 230 km/h near its centre. It weakened into a severe typhoon gradually and turned to move southwards slowly, lingering over the seas east of Taiwan in the following three days. Hinnamnor turned to move northwards across the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands on 3 September. It developed into a super typhoon again on the afternoon of 4 September. Hinnamnor turned to move north-northeastwards the next day and weakened gradually. It finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the seas north of Honshu, Japan on 6 September.

According to press reports, 2 persons were injured and electricity supply to around 3 000 households in Ishigaki Jima and Miyako Jima were suspended during the passage of Hinnamnor. There were more than 35 000 households without electricity supply in Kyushu, Japan. Moreover, Hinnamnor also caused at least 10 deaths and 2 missing in Korea.

Muifa formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 340 km north of Yap on the afternoon of 6 September and moved south-southwestwards. It tracked gradually north-northwestwards towards the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands and intensified gradually in the following four days. Muifa intensified into a severe typhoon in the small hours on 11 September and reached its peak intensity in the afternoon with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 175 km/h near its centre. Muifa weakened gradually afterwards and moved across the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands towards the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Muifa moved across the coastal area of the East China on 14 and 15 September and finally weakened into an area of low pressure near Shandong on 16 September.

According to press reports, at least 2 people were injured in Ishigaki Jima during the passage of Muifa. Moreover, the rail and aviation services in Zhejiang were suspended under the influence of Muifa.  

Merbok formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 740 km west-northwest of Wake Island on the afternoon of 11 September. It moved east or east-northeastwards at first and intensified gradually. Merbok intensified into a severe tropical storm in the small hours on 13 September and tracked generally northwards. Merbok further intensified into a typhoon the next morning and reached its peak intensity in the afternoon with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 130 km/h near its centre. Merbok weakened gradually afterwards and finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the western North Pacific on 15 September.

Nanmadol formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 430 km southwest of Iwo Jima on the morning of 13 September. It moved slowly at first and intensified gradually. Nanmadol intensified into a tropical storm the next day and tracked westwards towards the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands. It further intensified into a super typhoon on the afternoon of 16 September and turned to move generally northwestwards. Nanmadol reached its peak intensity in the small hours on 17 September with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 220 km/h near its centre. It turned to move north-northwestwards and weakened gradually afterwards. Nanmadol swept across Kyushu, Japan on 18 September and finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over Honshu, Japan, the next day.

According to press reports, Nanmadol left more than 60 injuries in Kyushu, Japan during its passage. Electricity supply to about 340 000 households was interrupted. Over 800 flights were cancelled and rail services were suspended.

Talas formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 150 km southwest of Iwo Jima on the afternoon of 21 September. It moved northwestwards and intensified gradually. Talas intensified into a tropical storm on the morning of 23 September and reached its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 65 km/h near its centre. It turned to move northeastwards and weakened gradually afterwards. Talas finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the coast of Honshu, Japan on 24 September.  

Noru formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 510 km east-northeast of Manila on the morning of 22 September. It moved west-southwestwards towards Luzon and intensified gradually. Noru started to intensify rapidly on the morning of 24 September. It developed into a super typhoon in the next day and tracked westwards. Noru reached its peak intensity that morning with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 220 km/h near its centre. Noru moved across Luzon afterwards and weakened into a typhoon on 26 September. It reorganized after entering the central part of the South China Sea and developed into a super typhoon again on 27 September. Noru made landfall near Danang on 28 September and weakened. It finally dissipated over the Indochina Peninsula on 29 September.

According to press reports, at least 12 persons were killed and 6 persons were missing when Noru skirted past the Philippines. It also caused 3 deaths, 62 injuries and 3 missing in Vietnam. There were 1 death and 2 injuries in Thailand during the passage of Noru. Noru also brought torrential rain and squalls to Cambodia, leaving 16 deaths.

Kulap formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 750 km southeast of Iwo Jima on the afternoon of 25 September. It moved northwestwards and intensified gradually. Kulap intensified into a tropical storm over the vicinity of Iwo Jima the next afternoon. It then gradually turned to move northeastwards and continued to intensify. Kulap further intensified into a severe tropical storm on the morning of 27 September and reached its peak intensity in the next afternoon with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 110 km/h near its centre. It finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the western North Pacific to the east of Japan on 29 September.

Roke formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 890 km southeast of Okinawa in the small hours on 28 September and moved northwestwards at first. It turned to move northwards that afternoon and intensified rapidly. Roke intensified into a typhoon on the afternoon of 29 September and turned to move northeastwards. It weakened into a severe tropical storm on 30 September and moved towards the seas east of Japan.