TROPICAL CYCLONES IN 2014
2.1 Review of tropical cyclones in 2014
2.1.1 Tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific (including the South China Sea)
In 2014, a total of 24 tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea bounded by the Equator, 45°N, 100°E and 180°, less than the long term (1961-2010) average figure of around 30. During the year, 11 of the tropical cyclones attained typhoon intensity or above, less than the long term average (15) of 1961 – 2010. Eight of them reached super typhoon intensity (maximum 10-minute wind speed of 185 km/h or above near the centre), the highest since 2006.
The first tropical cyclone of the year formed in January and the last one in December. Figure 2.1 shows the monthly frequencies of the occurrence of tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2014. Tropical Storm Peipah (1404) in April formed nearest to the Equator since Tropical Storm Vamei (0126) in 2001.
No tropical cyclone formed over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in August 2014, the first time for August on records. Only three tropical cyclones (including Genevieve from the central North Pacific) affected the basin. In August, tropical cyclones normally form over the sea areas to the east of the Philippines where the southwesterly airstream generated by cross-equatorial flow converges with the easterly winds over the southern flank of the subtropical ridge, forming the Intertropical Convergence Zone where tropical cyclones may develop under favourable atmospheric conditions. However, the southwesterly airstream was significantly weaker than normal in August 2014, and hence leading to relatively weak convergence effect. Moreover, the subtropical ridge in August 2014 was stronger and located further to the south than normal. The related subsidence also hindered the development of cloud clusters.
During the year, six tropical cyclones made landfall over mainland China, with one of them making landfall over the south China coast within 300 km of Hong Kong. Two tropical cyclones crossed Taiwan, four made landfall over Japan, seven traversed the Philippines and two made landfall over Vietnam. Super Typhoon Nuri (1420) in October and Super Typhoon Hagupit (1422) in November (Figures 2.3 and 2.4) were the most intense tropical cyclones in 2014 over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea. Both had an estimated maximum sustained wind speed of 250 km/h and a minimum sea-level pressure of 905 hPa near their centres (Table 4.1).
2.1.2 Tropical cyclones in Hong Kong’s area of responsibility
Amongst the 24 tropical cyclones in 2014, ten of them occurred inside Hong Kong’s area of responsibility (i.e. the area bounded by 10°N, 30°N, 105°E and 125°E), less than the long term annual average figure of around 16 by six (Table 2.1). Eight of them developed within Hong Kong’s area of responsibility. Altogether, 231 tropical cyclone warnings to ships and vessels were issued by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2014(Table 4.2).
2.1.3 Tropical cyclones over the South China Sea
Eight tropical cyclones affected the South China Sea bounded by 10°N, 25°N, 105°E and 120°E in 2014, less than the long term annual average of around 12. Only two of them formed within the basin.
With an estimated maximum sustained wind 240 km/h near its centre on 18 July, Super Typhoon Rammasun (1409) (Figure 3.2.3) became the most intense typhoon to occur in the South China Sea since record began in 1950.
2.1.4 Tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong
In 2014, the typhoon season in Hong Kong started on 14 June when Tropical Storm Hagibis (1407) slowly edged towards the coastal areas of eastern Guangdong, necessitating the issuance of the Standby Signal No. 1. The typhoon season ended with the cancellation of tropical cyclone warning signals on 17 September as Typhoon Kalmaegi (1415) weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm and moved further inland into the northern part of Vietnam.
Four tropical cyclones affected Hong Kong during 2014 (Figure 2.2), less than the long term (1961-2010) average figure of about six in a year (Table 2.2). They were Tropical Storm Hagibis (1407) in June, Super Typhoon Rammasun (Table 2.2) in July, Tropical Depression and Typhoon Kalmaegi (1415) in September. The No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal was issued during the passage of Kalmaegi, the highest tropical cyclone warning signal issued in 2014. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued during the passage of Rammasun. Hagibis and Tropical Depression only necessitated the issuance of Standby Signal No. 1 in Hong Kong.
2.1.5 Tropical cyclone rainfall
Tropical cyclone rainfall (total rainfall recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters from the time when a tropical cyclone comes within 600 km of Hong Kong to 72 hours after it has dissipated or moved more than 600 km away from Hong Kong) in 2014 was 192.8 mm (Table 4.8.1). This accounted for approximately 7.3 % of the year’s total rainfall of 2638.3 mm and was about 74 % below the 1961-2010 long term average of 728.8 mm.
Typhoon Kalmaegi (1415) brought 77.2 mm of rainfall to the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters (Table 4.8.1) and was the wettest tropical cyclone in 2014.
2.2 Monthly overview
A monthly overview of tropical cyclones is given in this section. Detailed reports on tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong, including reports of damage, are presented in Section 3.
Lingling (1401) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 890 km southeast of Manila on 18 January and moved generally southwards across the seas east of the southern Philippines. The estimated maximum sustained winds near its centre was about 55 km/h. Lingling dissipated over the sea to the east of the southern Philippines on 20 January.
Kajiki (1402) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 300 km east-southeast of Manila on 31 January and moved westwards. Kajiki intensified into a tropical storm in the afternoon, reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 85 km/h near its centre. After crossing the central part of the Philippines that night, Kajiki soon dissipated after moving into the southern part of the South China Sea on 1 February.
Faxai (1403) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 650 km southeast of Guam on 28 February and moved slowly initially. Faxai took on a northerly track on 1 March and intensified into a tropical storm. It intensified into a severe tropical storm two days later and speeded up towards the north-northeast. Moving northeastwards, Faxai intensified further into a typhoon over the Pacific to the northeast of Guam in the small hours on 5 March, reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 130 km/h near its centre. It weakened gradually thereafter and became an extratropical cyclone over the western North Pacific the following day.
Peipah (1404) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 310 km south of Guam on 3 April and generally moved west-northwestwards, edging closer to the Philippines. It intensified into a tropical storm two days later, reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 65 km/h near its centre. Peipah weakened into a tropical depression on the night of 8 April. It became slow-moving and lingered over the sea areas east of the Philippines the next day, before dissipating over the seas on 10 April.
Tapah (1405) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 270 km southeast of Guam on 28 April and generally moved north-northeastwards. It intensified into a tropical storm that afternoon and became a severe tropical storm the next day, reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 110 km/h near its centre. Tapah turned northwestwards and started to weaken on 30 April. It weakened into a tropical storm on the morning of 1 May and dissipated over the seas southeast of Iwo Jima that night.
Tropical depression Mitag (1406) formed over the western North Pacific about 250 km south of Okinawa on the afternoon of 11 June and moved northeastwards. The estimated maximum sustained winds near its centre was about 55 km/h. Mitag became an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Okinawa on the morning of 12 June.
Hagibis (1407) formed as a tropical depression over the northeastern part of the South China Sea about 380 km southeast of Hong Kong on the morning of 14 June. Drifting north-northwestwards, it intensified into a tropical storm that afternoon and reached its peak intensity that night with an estimated sustained wind of 75 km/h near its centre. Hagibis started to move steadily northwards in the small hours on 15 June as it edged towards the coastal areas of eastern Guangdong. It made landfall near Shantou that afternoon and weakened into a tropical depression during the night. Hagibis weakened further over the inland areas of eastern Guangdong on the morning of 16 June. However, its remnant low pressure area continued to track across the southeastern part of China before entering the East China Sea the next day and re-intensifying into a tropical depression in the afternoon. Moving east-northeastwards, Hagibis finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the seas south of Japan on the morning of 18 June. Heavy rain associated with Hagibis led to severe flooding in parts of Guangdong and Fujian where land and sea traffic was disrupted. More than 11 520 hectares of farmland were affected, with economic losses reaching 570 million RMB.
Neoguri (1408) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 470 km south of Guam on 3 July and generally moved northwestwards. It continued to develop in the next few days and intensified into a super typhoon on 7 July to the south-southeast of Okinawa, reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 195 km/h near its centre. It turned northwards on 8 July, crossing the Ryukyu Islands and weakening into a severe typhoon. Following another turn to the east-northeast the next day, Neoguri finally made landfall over the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture on the morning of 10 July. Weakening further into a tropical storm, it skirted past the south coast of Kyushu and Honshu before becoming an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Honshu the next morning.
According to press reports, at least seven people were killed, more than 50 injured and over 500 000 people evacuated in Japan during the passage of Neoguri. There were also interruptions of electricity supply to at least 86 000 households in Okinawa Prefecture. More than 190 flights were cancelled.
Rammasun (1409) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 410 km east-southeast of Guam on the morning of 11 July. It intensified gradually and moved westwards steadily in the following few days. Rammasun developed into a severe typhoon and turned west-northwestwards on 15 and 16 July, moving across the central part of the Philippines and entering the South China Sea. After weakening over terrain, Rammasun re-organized over the South China Sea and intensified into a super typhoon on 18 July, reaching its peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 240 km/h near its centre. Tracking northwestwards, it made landfall near Wenchang over the northern part of Hainan Island later that day and crossed the coast of Guangxi the next morning. Rammasun weakened over land and became an area of low pressure over Yunnan on 20 July.
According to press reports, at least 98 people were killed, five were missing and 630 others were injured in the Philippines during the passage of Rammasun. It also wreaked havoc in Hainan Island, western Guangdong and Guangxi. At least 18 people were killed, 37 000 houses collapsed, with 7.4 million people affected.
Matmo (1410) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 280 km west-northwest of Yap on the morning of 17 July. Moving slowly westwards initially, it turned northwestwards on 19 July and intensified into a typhoon that night. It continued to intensify and reached its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 140 km/h near its centre on the morning of 22 July. Matmo moved across Taiwan on the morning of 23 July and weakened into a severe tropical storm during the day. It made landfall near Fuqing of Fujian that evening and weakened further into a tropical storm the next morning. Tracking northwards across eastern China, Matmo skirted the south coast of Shandong Peninsula on 25 July and became an extratropical cyclone over the northern part of the Yellow Sea during the night.
According to press reports, all transportation services were suspended and there were interruptions of water and electricity supply to over 300 000 households in Taiwan during the passage of Matmo. A civilian aircraft crashed at the Penghu islands under severe weather triggered by Matmo, killing 48 people and injuring ten others. Matmo also brought rainstorms to Fujian, Shandong and eastern China, affecting at least 300 000 people.
Halong (1411) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 440 km east-southeast of Guam on the morning of 29 July and moved west-northwestwards. It intensified into a severe tropical storm the next morning and continued to move generally westwards in the direction of the sea areas east of the Philippines. Halong became a super typhoon on the night of 2 August and reached its peak intensity the next morning with estimated sustained winds of 230 km/h near its centre. Turning northwards on 4 August, Halong weakened into a severe typhoon as it moved over the seas east of Ryukyu Islands in the following few days. Halong crossed the western part of Japan on 10 August and further weakened into a severe tropical storm before becoming an extratropical cyclone over the Sea of Japan the next morning. According to press reports, at least ten people were killed, 96 injured and two reported missing in Japan during the passage of Halong. More than 470 flights were cancelled.
Nakri (1412) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 930 km east-northeast of Manila on the afternoon of 29 July. Moving generally northwards and intensifying into a tropical storm, it swept past the Ryukyu Islands and headed towards the East China Sea on 31 July. Nakri intensified further into a severe tropical storm on the morning of 1 August, reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 105 km/h. It moved across the East China Sea in the next couple of days and weakened gradually, before becoming an extratropical cyclone over the northern part of the Yellow Sea on the morning of 4 August. According to press reports, Nakri brought torrential rain to Shikoku of Japan, triggering flooding and landslides, and around 450 000 people had to be evacuated.
Having formed over the eastern North Pacific, Super Typhoon Genevieve (1413) tracked westwards crossing the International Date Line and entered the western North Pacific on 7 August. Genevieve reached its peak intensity the next morning with estimated sustained winds of 230 km/h near its centre and turned northwards. Drifting northwestwards and weakening gradually, Genevieve dissipated over the sea areas north of Wake Island on the morning of 12 August.
A tropical depression formed over the northern part of the South China Sea about 340 km east-southeast of Haikou on the morning of 7 September. Taking a northwesterly track towards western Guangdong and the Leizhou Peninsula, it reached peak intensity that afternoon with an estimated sustained wind of 55 km/h near its centre. The tropical depression made landfall near Zhanjiang on the afternoon of 8 September and weakened into an area of low pressure over the Leizhou Peninsula that night.
Fengshen (1414) formed as tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 210 km east-northeast of Okinawa on the morning of 7 September. Drifting east-northeastwards, it developed into a tropical storm that afternoon. Fengshen intensified further into a severe tropical storm the next morning, reaching peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 105 km/h near its centre. Maintaining an east-northeasterly track, Fengshen moved across the seas south of Japan and weakened gradually. It became an extratropical cyclone on the night of 9 September.
Kalmaegi (1415) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 430 km east of Manila on the morning of 12 September. It moved west-northwestwards and intensified gradually into a typhoon. Kalmaegi moved across the northern part of Luzon on the night of 14 September and maintained a good pace after entering the South China Sea the next morning. It reached peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 140 km/h near its centre before making landfall near Wenchang over the northeastern part of Hainan Island on the morning of 16 September. After crossing Beibu Wan in the afternoon, Kalmaegi made landfall over the northern part of Vietnam that night. Moving inland and weakening gradually, it finally became an area of low pressure over Yunnan on the afternoon of 17 September.
According to press reports, Kalmaegi wreaked havoc in Hainan Island, western Guangdong and Guangxi, resulting in at least three deaths, one missing and about 6 million people affected. Transportation services were suspended. Storm surge triggered by Kalmaegi caused backflow of sea water in coastal areas, resulting in severe flooding in some areas. Sea level at Haikou was the highest since record began in 1973.
Fung-wong (1416) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 340 km east of Manila on the afternoon of 17 September. Moving northwestwards, Fung-wong intensified into a tropical storm the next morning. It skirted past the northern part of Luzon on 19 September and turned northwards across Luzon strait. It intensified into a severe tropical storm the next morning, reaching peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 90 km/h near its centre. Fung-wong reached the southern part of Taiwan on the morning of 21 September and moved along the east coast of Taiwan. It weakened into a tropical storm the next morning. After skirting past the coast of eastern China on 23 September, it turned east-northeastward and became an extratropical cyclone over the seas south of the Korean Peninsula the next morning.
According to press reports, at least 17 people were killed and several hundred houses were damaged in the Philippines during the passage of Fung-wong. Torrential rain associated with Fung-wong also triggered extensive landslides and flooding in Taiwan, causing at least four deaths and more than a hundred flights disrupted. According to preliminary estimates, economic losses in Zhejiang Province as a result of Fung-wong were around HK$800 million.
Kammuri (1417) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 920 km northeast of Guam on the morning of 24 September and moved slowly westwards. It intensified into a tropical storm the next morning. Kammuri started to take a north-northwesterly track towards the seas south of Japan on the morning of 26 September and intensified into a severe tropical storm that night, reaching peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 90 km/h near its centre. Kammuri turned northeastwards that night and became an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Japan on 29 September.
Phanfone (1418) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 810 km east of Guam on the morning of 29 September and tracked northwestwards in the general direction of Ryukyu Islands and the seas south of Japan. Phanfone intensified gradually in the following few days, developing into a severe typhoon on the morning of 2 October and becoming a super typhoon about 600 km south-southeast of Okinawa on the morning of 4 October. At peak intensity, maximum sustained wind reached 185 km/h near its centre. Phanfone then started to weaken and turn northeastwards on 5 October, skirting past the southern part of Honshu. It finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Japan on the afternoon of 6 October. According to press reports, at least nine people were killed, more than 3.2 million people had to be evacuated and over 600 flights were cancelled in Japan during the passage of Phanfone.
Vongfong (1419) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 800 km east-southeast of Guam on the morning of 3 October. It intensified gradually and moved west-northwestwards steadily in the following few days. Vongfong developed into a super typhoon on the night of 7 October and reached peak intensity the next morning with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 240 km/h near its centre. It took on a northward course towards Ryukyu Islands on 9 October and started to weaken gradually. After skirting past Ryukyu Islands on the afternoon of 11 October, Vongfong turned northeastwards and weakened into a severe tropical storm the following night. It swept across the southern part of Kyushu, the southern part of Shikoku and Honshu of Japan on 13 October and became an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Honshu on 14 October. According to press reports, at least three people were killed and around 100 people were injured in Japan during the passage of Vongfong. About 660 flights were cancelled. Electricity supply to at least 100 000 households in Okinawa and Kyushu was interrupted.
Nuri (1420) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 770 km east of Manila on the morning of 31 October and moved generally westwards. Developing into a tropical storm that night, Nuri turned north-northwestwards the following day and continued to intensify. It developed into a super typhoon about 1 210 km southwest of Iwo Jima on the night of 2 November and reached its peak intensity the next morning with an estimated sustained winds of 250 km/h near its centre. Tracking northeastwards, Nuri moved across the sea areas northwest of Iwo Jima and weakened gradually in the following few days. It finally evolved into an extratropical cyclone over the seas east of Japan on the morning of 7 November.
Sinlaku (1421) formed as a tropical depression about 650 km south-southeast of Manila on the morning of 27 November and moved west-northwestwards across the southern part of the Philippines. It intensified into a tropical storm the next morning and moved across the southern part of the South China Sea. Sinlaku further intensified into a severe tropical storm about 540 km east-northeast of Ho Chi Minh City on 29 November, reaching peak intensity with an estimated sustained winds of 90 km/h near its centre. Sinlaku made landfall over southern Vietnam in the small hours of 30 November and weakened gradually. It finally weakened into an area of low pressure over Cambodia that night.
Hagupit (1422) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 580 km southeast of Guam early on 1 December. It moved west-northwestwards, intensifying into a tropical storm that afternoon. It continued to intensify in the next few days and developed into a super typhoon in the small hours of 4 December, with an estimated sustained winds of 250 km/h near its centre at peak intensity. Hagupit turned westwards in the next two days and gradually weakened. It moved across the central part of the Philippines on 7 December and became a tropical storm the next day. Entering the central part of the South China Sea on 9 December, it continued on a westward track and re-intensified into a severe tropical storm about 370 km north-northeast of Nansha on the night of 10 December. Moving west-southwestwards and weakening gradually, Hagupit finally degenerated into an area of low pressure as it approached the coast of southern Vietnam on the morning of 12 December.
According to press reports, at least 27 people were killed and over a million people had to be evacuated in the Philippines during the passage of Hagupit. There were also reports of widespread power outages and disruption in sea and air traffic.
Jangmi (1423) formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 350 km southeast of Manila on the night of 27 December and generally followed a west-northwesterly track. Moving across the southern part of the Philippines, Jangmi intensified into a tropical storm on 29 December and reached its peak intensity with an estimated sustained winds of 75 km/h near its centre. It drifted southwestwards on 30 December and weakened into an area of low pressure over the Sulu Sea the next day.
According to press reports, at least 21 people were killed in the Philippines during the passage of Jangmi.
Note: Casualties and damage figures were compiled from press reports.