1996 Pacific typhoon season.html



1996 Pacific typhoon season

Season summary map
First storm formed:	February 23, 1996
Last storm dissipated:	December 31, 1996
Strongest storm:	Herb - 925 hPa (mbar), 260 km/h (160 mph)
Total depressions:	43
Total storms:	33
Typhoons:	21
Super typhoons:	6
Total fatalities:	873
Total damage:	Unknown
Pacific typhoon seasons 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

The 1996 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1996, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November.¹ These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the international date line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1996 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

Storms

The 1996 season was very active. Forty-four tropical cyclones formed this year, of which 33 became tropical storms. Twenty-one storms reached typhoon intensity, of which six reached super typhoon strength.

Tropical Depression 01W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	February 29—March 1
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm Ann

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	April 2—April 9
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 03W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	April 25—April 26
Intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min)

Super Typhoon Bart

Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	May 9—May 18
Intensity	230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm Cam

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	May 18—May 24
Intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Dan

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 5—July 12
Intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Eve

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 13—July 20
Intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min)

A Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough spawned Tropical Depression 7W on July 10 over the open Western Pacific. It tracked generally west-northwestward, strengthening to a tropical storm on the 14th. On the 15th Eve became a typhoon, which was followed by a period of explosive deepening to a 100 mph Typhoon, with a pressure drop of 40 mb from early on the 15th to early on the 16th. An eyewall replacement cycle weakened Eve to a 95 mph typhoon, but as the outer eyewall contracted, the storm again reached wind speeds of 97 mph before hitting southern Japan on the 18th. Rapidly weakening over the mountains, Eve turned eastward over the islands and the last warning was issued on the 20th. It restrengthened to a tropical storm east of Japan, and continued northeastward until dissipation on the 27th. Eve, despite being a Category 4 at landfall, caused no reported deaths and only 9 injuries.²

Typhoon Frankie

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 21—July 24
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)

An active monsoon trough over the Western Pacific Ocean developed 3 typhoons; Frankie, Gloria, and Herb. The first, Frankie, developed in the South China Sea on July 19. It tracked west-northwestward and became a tropical storm on the 21st. After crossing the island of Hainan Frankie rapidly intensified to a 100 mph typhoon over the Gulf of Tonkin. It northern Vietnam on the 23rd, and dissipated 2 days later over China. 104 people were reported killed or missing in association with Frankie, and damage figures are estimated at over $200 million (1996 US Dollars).²

Typhoon Gloria

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 22—July 27
Intensity	120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min)

The same monsoon trough that spawned Frankie also spawned a tropical depression on July 19 east of the Philippines. It headed northwestward, slowly organizing into a tropical storm on the 22nd. The next day Gloria reached typhoon strength, and a day later it reached its peak of 100 mph winds. Gloria brushed the northern coast of the Philippines and turned northward to hit Taiwan on the 26th. After crossing the island and the Taiwan Straight, Gloria hit China where she dissipated on the 27th. Gloria caused 23 casualties, 20 of which were in the northern Philippines. In addition, damage was estimated at $20 million (1996 USD).²

Super Typhoon Herb

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 23—August 1
Intensity	175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min)

Main article: Typhoon Herb

Super Typhoon Herb (international designation: 9609, JTWC designation: 10W, Chinese name: 賀伯) was the strongest and the largest storm of 1996. Herb struck Ryūkyū Islands, Taiwan and People's Republic of China. Maximum sustained winds of the cyclone reached 160 miles per hour (260 km/h) over the open ocean. The system led to 590 casualties and US$5 billion in damage (1996 dollars).²

Tropical Storm Ian

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	July 28—July 31
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Joy

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 29—August 5
Intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Kirk

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 3—August 16
Intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min)

A monsoon depression developed on July 28 over the open Pacific Ocean. It headed northwestward, slowly consolidating to become a tropical storm on the 5th. While south of Japan, Kirk drifted to the southeast and looped back to the west, strengthening to a typhoon on the 8th while looping. It continued slowly northwestward, and while curving to the northeast Kirk reached a peak of 110 mph winds. The typhoon struck southwestern Japan at that intensity on the 14th. It weakened over the country, and dissipated on the 16th over the northern Pacific. Kirk caused heavy flooding, resulting in at least 2 deaths and moderate damage.²

Tropical Storm Lisa

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 5—August 7
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 15W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	August 12—August 16
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm Marty

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 13—August 14
Intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)

The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression over southern China on August 11. It drifted southwestward, entering the Gulf of Tonkin on the 12th. An extremely small cyclone, it reached tropical storm strength on the 13th and a peak of 60 mph on the 14th. Marty made landfall on the 14th on northern Vietnam, where it dissipated 3 days later. Though small and somewhat weak, Marty managed to cause moderate damage and flooding, amounting to the deaths of 125 with 107 people missing.²

Tropical Depression 17W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	August 14—August 14
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Niki

Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 18—August 23
Intensity	175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Orson

Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 21—September 3
Intensity	215 km/h (130 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Piper

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 23—August 26
Intensity	120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 21W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	August 26—August 27
Intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm Rick

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 28—August 31
Intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)

Super Typhoon Sally

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 5—September 9
Intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min)

On September 2, a tropical depression developed well east of the Philippines. It headed west-northwestward, reaching tropical storm strength on the 5th and typhoon strength on the 6th. On the 7th Sally rapidly intensified to a 160 mph Super Typhoon while passing just north of the Philippines. It weakened slightly yet steadily to a 115 mph typhoon over the South China Sea, hitting the Luichow Peninsula of China on the 9th, and dissipated the next day over the country. Sally brought heavy rain and damage to China, causing 114 casualties, 110 people missing, and economic losses estimated at $1.5 billion (1996 USD).²

Tropical Storm 24W

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 9—September 14
Intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Tom

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 11—September 20
Intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min)

Super Typhoon Violet

Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 11—September 23
Intensity	240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Willie

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 17—September 23
Intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)

An active monsoon trough that also developed Typhoons Tom (25W) and Violet (26W) spawned a tropical depression in the Gulf of Tonkin on September 16. It moved counter-clockwise around Hainan Island, becoming a tropical storm on the 17th and a typhoon on the 19th. It crossed the narrow Hainan Straight between Hainan and China, and continued west-southwestward across the Gulf of Tonkin. Willie made landfall on Vietnam on the 22nd, and dissipated the next day. The typhoon resulted in 38 fatalities from flooding.²

Super Typhoon Yates

Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 22—October 1
Intensity	240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Zane

Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 24—October 3
Intensity	205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm Abel

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 11—October 17
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 31W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	October 13—October 17
Intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Beth

Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	October 13—October 21
Intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Carlo

Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	October 21—October 26
Intensity	195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 34W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	October 29—October 30
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm 35W

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	November 2—November 3
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min)

Super Typhoon Dale

Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	November 4—November 14
Intensity	260 km/h (160 mph) (1-min)

A cluster of thunderstorm activity formed southeast of Guam on November 2. The system slowly organized, becoming a tropical depression on November 4. Remaining nearly stationary, the depression intensified into a tropical storm late in the day. The cyclone then turned westward, becoming a typhoon by November 7. Late in the day, Dale passed south of Guam bringing winds as high as 74 knots (137 km/h) and high seas which overtopped cliffs 30 metres (98 ft) high. Damage on the island totaled US$3.5 million (1996 dollars.) Continuing to intensify, Dale became a supertyphoon in the Philippine Sea on November 9. On November 10, Dale turned north, recurving east of the Philippines. On November 14, Dale accelerated east-northeast at more than 60 knots (110 km/h) as it became an extratropical cyclone.²

Tropical Storm Ernie (Toyang)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	November 4—November 17
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm 38W

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	November 6—November 8
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 39W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	November 8—November 9
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 40W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	November 25—December 1
Intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Depression 41W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	December 14—December 20
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min)

Typhoon Fern

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	December 21—December 30
Intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min)

Tropical Storm Greg

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	December 24—December 27
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min)

Two active monsoon troughs that also developed Typhoon Fern and Southern Hemisphere Cyclones Ophelia, Phil, and Fergus spawned Tropical Depression 43W in the South China Sea on December 21. Due to the troughs' nature, the depression headed east-southeastward, where it strengthened into the final tropical storm of the year on the 24th; Greg. After reaching a peak of 45 knots (83 km/h) winds it crossed the northern part of Borneo on the 25th. It continued east-southeastward until dissipation on the 27th, south of the Philippines. Greg caused extensive property damage on Borneo from torrential flooding, resulting in 127 deaths and 100 people missing.²

1996 storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. This was the first year the following names were used. The first storm of 1996 was named Ann and the final one was named Greg.

Philippines

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones within its area of responsibility. Lists are recycled every four years. This is the same list used for the 1992 season.