The 1997 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1997, 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 1997 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 season was unusual in the number of super typhoons that occurred in the basin, with eleven typhoons reaching winds of at least 135 knots. They were Isa, Nestor, Rosie, Winnie, Bing, Oliwa (from Central Pacific), Ginger, Ivan, Joan, Keith, and Paka (from Central Pacific). This was due to the strong El Niño of 1997-1998, which contributed to the record amounts of not only super typhoons but also tropical storms in the Western and Eastern Pacific. Fortunately, most of the stronger systems remained at sea.
Tropical Storm Hannah (Atring)
In early January, an area of convection developed along a near-equatorial trough just west of the International Date Line. It tracked steadily westward, and remained disorganized for about week. On January 18, deep convection increased as a low-level circulation began to form, and at 0000 UTC on January 19 it developed into Tropical Depression 01W while located to the southwest of Guam. Based on satellite imagery estimates, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded it to Tropical Storm Hannah six hours after first forming. The deep convection quickly organized into well-defined cyclonic bands, and early on January 20 Hannah attained its peak intensity of 60 mph near the island of Yap. Increased southeasterly wind shear weakened the storm, leaving its dwindling convection situated along the northern portion of the circulation. Interaction with a large and powerful extratropical cyclone left the storm moving erratically, and on January 22 Hannah weakened to tropical depression status. Its motion turned to a steady southwestward motion, and on January 27 Hannah dissipated a short distance east of the Philippine island of Mindanao.[2]
Near the end of its duration, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration began issuing warnings on Hannah when was a tropical depression; the institution named the storm Tropical Depression Atring.[3] The storm was never tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency.[4] There were no reports of significant damage or injuries.[2]
Super Typhoon Isa
- Main article: Typhoon Isa (1997)
Isa developed from a disturbance in the monsoon trough near the Caroline Islands on April 12. It moved erratically at first, though after attaining tropical storm status it curved westward due to the subtropical ridge to its north. Isa very gradually intensified, and on April 20 the typhoon reached peak 1-min winds of 270 km/h (165 mph), as reported by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Japan Meteorological Agency reported maximum 10-min winds of 155 km/h (100 mph). After turning northward, it accelerated to the northeast, and merged with a larger extratropical cyclone on April 24.[5][4]
Early in its duration, Isa caused light rainfall and moderate winds on Pohnpei. Later, a stationary rainband from the typhoon dropped heavy precipitation on Guam during its dry season. Damage in the Guam National Weather Service area of responsibility totaled $1 million (1997 USD, $1.3 million 2006 USD), the majority of it from crop damage. No deaths were reported.[6]
Tropical Storm Jimmy
A low-level equatorial westerly wind system developed an area of convection on April 18, the same system that previously developed Typhoon Isa. It drifted west-northwestward, and on April 21 separated from the westerly wind system. At 0400 UTC on April 22, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system, and two hours later the JTWC issued the first warning on Tropical Storm Jimmy about 1360 km (845 mi) southeast of Guam.[7] Coinciding with its first warning, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified it as a tropical depression.[4]
Jimmy continued northwestward through a break in the subtropical ridge caused by Isa, and it steadily intensified as it tracked through an area of light vertical wind shear. It recurved to the northeast, and shortly after reaching its westernmost point Jimmy attained its peak intensity of 55 mph on April 24.[7] Conversely, JMA assessed Jimmy as remaining a minimal tropical storm throughout its duration.[4] After maintaining peak winds for about 18 hours, to increased southwesterly winds aloft quickly weakened the storm, and late on April 25 JTWC issued its final advisory on Jimmy after its low-level circulation center became completely exposed from the deep convection. On April 26, Jimmy was absorbed by an approaching frontal trough over the open Pacific Ocean. The storm had little effects on land.[7]
Tropical Storm Kelly
A low-level equatorial trough developed an area of convection on May 4. The low strengthened as it became more organized over the next two days. Late on May 6, the JTWC issued a TCFA and the system was declared Tropical Depression 04W shortly after. The depression slowly intensified and was upgraded to a Tropical Storm early on May 8 and was named Kelly. Kelly was able to intensify slightly before strong vertical wind shear displaced the center, weakening Kelly. Kelly was downgraded to a Tropical Depression on May 10 and the remnant circulation dissipated the next day. [8]
Tropical Storm Levi (Bining)
Tropical Depression 5W drifted eastward through the Philippines in late May. The heavy rain it brought caused mudslides that killed 33 people. The depression continued northeastward, becoming a tropical storm, and transitioning to an extratropical storm on May 30.[9]
From May 26-29, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Bining.[3]
Typhoon Marie
Super Typhoon Nestor
Typhoon Opal (Kuring)
From June 15-18, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Kuring.[3]
Typhoon Peter (Daling)
From June 22-26, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Daling.[3]
Super Typhoon Rosie (Elang)
On July 18, Tropical Depression 10W formed near Caroline Islands. 10W was upgraded to Tropical Storm Rosie and became a Category 5 Super Typhoon on July 22. Rosie moved northward and began to weaken. Rosie made a landfall as a Category 1 typhoon at Shikoku, Japan on July 26. Two people were killed because of Rosie.[10]
From July 22-26, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Elang.[3]
Tropical Storm Scott
In the middle of July, a mid-level circulation formed within the Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough. The circulation built toward the surface, and by July 20 the system developed a low-level circulation with scattered associated convection.[11] Based on its organization, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a weak tropical depression early on July 20 while located about 820 km (510 mi) northeast of Farallon de Pajaros, the northernmost island in the Northern Mariana Islands.[4] Early development was impeded by the outflow from Typhoon Rosie; after drifting northwestward for 2 days the system turned to the northeast, and by July 24 the influence from Rosie greatly diminished. Accordingly, the organization of the depression quickly increased, and on July 24 the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Depression 11W.[11]
A building anticyclone to its northwest forced the depression southeastward. It became steadily less organized, and on July 26 JTWC issued a final warning on the system, believing it to be dissipating. Shortly thereafter, however, the system began re-organizing, and on July 27 the system developed into Tropical Storm Scott. The storm tracked northwestward, then westward, and finally turned to the northeast. Scott gradually strengthened to attain peak winds of 105 km/h (65 mph) on July 29.[11] JMA had upgraded the depression to tropical storm status on July 28, and assessed its peak intensity at 75 km/h (45 mph).[4] Scott maintained its peak intensity for about 12 hours before slowly weakening as it accelerated northeastward. On August 2, the storm merged with an approaching frontal trough,[11] and the following day JMA considered Scott dissipated while located near the Alaskan island of Gareloi.[4] Tropical Storm Scott never affected land.[11] The storm was the only tropical cyclone during the season to not form from the monsoon trough.[12]
Typhoon Tina (Huling)
From July 31-August 6, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Bining.[3]
Typhoon Victor (Goring)
From July 30-31, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Goring.[3]
Super Typhoon Winnie (Ibiang)
On August 5, a tropical depression formed near the Marshall Islands. It headed northwestward, slowly strengthening to a tropical storm on the 9th. Intensification became more rapid as conditions became more favorable, and Winnie reached typhoon strength on the 10th. 2 days later, it became the 4th Super Typhoon of the season with peak winds of 160 mph. Soon after, the eye became ragged and large, with an outer eyewall reaching 200 miles in diameter. On the 18th, a minimal Typhoon Winnie passed north of Taiwan and hit eastern China, where it winded down until dissipating on the 19th. The remnant continued northeastward, bringing heavy rain and damage across China until the 23rd. Winnie caused 64 deaths, 39 of which were in Taiwan from the heavy rain.[13]
Typhoon Yule
Typhoon Yule merged with Tropical Depression 16W early in its life. It briefly held typhoon strength
Typhoon Zita (Luming)
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm early in its duration, and named it Luming.[3]
Typhoon Amber (Miling)
Typhoon Amber was the eighteenth tropical cyclone of the season. The tropical depression initially tracked slowly west-northwest between the subtropical ridge and Typhoon Zita and developed at a faster than normal pace. By August 26, Tropical Storm Cass formed to the west-southwest, which accelerated Amber's forward motion to the northwest due to a fujiwara interaction. It underwent eyewall replacement cycles from August 25 through August 27, and tracked across Taiwan/Taipei with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots, then through the Formosa Strait into China as a minimal typhoon.[14]
Throughout much of its duration, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Miling.[3]
Super Typhoon Bing
Tropical Storm Cass
Super Typhoon Oliwa
On August 28, the monsoon formed into Tropical Depression 2C in the Central Pacific. It headed slowly westward, becoming a tropical storm on September 3. It crossed the International Date Line, and continued to slowly strengthen to become a typhoon on September 8. Oliwa rapidly strengthened on September 9 to reach a peak of 160 mph winds; the sixth Super Typhoon of the year. Oliwa slowly weakened as it moved westward, and hit Japan on September 15 and September 16. It turned to the northeast, and dissipated on September 17 after causing 7 deaths and widespread damage from flooding.[15]
Typhoon David
Tropical Storm Ella
Typhoon Fritz
Super Typhoon Ginger
Tropical Storm Hank
Super Typhoon Ivan (Narsing) and Super Typhoon Joan
Two near-equatorial troughs of low pressure, having formed from westerly low-level winds, developed into Tropical Depressions 27W and 28W on October 9 and October 11, respectively. Both poorly organized, they headed generally westward without much convection. On the 13th, 27W became Tropical Storm Ivan and on the 14th, 28W became Tropical Storm Joan. The two were within 500 nautical miles (930 km) of each other, but they were separate enough to strengthen on their own. On the 15th, while crossing the Northern Mariana Islands, they both reached typhoon intensity. Rapid intensification came soon after, and Ivan and Joan became the 8th and 9th Super Typhoons of the year on the 17th. The two underwent the Fujiwhara effect, bringing Ivan more westerly and Joan more northerly. After reaching peaks of 300 km/h (190 mph) winds within 12 hours of each other, they slowly weakened to Category 4's. Ivan struck the northern Philippines at this intensity causing 1 death, while Joan restrengthened to a Category 5. They both turned to the northeast, and slowly dissipated.
How they reached their extreme intensities at such a close distance to each other is unknown. Normally, when two tropical cyclones are relatively close to each other, one typically shears the other. In this case, they both maintained Category 5 intensity for at least a day within a relatively close distance of each other. The monsoon trough, which typically helps intensify Western Pacific typhoons, was absent from these storms. Pressures were higher than normal, and the initial disturbances were very poorly organized. Regardless, they are among the strongest Super Typhoons of the world with 300 km/h (190 mph) winds each.[16]
Super Typhoon Keith
The tenth of eleven tropical cyclones to attain super typhoon intensity in the western North Pacific during 1997, Keith formed at low latitudes in the Marshall Islands. It was one of ten TCs which formed east of 160° E and south of 20° N — within the "El Niño". Keith was a recurving TC which passed between the Islands of Rota and Tinian (only 50 nmi/93 km apart) on the west-bound leg of its recurving track. NEXRAD imagery from Guam indicated the eye wall cloud of Keith never touched land as it threaded the narrow channel between these two islands. As such, the Mariana Islands were spared the full force of Keith. Keith's compact wind and cloud structure were revealed by Guam's NEXRAD Equatorial westerly winds bounded by twin near-equatorial troughs preceded the formation of Keith and a Southern Hemisphere twin.[17]
Typhoon Linda (Openg)
Typhoon Linda, after moving through the Philippines and the South China Sea, hit the Malay Peninsula on November 3. It restrengthened in the Bay of Bengal, but vertical shear caused Linda to dissipate on the 9th.
On the 2nd of November, Linda hit the southern tip of Vietnam, the Ca Mau province, causing unprecedented havoc with over 435 people were reported killed and 3,660 fishermen gone missing[1]. Nearly 80,000 houses are reported as destroyed and almost 140,000 as badly damaged. Infrastructure (roads, schools and hospitals) also suffered heavily and huge swathes of rice paddy were swamped. The hardest hit provinces were Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre and Vung Tau. It was the worst typhoon to strike the area in 100 years.[2]
Elsewhere in Thailand and the Philippines , Linda caused further deaths from flooding and heavy damage.[18]
Typhoon Mort (Pining)
From November 12-16, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the storm, and named it Pining.[3]
Super Typhoon Paka (Rubing)
- Main article: Typhoon Paka
The final super typhoon of the year developed in the Central Pacific on November 28. It moved westward, strengthening into a tropical storm before crossing the International Date Line on December 7. Conditions were marginally favorable for development, and Paka remained a tropical storm until December 10, when it was able to become a typhoon. Five days later, Paka reached Super Typhoon strength, the eleventh of the year. The next day it crossed over Guam, and on December 18, Paka reached a peak of 185 mph winds. After causing major damage across the smaller Western Pacific island groups, Paka rapidly weakened and dissipated on December 22.[19]
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Ranking
| ACE (104 kt2) |
| 1 |
65.8375 |
Paka |
17 |
10.295 |
Marie |
| 2 |
57.955 |
Joan |
18 |
9.9525 |
Peter |
| 3 |
52.12 |
Keith |
19 |
5.12 |
Mort |
| 4 |
43.44 |
Isa |
20 |
4.59 |
Fritz |
| 5 |
42.68 |
Oliwa |
21 |
4.3925 |
Scott |
| 6 |
42.225 |
Ivan |
22 |
4.135 |
Zita |
| 7 |
40.5575 |
Winnie |
23 |
4.0875 |
Linda |
| 8 |
31.0525 |
Nestor |
24 |
3.3575 |
Levi |
| 9 |
26.1125 |
Rosie |
25 |
2.9675 |
Jimmy |
| 10 |
24.9825 |
Ginger |
26 |
2.5975 |
Victor |
| 11 |
24.8025 |
Bing |
27 |
2.435 |
Hannah |
| 12 |
24.37 |
Amber |
28 |
1.1175 |
Ella |
| 13 |
19.7325 |
David |
29 |
1.0925 |
Kelly |
| 14 |
17.4575 |
Tina |
30 |
0.89 |
Cass |
| 15 |
11.082 |
Yule |
31 |
0.565 |
Hank |
| 16 |
11.06 |
Opal |
|
|
|
| Total=594.11 |
The table on the right shows the Accumulated Cyclone Energy for each storm in the season. The ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the typhoon multiplied by the length of time it existed for, so typhoons that lasted a long time (like Typhoon Paka) have higher ACEs. The total ACE for the 1997 season was 594.11, which is the highest on record. This was due to the fact that 11 of the 33 storms in the season reached super typhoon status. ACE for Linda, Paka, and Oliwa only include ACE during the time they were in the Western Pacific Basin.
1997 storm names
Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1997 was named Hannah and the final one was named Mort.
-
Ann
-
Bart
-
Cam
-
Dan
-
Eve
-
Frankie
-
Gloria
-
Herb
-
Ian
-
Joy
-
Kirk
-
Lisa
-
Marty
-
Niki
-
Orson
-
Piper
-
Rick
-
Sally
-
Tom
-
Violet
-
Willie
-
Yates
-
Zane
|
-
Able
-
Beth
-
Carlo
-
Dale
-
Ernie
-
Fern
-
Greg
- Hannah 1W
- Isa 2W
- Jimmy 3W
- Kelly 4W
- Levi 5W
- Marie 6W
- Nestor 7W
- Opal 8W
- Peter 9W
- Rosie 10W
- Scott 11W
- Tina 12W
- Victor 13W
- Winnie 14W
- Yule 15W
- Zita 17W
|
- Amber 18W
- Bing 19W
- Cass 20W
- David 21W
- Ella 22W
- Fritz 23W
- Ginger 24W
- Hank 25W
- Ivan 27W
- Joan 28W
- Keith 29W
- Linda 30W
- Mort 31W
-
Nichole
-
Otto
-
Penny
-
Rex
-
Stella
-
Todd
-
Vicki
-
Waldo
-
Yanni
-
Zeb
|
-
Alex
-
Babs
-
Chip
-
Dawn
-
Elvis
-
Faith
-
Gil
-
Hilda
-
Iris
-
Jacob
-
Kate
-
Leo
-
Maggie
-
Neil
-
Olga
-
Paul
-
Rachel
-
Sam
-
Tanya
-
Virgil
-
Wendy
-
York
-
Zia
|
Two central pacific storms, Tropical Storms Oliwa and Paka, crossed into this basin. They became Typhoons Oliwa and Paka, keeping their original name and "C" suffix.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones within its area of r |
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