1939 Pacific typhoon season
1939 Pacific typhoon season | |
---|---|
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | February 3, 1939 |
Last system dissipated | December 26, 1939 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | Twenty-Six |
• Lowest pressure | 952 hPa (mbar) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Total depressions | 28 |
Total storms | 24 |
Typhoons | 22 |
Total fatalities | 151 direct, 12 missing |
Total damage | Unknown |
Related articles | |
The 1939 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1939, but most
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the
There were 29 known tropical cyclones, including 24 of typhoon status, of which several of the storms were deadly. A typhoon in November was the deadliest cyclone of the season, causing 49 deaths as it crossed the Philippines. The same typhoon later struck Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong Observatory recorded the first period of calm during the eye of a cyclone. At least 151 people were killed during the season, with 12 missing and unconfirmed of their status during some point during the season.
Systems
February–May
A depression was first observed on February 3 while located about 250 miles (400 km) of
On April 29, an
A tropical depression developed on May 26 in the northern portion of the
July
On July 7, a tropical depression was first observed while located about 400 miles (640 km) east of
A tropical depression developed roughly 250 miles (400 km) of the eastern Philippines on July 7. The depression tracked northwestward initially, and after intensifying into a typhoon its motion turned to the north-northeast, followed by a turn back to the northwest on July 10. The typhoon crossed the
A typhoon quickly developed about 120 miles (190 km) west of northern Luzon on July 10. It initially moved northwestward, then a day later turned to the northeast. After passing through the Luzon Strait, the typhoon changed its motion to the northwest, resulting in a landfall on northern Taiwan. The typhoon struck southeastern China, and dissipated about 500 miles (800 km) inland on July 17. A ship en route to Hong Kong reported a pressure of 997.0 hectopascals (29.44 inHg) and winds of over 40 mph (64 km/h). A station on western Luzon recorded minor winds and slightly below normal pressures in association with the system.[5]
On July 22, a
A tropical depression formed on July 20 while located between the Philippines and the Marianas Islands. After moving steadily northwestward, the system stalled for two days, and later turned to the north-northeast. The storm intensified into a typhoon shortly before crossing the
A well-developed typhoon was first observed on July 22 moving rapidly northward about 700 miles (1,100 km) east of
On July 22, a small typhoon developed a short distance off the coast of Taiwan. It drifted northwestward, then turned to the northeast, and by July 24 unfavorable conditions caused it to dissipate. A ship sailing between Hong Kong and Shanghai, China reported a pressure of 995.0 hectopascals (29.38 inHg) and winds of around 35 mph (56 km/h).[5]
An area of low pressure organized into a tropical depression on July 25 over the open waters of the western Pacific Ocean. The depression tracked northwestward, and gradually strengthened to attain typhoon status on July 27. After turning to the west, it gradually recurved towards the north and approached northern Taiwan. Under varying steering currents, the typhoon executed a counterclockwise loop over the country, and exited from the southern coastline after turning eastward. By the morning of August 1, it was located about 250 miles (400 km) east of Taiwan, after which the typhoon accelerated to the northeast. After reaching the Ryūkyū Islands on August 3, the storm stalled, turned to the northwest for a day, then weakened until dissipating on August 6 to the south of Japan after turning to the east. A station in the Philippines reported a pressure of 996.0 hectopascals (29.41 inHg) in association with the storm, with another station recording winds of 68 mph (109 km/h).[5]
On July 28, a low pressure area formed into a tropical depression over the
August
From August 1–3, a tropical cyclone existed near the Ryukyu Islands.[6]
September
A tropical depression formed on September 12 about 300 miles (480 km) south of Guam. It moved northwestward without strengthening, and dissipated on September 16 about 600 miles (970 km) east of the Philippines. The depression never affected land.[7]
On September 17 a tropical depression developed in the South China Sea. It tracked westward, and intensified into a typhoon. On September 19, the storm made landfall on Vietnam about 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Da Nang, and subsequently dissipated. Meteorological details for the typhoon are unavailable due to the presence of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.[7]
An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical depression on September 18 about 250 miles (400 km) west of Guam. The depression slowly intensified as it moved generally northwestward, and by September 21 it attained typhoon status while located about east of
Atmospheric pressure was relatively low over the South China Sea during the last week of September, and subsequent to the development of a circulation in an area of disturbed weather, a tropical depression formed on September 27. It quickly strengthened to typhoon status, and made landfall on eastern Vietnam just south of Da Nang on September 30. The storm quickly weakened over land, with only slight traces of the former typhoon by the following day. A station in the northern Philippines recorded a pressure of 1,000.0 hectopascals (29.53 inHg), and a recording station near the location of its final landfall reported winds of about 50 mph (80 km/h).[7]
October
On October 3 a tropical depression developed about 500 miles (800 km) south-southeast of Guam, likely having originated from a tropical disturbance in the eastern Caroline Islands. The system gradually strengthened to typhoon status while it tracked west-northwestward. On October 7 the typhoon turned to the northwest and moved through the southern Luzon Strait, passing about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Basco in the Batanes on October 9. Under unfavorable conditions the typhoon steadily weakened over the subsequent days, and dissipated on October 12 over the southern portion of the Taiwan Strait. The minimum pressure associated with the typhoon was a value of 957.0 hectopascals (28.26 inHg) at Basco, where winds exceeding 75 mph (121 km/h) were also recorded. Damage was minor over northern Luzon.[8]
A tropical depression was first observed on October 7 to the east-northeast of Guam. Tracking to the northwest, the depression steadily intensified to attain typhoon status. Several days later, it began to weaken while gradually recurving to the northeast, and on October 13 it became extratropical. A ship on its way to the Philippines recorded a pressure of 995.0 hectopascals (29.38 inHg) along with winds of about 50 mph (80 km/h).[8]
On October 10 a tropical depression was first observed about 300 miles (480 km) south of Guam. It initially moved west-northwestward, and strengthened into a typhoon on October 11 while briefly changing its motion to the southwest. The next day the typhoon turned to the northwest, and days later turned to the north while located about 150 miles (240 km) east of
A
November–December
On November 4 a tropical disturbance organized into a tropical depression while located about 300 miles (480 km) east of Mindanao. It moved quickly to the west-northwest, and struck the Philippine island of Samar without strengthening further. After passing through the archipelago, the storm entered the South China Sea late on November 5, and gradually weakened until dissipation on November 9 near southwestern Taiwan. A station in Santa Cruz in Laguna province recorded a pressure of 997.0 hectopascals (29.44 inHg), with at least one station in the Philippines reporting tropical storm force winds. Reports from the country indicate it was potentially a typhoon, though meteorologists decided it was not due to relatively high pressures and lack of significant convection to the southwest of the center.[9]
A tropical depression formed on November 6 about 500 miles (800 km) east of Mindanao. It initially moved to the west-northwest, and gradually recurved to the northeast. After accelerating east-northeastward, the depression was last observed on November 13 as a remnant low pressure area over the open western Pacific Ocean. It is unknown if it strengthened into a tropical storm.[9]
On November 22 a tropical depression formed to the east of Mindanao, and subsequently tracked to the northwest. Days later it stalled while located about 250 miles (400 km) east of Samar Island, and gradually weakened. Cold air intruded the circulation on November 25, and two days later it became extratropical.[9]
A well-developed typhoon was first observed on November 29 while located about 150 miles (240 km) south of Yap. It moved to the northwest, and struck Samar Island on December 2. The typhoon continued northwestward through the archipelago, and gradually weakened while drifting through the South China Sea. It turned to the northeast, and dissipated on December 5 off the coast of northern Luzon. The typhoon produced heavy rainfall and strong winds along its path through the Philippines. Rivers throughout Masbate island were overflown from the abundant rainfall, causing 34 fatalities on the island. A station on Samar Island recorded a barometric minimum of 975.0 hectopascals (28.79 inHg).[10]
An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical depression on December 5 about 200 miles (320 km) southwest of Guam. After moving west-northwestward for several days, it turned to the northeast on December 9, during which it attained typhoon status. The typhoon maintained peak winds for about two days before quickly weakening to a remnant area of low pressure on December 11. A ship in the vicinity of the cyclone reported a minimum pressure of 952.0 hectopascals (28.11 inHg).[10]
On December 16, a
The final typhoon of the season was first observed on December 22 about 225 miles (362 km) south of Guam. It initially moved to the northwest, and on December 24 the typhoon turned to the east-northeast. It steadily weakened, and was last observed on December 26 accelerating out to sea. The typhoon produced heavy rainfall and winds of around 50 mph (80 km/h) on Guam. The minimum pressure associated with the typhoon was a ship report of 995.0 hectopascals (29.38 inHg).[10]
Hong Kong typhoon (Typhoon Twenty-Three)
On November 18 a tropical depression was first observed to the east of
While crossing over the Philippines, a station in
See also
- 1939 Pacific hurricane season
- 1939 Atlantic hurricane season
- 1930s North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
- 1900–1950 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
- 1900–1940 South Pacific cyclone seasons
- 1930s Australian region cyclone seasons
- Bernard Doucette
References
- ^ Padgett, Gary; John Wallace; Kevin Boyle; Simon Clarke (2003-08-17). "GARY PADGETT'S MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY: May 2003". Typhoon2000.ph. David Michael V. Padua. Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Typhoons and depressions over the Far East: February 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
- ^ a b Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Typhoons and depressions over the Far East: April 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
- ^ Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Additional Report on Typhoons and Depressions over the Far East: May 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Additional Report on Typhoons and Depressions over the Far East: July 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
- ^ Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1939 Missing (1939214N24125). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Typhoons and Depressions over the Far East: September 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
- ^ a b c d Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Typhoons and Depressions over the Far East: October 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Bernard F. Doucette (1939). "Typhoons and Depressions over the Far East: November 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
- ^ a b c d Bernard F. Doucette (1940). "Typhoons and Depressions over the Far East: December 1939" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
- ^ a b G.S.P. Heywood (1940). "The Typhoon of November 23, 1939" (PDF). The Hong Kong Naturalist. Retrieved 2007-01-09.