Typhoon Rita (1978)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Rita.
"Typhoon Kading" redirects here. Not to be confused with
Typhoon Kadiang
.
Typhoon Rita (Kading)
Typhoon Rita near peak intensity on October 24
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 17, 1978
DissipatedOctober 29, 1978
Violent typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds220 km/h (140 mph)
Lowest pressure880 hPa (mbar); 25.99 inHg
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds280 km/h (175 mph)
Lowest pressure878 hPa (mbar); 25.93 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities≥300 total
Missing354
Damage$100 million (1978 USD)
Areas affectedGuam, Philippines, Vietnam
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1978 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Rita, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Kading, was the most powerful tropical cyclone during the 1978 Pacific typhoon season and one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record. A long-lived and destructive tropical cyclone, Rita began its journey east of the Marshall Islands and rapidly moved westwards, becoming a typhoon on October 20. Rita continued rapid intensification and attained super typhoon status and later an atmospheric pressure of 878 mbar (25.9 inHg) on October 25. Rita struck the Philippines overnight on October 26 and entered the South China Sea as a minimal typhoon. Rita caused extreme damage and more than 300 deaths.[1]

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Rita originated from a tropical depression that originated east of the

rapidly intensified while moving westward and became a typhoon on October 20, about 500 mi (800 km) south-southwest of Wake Island. Rita continued rapid intensification and became a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon on October 23.[1]

At 6:22

landfall over Luzon, causing disastrous damage and leaving 200,000 homeless. Baler, located on the east coast of Luzon, reported gusts of 50 knots (58 mph) when the storm passed just to the south of it. Infanta, located 60 miles (97 km) south of Baler, reported a minimum sea-level pressure of 971.5 mbar (28.69 inHg).[1]

Rita on October 23, 1978

Rita entered the

PM although Rita was still situated 390 mi (630 km) south-southwest of Hong Kong and was moving west-northwest at 8 knots (9.2 mph) towards Hainan. At 5:00 A.M., Shangchuandao reported winds of 58 knots (67 mph) with gusts of 72 knots (83 mph).[1]

Due to the influx of cold and dry air because the winter monsoon, the typhoon weakened rapidly and moved slowly southwestwards away from Hong Kong. during daytime on October 28. The system was closest to Hong Kong at 8:00 A.M. The central

gale-forced winds over the South China Sea even though Rita had moved away from Hong Kong and weakened into a weak tropical storm. A cargo ship, the M.V. Toubkal went aground on the Scarborough Shoal, 460 mi (740 km) south-southeast of Hong Kong, and broke in two. Rita continued to weaken and degenerated into an area of low pressure, off the coast of South Vietnam, on October 29.[1]

Preparations and impact

Most intense Pacific typhoons
Typhoon Season Pressure
hPa inHg
1 Tip 1979 870 25.7
2
June
 1975 875 25.8
Nora 1973
4 Forrest 1983 876[3] 25.9
5 Ida 1958 877 25.9
6 Rita 1978 878 26.0
7 Kit 1966 880 26.0
Vanessa 1984
9 Nancy 1961 882 26.4
10
Irma
 1971 884 26.1
11
Nina
 1953 885 26.1
Joan 1959
Megi 2010
Source: JMA Typhoon Best Track Analysis
Information for the North Western Pacific Ocean.[4]
Rita off the coast of Luzon during peak strength

Before approaching the Philippines, flights to Guam were all canceled and

Cubi Point in the Philippines.[5]

While approaching the Philippines, authorities had all aircraft evacuated to

domestic flights and its airplanes were evacuated to the Southern Philippines. Schools and businesses in Manila and most of northern Luzon were closed.[6]

Guam

In Guam, no major damage was reported even though there was crop damage that was not immediately determined. 2 U.S. Navy personnel were killed and a third was injured while taking an antenna from a building during preparations from Rita. The antenna came in contact with a high-voltage wire. 7 people were injured, 4 seriously injured in a head-on auto collision. Investigators reported that the road was wet and that there were wind gusts at the time of the collision. A civilian suffered multiple injuries when he fell from the sixth floor of an apartment building where he was boarding up windows. His condition is not immediately known.[5]

Philippines

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in northern Luzon. However, Luzon was pounded by Rita's violent 90 mph (140 km/h) wind gusts and extremely torrential rains. Widespread power outages in

USD) and about 750,000 acres of rice
was damaged.

Super Typhoon Joan in 1970.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the western Pacific Ocean and other regions, and therefore, the pressure recorded by the task force may be unofficial.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Meteorological Results - 1978" (PDF). Hong Kong Royal Observatory. 1979. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2011. Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  3. ^ "World Tropical Cyclone Records". World Meteorological Organization. Arizona State University. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  4. ^ Japan Meteorological Agency. "RSMC Best Track Data (Text)" (TXT).
  5. ^ a b United Press International (October 24, 1978). "Typhoon Blows Past Guam". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Philippine Islands hit by Typhoon". The Spokesperson-Review. Associated Press. October 27, 1978. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  7. ^ "Typhoon Smashes Philippines". The Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. October 27, 1978. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  8. ^ "'Extremely Dangerous' Typhoon Heading Towards Philippines". The Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. October 26, 1978. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  9. ^ a b United Press International (October 31, 1978). "Philippines Storm Toll Now 200". The Youngstown Vindicator. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  10. ^ United Press International (October 30, 1978). "Rice Exports Suspended". Rome News-Tribane. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  11. ^ "Typhoon Rita's Toll Reaches 82". Sydney Morning Herald. Associated Press. October 30, 1978. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  12. ^ "Typhoon Toll Reaches 82". The Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. October 30, 1978. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  13. ^ "34 Dead In Rita's Wake". The Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. October 29, 1978. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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