Typhoon Dujuan
, known in the Philippines as
Typhoon Onyok
,
[1]
was the strongest
tropical cyclone
to strike the
Pearl River delta
since
Typhoon Hope
in 1979. The 13th storm and 7th typhoon of the
2003 Pacific typhoon season
, Dujuan developed on August?27 to the east of
Taiwan
. It initially moved to the northwest, slowly intensifying into a tropical storm while drawing moisture and rainfall over the Philippines. On the island of
Luzon
, one person was killed and areas were flooded. Dujuan quickly intensified after turning and moving quicker to the west-northwest, developing an
eye
. It reached peak winds of 150?km/h (93?mph) on September?1, and shortly thereafter passed just south of Taiwan. There, Dujuan left 590,000?people without power, killed three, and caused NT$200?million (
NWD
, $115?million
USD
) in crop damage.
[nb 1]
While moving through the
South China Sea
, the typhoon developed
concentric eyewalls
. Dujuan weakened to
severe tropical storm status
before making landfall on September?2 in southern China, just east of
Hong Kong
near
Shenzhen
,
Guangdong
. The storm dissipated the next day after causing 40?deaths and ¥2.3?billion (
CNY
, US$277?million) in damage. Most of the deaths were in Shenzhen where the storm moved ashore, and the city experienced a near-total power outage.
Meteorological history
edit
On August?25, an area of
convection
persisted on satellite imagery on August?25. The thunderstorms pulsed and became better organized by August?27.
[2]
That day, the
Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMA)
[nb 2]
estimated that a tropical depression formed southeast of the Japanese island of
Okinotorishima
,
[3]
or about 520?km (320?mi) northwest of
Guam
. The
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC)
[nb 3]
also estimated a tropical cyclone formed on August?27. With a
ridge
to the north, the depression tracked slowly to the southwest.
[5]
The system gradually organized while developing improved
outflow
to the south, although a
tropical upper tropospheric trough
to the north caused
wind shear
.
[2]
On August?29, the JMA upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Dujuan,
[3]
although the JTWC had upgraded a day prior.
[5]
That day, the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) began issuing advisories as the storm approached the region,
naming
it Onyok.
[1]
Shortly after it was named, Dujuan quickly intensified after an
upper-level low
to the northwest improved outflow to the north.
[5]
On August?30, the ridge to the north built eastward, causing the storm to slow and turn more to the northwest.
[5]
That day, an
eye
developed in center,
[2]
and the JMA upgraded Dujuan to typhoon status. Subsequently, the typhoon accelerated to the west-northwest and later to the west. On September?1, the JMA estimated Dujuan attained peak
10?minute sustained winds
of 150?km/h (93?mph).
[3]
Around the same time, the JTWC assessed peak 1?minute winds of 230?km/h (140?mph), making it the equivalent of a Category?4 on the
Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale
. While near peak intensity, the center of Dujuan passed about 45?km (28?mi) south of the southern tip of
Taiwan
.
[5]
While moving westward through the
South China Sea
, the typhoon weakened slightly after its peak intensity due to an
eyewall replacement cycle
.
[2]
Radar from the
Hong Kong Observatory
indicated an inner eye about 20?km (12?mi) in diameter, and an outer eye about 100?km (62?mi) in diameter.
[6]
At around 1200?
UTC
on September?2, Dujuan made
landfall
just east of
Hong Kong
,
[3]
near
Shenzhen
.
[6]
The JMA estimated the typhoon had weakened into a severe tropical storm by the time of landfall,
[3]
while the JTWC estimated winds of 185?km/h (115?mph).
[5]
It was considered the strongest typhoon to strike the
Pearl River Delta
since
Typhoon Hope
in 1979.
[7]
Dujuan rapidly weakened while continuing westward through China, dissipating on September?3 over
Guangxi
.
[3]
Preparations and impact
edit
Although the center passed north of Luzon in the Philippines, Dujuan interacted with the monsoon to produce heavy rainfall over the country.
Flash flooding
in
Metro Manila
covered roads, causing traffic jams. Dangerous conditions caused many schools to close.
[8]
The typhoon destroyed one house, and one person was killed in the country.
[9]
While in the vicinity, Dujuan produced gusts of 100?km/h (62?mph) on
Yonaguni
, a Japanese subdivision of
Okinawa
. Strong winds and high waves disrupted marine and airline traffic, with two flights canceled.
[10]
Rainfall on Okinawa reached about 18?mm (0.71?in).
[11]
On August?31, officials in Taiwan issued a sea warning, advising for boats to avoid the
Bashi Channel
.
[12]
Schools in southern Taiwan were closed, and transport was disrupted. The
Ministry of National Defense
canceled a military exercise due to the storm.
[13]
In Taiwan, the typhoon dropped heavy rainfall that reached 628?mm (24.7?in) in
Pingtung County
, and several other locations reported over 200?mm (7.9?in). Sustained winds reached 176?km/h (109?mph) on
Orchid Island
offshore southeastern Taiwan, where gale-force winds were recorded for 13?hours and gusts reached 271?km/h (168?mph). The typhoon was so strong that it destroyed the
anemometer
there. On the island of Taiwan, winds peaked at 87?km/h (54?mph) at
Dongshi
, while gusts peaked at 184?km/h (114?mph) in a mountainous region of
Nantou County
.
[2]
The typhoon left about 590,000?people without power at some point on the island. Transport was disrupted, and there was about NT$200?million (TWD, US$115?million).
[nb 4]
Dujuan killed three people and injured eight in southern Taiwan;
[6]
one was a drowning in the
Penghu
islands, and another occurred when a man was blown out of his window in
Taipei
.
[15]
Before Dujuan made its final landfall, the
Hong Kong Observatory
initially issued a
standby warning signal
, and eventually raised it to a number?9 signal, the second-highest out of 10, for the first time since
Typhoon York in 1999
.
[6]
[16]
The threat of the storm caused 360?flights to be canceled or delayed at
Hong Kong International Airport
,
[6]
and the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
was closed.
[2]
Officials opened 27?shelters for residents, housing over 120?people.
[16]
Winds in the territory briefly reached typhoon status, or 120?km/h (75?mph), at
Lau Fau Shan
. Rainfall reached over 90?mm (3.5?in) on
Lantau Island
.
[6]
Dujuan caused minor flooding and two small landslides In Hong Kong, the typhoon knocked down 85?trees and caused a power outage affecting 300?people in
Yuen Long
. Dujuan injured 24?people in the territory,
[6]
and four fishermen were missing and presumed drowned after their boat sank.
[2]
Despite the close passage, damage was minor in Hong Kong.
[7]
During the height of the storm, three people stole $1.3?million (USD) worth of jewelry, watches, and clothing from a store.
[17]
On the Chinese mainland, Dujuan produced 183?mm (7.2?in) of rainfall in
Puning
in
Guangdong
, of which 131?mm (5.2?in) fell in 24?hours. In
Fujian
province, winds reached 144?km/h (89?mph) in
Quanzhou
, and in Guangdong, winds peaked at 179?km/h (111?mph) in
Shenzhen
.
[2]
In Shenzhen near where Dujuan made landfall, 90% of residents lost power,
[6]
after strong winds knocked down power lines,
[18]
although it was quickly restored.
[7]
Also in the city, 20?people were killed,
[18]
16 of whom due to the collapse of a half-finished building that they were constructing.
[7]
Officials had opened 272?emergency shelters before the storm's arrival, housing 4,950?people.
[19]
In
Huizhou
, nine people were killed, and another three people died in
Shanwei
from the storm.
[18]
Across Guangdong, the typhoon damaged roads, water and power systems, and telecommunication networks. About 139,000?ha (340,000 acres) of crops were damaged in the province,
[2]
and 54,000?homes were destroyed.
[20]
In
Macau
, 30?flights were delayed at
Macau International Airport
, and two bridges were closed. In
Fuzhou
in Fujian province, the storm knocked down 500?trees.
[2]
Overall damage in China was estimated at ¥2.3?billion (
CNY
, US$277?million),
[nb 5]
and across Guangdong, the typhoon injured about 1,000?people and killed 40?people.
[6]
See also
edit
References
edit
External links
edit