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Koppu Taifun
Koppu Taifun
ical cyclone that struck Luzon. The twenty-fourth named storm and the fifteenth
typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Koppu originated from a tropical disturban
ce east of the Mariana Islands on October 10. Moving briskly west, the system co
nsolidated into a tropical depression the following day and further into a tropi
cal storm on October 13. Situated over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea, Ko
ppu quickly deepened. The storm reached its peak intensity on October 17 with te
n-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) according to the Japan Meteorolog
ical Agency (JMA). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed Koppu to have been
a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon with one-minute sustained winds of 240 km/
h (150 mph). The storm subsequently made landfall at this strength near Casigura
n, Philippines. Rapid weakening ensued due to interaction with the mountainous t
errain of Luzon and the disheveled core of Koppu emerged over the South China Se
a on October 19. Unfavorable environmental conditions inhibited reorganization a
nd the system diminished to a tropical depression on October 21.
Prior to Koppu's landfall, PAGASA raised Public Storm Warning Signals for numero
us provinces; nearly 24,000 people evacuated accordingly. The storm caused treme
ndous structural damage in coastal provinces, with thousands of structures damag
ed or destroyed. Prolonged, heavy rains peaking at 1,077.8 mm (42.43 in) in Baguio e
xacerbated the storm's effects and resulted in widespread flooding. At least 56
people were killed across the country and more than 100,000 others were displace
d. Preliminary damage totals, primarily from agriculture, amount to 7.33 billion
pesos (US$157.6 million).
Contents [hide]
1 Meteorological history
2 Preparations and impact
3 Aftermath
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
Meteorological history[edit]
Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir Simpson
hurricane wind scale
A tropical disturbance formed in a monsoon trough late on October 10, over Enewe
tak Atoll.[1] One day later, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the
low-pressure area to a tropical depression, yet the low-level circulation center
was exposed owing to strong vertical wind shear.[2][3] On October 12, as the sy
stem kept consolidating with convection sheared to the west, the Joint Typhoon W
arning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert;[4] half a day af
ter, the JMA started to issue tropical cyclone warnings about the tropical depre
ssion.[5] The JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression early on October
13, although fragmented convective bands were wrapping tighter into a broad LLC
C which remained exposed.[6] At noon, tracking westward along the southern perip
hery of the deep-layered subtropical ridge, the system intensified into a tropic
al storm and was named Koppu by the JMA.[7][8]
Early on October 14, the storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and
received the name Lando from PAGASA, and deepened convection finally obscured t
he LLCC late on the same day, shortly before being upgraded to a severe tropical
storm by the JMA.[9][10][11] Under a favorable environment of low vertical wind
shear and radial outflow, Koppu deepened rapidly and intensified into a typhoon
in the afternoon of October 15, when a tightly-curved convective band was wrapp
ing into an eye revealed by a microwave imagery.[12][13] Intensification slowed
down until an apparent but ragged eye formed one day later, as sea surface tempe
rature were over 31 C (88 F) in the Philippine Sea.[14] The 35 km (25 miles) eye b
ecame sharper on October 17, prompting the JTWC upgrading Koppu to a super typho
on with one-minute maximum sustained winds at 240 km/h (150 mph) in the afternoo
centers. Throughout the affected regions, 17,254 homes were damaged and 1,504 w
ere destroyed. Total damage reached at least 9.86 billion pesos (US$211.8 millio
n).[34]
In the central Philippines, two motorboats capsized in separate incidents result
ing in a collective ten fatalities.[31] Virac and Daet saw 179.4 mm (7.06 in) an
d 152.3 mm (6.00 in) of rain, respectively, as Koppu passed to the north.[33]
Aftermath[edit]
The Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC
) has provided 22.3 million pesos (US $480,000) worth of assistance as of Octobe
r 21.[30] On October 18, Australia was the first foreign government to offer sup
port to typhoon relief.[35] On 22 October Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bish
op announced $1 million in support to families affected by the Typhoon.[36]
A state of calamity was declared for the provinces of Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela,
Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quirino, three cities namely Dagupan, Il
agan and Tuguegarao, and to nine towns specifically Arayat, Baler, Cabatuan, Cal
umpit, Camiling, General Nakar, Infanta, Ramos and Sugpon owing to widespread fl
ooding.[37][38][39]