Tropical Storm Kammuri (2008)

Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Julian, was a storm which made landfall on south China in August 2008, having a maximum wind speed of 50 kn (93 km/h). The name Kammuri was submitted to the World Meteorological Organisation's Typhoon Committee by Japan and is Japanese for the Corona Borealis constellation of stars.[1]

This article is about the 2008 tropical storm. For other storms of the same name, see Tropical Storm Kammuri.
Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri (Julian)
Severe tropical storm (JMA scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri at peak intensity on August 6
FormedAugust 3, 2008
DissipatedAugust 8, 2008
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph)
1-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph)
Lowest pressure975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg
Fatalities204 total
Damage$200 million (2008 USD)
Areas affectedPhilippines, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong
Part of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season

Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri was the ninth tropical cyclone to occur in the Western North Pacific in 2008, recognised by the Japan Meteorological Agency operationally. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center also recognised Kammuri as the tenth tropical cyclone in the 2008 Pacific typhoon season. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), recognised Julian as the 10th tropical cyclone, of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season.

Kammuri developed as a tropical depression on August 4 to the north of the island of Luzon. With the depression then intensifying into a Tropical storm the next day and was assigned the name Kammuri by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) Tokyo. The following day it reached its peak wind speeds of 50 kn (93 km/h) which made it a weak severe tropical storm. It then made landfall on China in the western Guangdong province[2] this landfall made Kammuri weaken first into a Tropical Storm that evening[2] with the JTWC then issuing their last advisory on Kammuri. Kammuri then emerged into the Gulf of Tonkin the next day, but made a second landfall over China but this time in the Guangxi province of China. After Kammuri made landfall the JMA issued its final advisory on Kammuri.

Heavy rains from Kammuri in Vietnam led to the loss of at least 100 lives and destroyed over 300 homes while damaging over 3,500 others.[3][4]

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

On August 3, PAGASA identified a tropical disturbance which was located in the South China Sea to the north of Luzon island in the Philippines and was later classified as Tropical Depression Julian.[5] Later that day the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated Julian as a minor tropical depression and initiated advisories on the tropical depression.[6]

Early the next day the JMA started to issue full advisories on the tropical depression.[7] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) then started to issue warnings on the tropical depression later that day with them designating it as Tropical Depression 10W.[8] Furthermore, later that day both PAGASA and the JTWC upgraded the tropical depression to a tropical storm.[9][10]

Infra-red satellite image of Tropical Storm Kammuriintensifying on August 5

On August 5, the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and named it Kammuri,[11] whilst PAGASA released their final advisory on Tropical Storm Kammuri (Julian) later that day as it moved out of their Area of Responsibility and headed towards mainland China.[12] The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) then upgraded Kammuri to a severe tropical storm late on August 5, with the JMA doing the same early the next morning.[13][14]

However, Kammuri started to weaken after making landfall along the south coast of China in the Western Guangdong Province at about 12pm UTC on August 6.[15][16] After Kammuri had made landfall the JMA downgraded Kammuri to a tropical storm,[17] whilst the JTWC issued their final advisory later that day on Tropical Storm Kammuri.[18] Early the next day Tropical Storm Kammuri emerged into the Gulf of Tonkin, however later that day Kammuri made landfall again in the Guangxi province of China. After making landfall for the second time on August 7 Kammuri weakened to a tropical depression as the JMA issued its final advisory.[19] However the JMA continued to monitor the depression in their WWJP25 warnings until early on August 8.[20]

Preparations

Philippines

As Tropical Depression Julian formed to the north of the Philippines On August 3, PAGASA issued Storm Signal #1, a warning for winds of 30–60 km/h (19–37 mph), for parts of Luzon. The parts of Luzon that were under Public Storm Signal #1 included the Batanes Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Calayan Group of Islands, northern Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union.[5] Early on the afternoon of August 4 PAGASA lowered Storm Signal #1 for all regions of Luzon except for Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union.[21] Early the next morning they lowered the rest of the Public Warning Signals as they released their final advisory on Julian.[12]

Macau

Late on August 5, the weather bureau of Macau hoisted the Gale or Storm Signal No.8, whilst earlier in the day they had hoisted Strong Wind Signal No.3. The weather bureau of Macau then replaced signal No.8 with signal No.3 as the storm moved away from Macau.[22]

Hong Kong

Early on August 4, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) started to issue public warnings on a tropical depression which was located within 500 nmi (930 km) of Hong Kong. Within their first advisory on Kammuri the HKO raised the Standby Signal No.1 for Hong Kong[23] Late the next day the HKO hoisted the Strong Wind Signal No.3 which meant that winds above 25 mph (40 km/h) were expected to be blowing in Hong Kong within 12 hours.[23] However, during the morning of August 6 the HKO issued the Northeast Gale or Storm Signal No.8.[23] Later that day, the HKO hoisted the Southeast Gale or Storm Signal No.8, which was replacing the 8NE Warning[23] However nine hours later the HKO removed the 8SE warning and downgraded it to Signal No.3 later that day, which was in force for 11 hours before it was downgraded to Signal 1[23] which was in force for 3 hours before all signals were cancelled.[23]

Impact

Philippines

Tropical Storm Julian (Kammuri) did not make landfall in the Philippines. However, it enhanced the southwest monsoon which continued to bring heavy rain to the Philippines.[12] However, no damage was reported in the Philippines[24]

China

Kammuri affected athletes training for the Olympics which were about to be held within China and Hong Kong.

Macau

Kammuri caused ferry services between Macau and Guangdong Province to close down. Bus services were cancelled with most plane flights cancelled or severely delayed[25]

Hong Kong

The impact of Tropical Storm Kammuri was felt strongly in Hong Kong, shortly before its landfall in china, with at least 37 people being injured.[2] The public transport service were halted or reduced and as significant cross winds affected the Hong Kong International Airport the Airport Authority had to cancel or delay over 380 flights with five others diverted to other airports.[2] There were also over 40 reports of fallen trees and collapsed scaffoldings in various districts of Hong Kong. There was a report of a landslide in Tai Hang. At least 10 people had to be evacuated in Kwun Tong as the zinc roof of their hut was blown away.[2]

Vietnam

When Tropical Storm Kammuri hit Vietnam at least 127 people have been confirmed as dead and 34 others are missing after Kammuri caused flash floods and landslides.[26] Entire towns and villages were cut off.[4][27] Hundreds of tourists were also landlocked in Sa Pa and in Lào Cai.

See also

References
  1. "Names of Tropical Cyclones". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  2. "HKO TCR". HKO. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  3. "Tropical storm kills 92 in Vietnam". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  4. "137 dead, missing after storms hit northern Vietnam". AFP. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  5. "PAGASA Advisory 1". PAGASA. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. "MA WWJP25 Advisory 06-08-08 18z". JMA. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  7. "JMA Advisory 04-08-08 00z". JMA. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  8. "JTWC Advisory 1". JTWC. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  9. "PAGASA Advisory 3". PAGASA. Archived from the original on May 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. "JTWC Advisory 3". JTWC. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  11. "JMA Advisory 05-08-08 00z". JMA. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  12. "PAGASA Advisory 07". PAGASA. Archived from the original on May 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. "HKO Advisory 05-08-08 20z". HKO. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  14. "JMA Advisory 06-08-08 00z". JMA. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  15. "Kammurri Landfall". CMA. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  16. "JTWC Prognostic Advisory 11". JTWC. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  17. "JMA Advisory 06-08-08 12z". JMA. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  18. "JTWC Advisory 12". JTWC. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  19. "JMA Advisory 07-08-08 21z". JMA. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  20. "JMA WWJP25 Advisory 08-08-08 00z". JMA. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  21. "PAGASA Advisory 4". PAGASA. Archived from the original on May 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2008-08-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "HKO cyclone warning signals database Kammuri". HKO. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  24. "Situation Report on the Effects of Tropical Storm Julian" (PDF). Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  25. "Traffic halted as tropical storm Kammuri approaches Macao".
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20080917201027/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24187955-23109,00.html. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. "Dozens killed in Vietnam floods". BBC. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
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