Typhoon Haishen (2020)

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

On August 29, the JTWC began tracking a very disorganized tropical disturbance situated a couple hundred miles northeast of Guam. By the next day, the disturbance had quickly organized, and the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for the low-pressure area,[9] and by the next day, it intensified into Tropical Depression 11W.[10] Traversing generally south-westward, the depression quickly intensified into a tropical storm.[11] The JMA soon followed and upgraded the system into a tropical storm as well, and was given the international name Haishen. Later that day, Haishen became a severe tropical storm as it headed southwest into the Philippine Sea. Intensification on September 3 was significant - with Typhoon Haishen acquiring a pinhole eye early in the day, but it later underwent an eyewall replacement cycle. The cycle completed quickly, however, and strengthening resumed almost immediately. Then, the JTWC noted the possibility of Haishen becoming a Category 5 super typhoon in one of their advisories.

Entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geological and Atmospheric Services Administration (PAGASA) named the system Kristine.[12][13] Early on September 4, the JTWC assessed that Haishen became a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon - with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 135 kt (155 mph; 250 km/h),[14] with a clear, symmetrical eye visible on satellite imagery.[15] On September 5, as Haishen's latitude increased, the ocean heat content in the area decreased,[16] which disrupted the system's core and caused its eye to appear ragged on satellite imagery, subsequently indicating weakening, and dropping below super typhoon status.[17]

Later that day, the system left the PAR and PAGASA issued its last bulletin on the typhoon.[18] As the system continued its northward track toward the Japanese archipelago, it continued to weaken and became a category 3 typhoon as Haishen made another eyewall replacement cycle, and not too long after it dropped to a category 2 typhoon as it neared the Southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for western Japan as millions of people evacuated accordingly.[19] Haishen made landfall in Ulsan, South Korea at around 09:00 KST (00:00 UTC) on September 7,[20] with 10-minute maximum sustained winds at 140 km/h (85 mph) and the central pressure at 955 hPa (28.20 inHg). Shortly after, Haishen entered the Sea of Japan as a high-end tropical storm; due to the low-sea surface temperatures, Haishen quickly weakened and made landfall in the South Hamgyong Province, North Korea with 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h (65 mph) and a central pressure of 980 hPa (28.94 inHg).[21] Soon afterwards, JTWC issued its final warning on Haishen, as it moved further inland into North Korea.[22] At 18:50 UTC, JMA issued its last advisory on Haishen, and declared it an extratropical low as it moved near the China–North Korea border.[21]

At least four casualties were reported, with two in Japan and another two in South Korea. The storm caused notable flood and wind-related damage and major power outages. Around 10,000 houses were damaged, destroyed or flooded in storm-related incidents. Total combined economic losses are anticipated to surpass US$100 million.[26]

• Tropical cyclones in 2020
• Other typhoons named Haishen
• Typhoon Rusa (2002) – also affected South Korea.
• Typhoon Maemi (2003) – a powerful storm that also struck South Korea.
• Typhoon Sanba (2012) – another significant storm that struck the Korean Peninsula.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon Haishen (2020).

• JMA General Information of Typhoon Haishen (2010) from Digital Typhoon
• JMA Best Track Data of Typhoon Haishen (2010) (in Japanese)
• 11W.HAISHEN from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory