Typhoon Nida (2004)

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

On May 12, a persistent area of thunderstorms formed within a monsoon trough 220 miles (350 km) southwest of Palau. Satellite imagery revealed a weak low-level circulation. Initially, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecast the storm to not strengthen. The following day, forecasters saw that the storm was strengthening and upgraded the system to tropical depression status. Forecasters at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration designated the storm as Tropical Depression Dindo.[2]

At the time of formation, the depression was located 190 miles (310 km) east of Palau as it moved west northwest at 3 mph (5 km/h). Quickscat satellite imagery showed the depression's winds were near 29 mph (46 km/h) and increasing. Satellite imagery later the showed deep convection organizing over the low-level circulation. The depression underwent rapid intensification as it became a tropical storm late in the morning on May 14 and was assigned the name Nida by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Still intensifying, the storm turned northwest where it reached typhoon status later that night.[2]

Curving west-northwest at 7 mph (11 km/h), Typhoon Nida attained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. On May 16, Nida became a super typhoon as its winds reached 165 mph (266 km/h). At its peak, its highest winds extended 35 miles (56 km) from the center. Satellite imagery showed the storm developed a defined eye measuring 25 miles (40 km) wide. On May 17, the center of Nida passed over Catanduanes Island, Philippines.[2]

After making landfall, Nida weakened and then turned more northward and slowed down. Re-entering the warmer waters of the Western Pacific Ocean, Nida's winds restrengthened to 150  mph (250 km/h). During the night of May 18, the typhoon began to weaken. Infrared satellite imagery showed the eye being obscured by high cirrostratus clouds, indicative of the weakening typhoon. The eyewall became significantly disorganized as Nida continued to recurve to the northeast.[2]

Nida accelerated northeast and its maximum sustained winds weakened to 90 mph (148 km/h). Interacting with an upper level low pressure system over Japan, the typhoon became elongated. Nida weakened below typhoon strength as the center passed 290 miles (467 km) south of Tokyo, Japan. By May 21, Nida transitioned to an extratropical cyclone. The JMA continued to track the remnants of Nida as it weakened northeast of northern Japan.[2]

TRMM satellite image of Typhoon Nida on May 17, 2004

In the Philippines, evacuation centers were opened to accommodate 2,986 people. The typhoon approach cancelled ferry operations stranding 15,057 passengers.[2] In Taiwan, forecasters at the Central Weather Bureau issued a typhoon warning as forecast models predicted a high probability of the typhoon hitting Taiwan. The warnings interrupted the preparations for the inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian.[3]

In the Philippines, winds were clocked at 100 knots (190 km/h) at Virac. on Catanduanes Island at 6 a.m. local time on May 17. The pressure at that location fell to 965 millibars (28.5 inHg).[4] Structural damage was severe as the typhoon damaged or destroyed over 700–4,000 homes displacing 11,000 people. In Guimba, Nueva Ecija, Nida spawned a tornado that caused moderate damage. After the storm, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo placed eight providences under a state of emergency.

Nida produced heavy rainfall across the eastern Philippines. Rainfall up to 10.6 inches (270 mm) was reported in Ombao while Naga City received 5.9 inches (150 mm) of rain. The rest of the Philippines received 104 millimetres (4.1 in) to 372 millimetres (14.6 in) of rain.[2][4] 31 fatalities (20 confirmed, 11 unaccounted for) were reported during Nida's landfall. In Camotes island, nine people drowned and five were declared missing when a ferry boat sank during the storm. Elsewhere offshore, 13 crewmen were rescued when their ship ran aground near Luzon.[5] In all, the typhoon left $1.3 million in damage across the eastern Philippines.[6]

In Japan, heavy rains produced by the outer bands of Nida triggered flash flooding and landslides in Fukushima Prefecture. Several highways were shut down due to rising waters or debris and a few homes also were inundated.[7] In Mito, Ibaraki, 360 homes were left without power after high winds knocked down electrical wires. A 10 m (33 ft) section of highway in the city also collapsed.[8] In addition to the structural damage caused by Nida, the poor weather conditions created during its passage resulted in several canceled flights by Japan Air Commuter.[9] In Minamidaitō, Okinawa, a weather station operated by the WMO reported winds gusting to 71 mph (115 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 972 millibars (28.7 inHg). Rainfall total at the station was 1.25 inches (32 mm) with the highest at 2.79 inches (71 mm). There were no reports of damage.[2]

• Typhoon Noul (2015)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon Nida (2004).

• JMA General Information of Typhoon Nida (0402) from Digital Typhoon
• JMA Best Track Data of Typhoon Nida (0402) (in Japanese)
• JMA Best Track Data (Graphics) of Typhoon Nida (0402)
• JMA Best Track Data (Text)
• JTWC Best Track Data of Super Typhoon 04W (Nida)
• 04W.NIDA from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory