1959 Pacific typhoon season

The 1959 Pacific typhoon season was regarded as one of the most devastating years for Pacific typhoons on record, with China, Japan and South Korea sustaining catastrophic losses. It was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season had no official bounds, but tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific Ocean normally develop between May and October.

The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the Date Line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1959 Pacific hurricane season. All typhoons were assigned a name and number. Tropical storms and tropical depressions formed in the entire west Pacific basin were assigned a name and number by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, but the latter was not added if no reconnaissance missions were assigned. Systems handled by the responsibility of the United States Weather Bureau (USWB) and Fleet Weather Center (FWC) featured no number.

The 1959 Pacific typhoon season featured 24 tropical cyclones, though operationally 59 total areas of investigation were classified by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC); three systems were handled by the responsibility of FWC at Pearl Harbor and the USWB at Honolulu. Three systems were questionable due to lack of reconnaissance aircraft use. In total, the season featured 65 tropical cyclones and areas of investigation operationally, including central Pacific Hurricane Patsy, which was operationally believed to have crossed the International Date Line into the western Pacific. The first annual tropical cyclone report for the western North Pacific Ocean was issued by the agency.

Season summary
Of the 33 tropical cyclones and 65 total areas of investigation, 18 storms attained typhoon status, which was below the yearly average of 19. At least nine other tropical systems never exceeded tropical storm intensity operationally. Most of the systems were noted to have developed within the typical spawning grounds for typhoons originating from easterly waves within the Intertropical Convergence Zone; the exceptions were Ellen and Georgia which developed from cold-core troughs extending southward into the tropical latitudes. Of the 18 typhoons that formed, five were first detected within 300 mi of the island of Guam. Three of the typhoons developed at a slow rate, while three others rapidly intensified to typhoon status within hours. Only four typhoons were small in diameter, while at least three typhoons developed to large sizes and became the dominant tropical features during the season. Two of the typhoons — Joan and Vera — featured sea-level pressures below 900 millibars and were the most intense tropical cyclones during the season, each featuring winds of 190 mph or greater. Of the total number of typhoons, 215 reconnaissance missions were flown into the storms, including 3,799 observations and 391 total fixes. The average track error for each advisory for storms during the season was 63.9 mi for 12-hour forecasts and 301.6 mi for 48-hour forecasts.

Tropical Storm Ruby
The first tropical storm of the season was detected on February 27 about 300 mi south of Yap with winds of 60 mi/h. Moving erratically westward, Ruby maintained intensity until it passed 90 mi south of Palau on February 28, when it began to weaken and move to the west-northwest. Ruby weakened to below tropical storm intensity on March 1 and then turned to the southwest. It dissipated later on the same day 300 mi east of Mindanao.

Tropical Storm Sally
Three days after Ruby dissipated, the second tropical cyclone of the season was detected 200 mi southeast of Majuro in the Marshall Islands with winds of 65 mi/h After drifting northwest, Sally moved to the southwest on March 5 and then began to move westward, with its winds fluctuating to 50 mi/h. Sally soon restrengthened on March 6, reaching a secondary peak of 60 mi/h, and maintained its intensity for 18 hours as it moved steadily westward. After weakening on March 8, Sally briefly jogged to the west-northwest on March 9, and it began to re-intensify as it turned back to the west, quickly reaching its third peak of 60 mi/h on March 10. Sally slowly weakened as it turned to the northwest and slowed in forward speed, with its winds decreasing to 45 mi/h on March 11. After briefly restrengthening to 60 mi/h on March 12, Sally turned to the west and quickly weakened to a tropical depression. The depression briefly turned to the west-southwest and dissipated on March 13 300 mi east of Mindanao.

Typhoon Tilda
The first typhoon of the season, Tilda originated from a closed circulation on the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) south of Truk on April 12. Surface weather analysis determined that the center slowly moved westward, with surface reports indicating intensification. On April 14 a reconnaissance aircraft mission estimated winds of tropical storm force, assigning the storm its name. Whilst slowly steering northwestward on April 15, Tilda intensified into a typhoon after its northeast quadrant had sustained typhoon strength winds. Tilda then moved generally to the northwest with minor fluctuations on April 16 and on the following day, before turning northward on April 18, when it rapidly intensified.

Tilda attained its peak intensity of 145 mph (233 km/h) 400 miles (640 km) west of Guam on April 19, and it slowly weakened as it turned north-northeast and decreased in forward speed. The typhoon became quasi-stationary for 30 hours on April 20, weakening to a minimal typhoon in the process by the next day. After drifting under weak steering currents, Tilda accelerated to the north-northeast on April 22 and weakened to a tropical storm. Tilda dissipated on April 23 as it merged with the upper-level westerlies 130 miles (210 km) southwest of Iwo Jima, and overall stayed in the open ocean, causing no casualties.

Tropical Depression Violet
Being the first tropical depression monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Violet formed offshore Vietnam on June 27. The depression moved eastward at a speed of 6 kn, before recurving westward the following day. The system remained weak, and by June 29, Violet dissipated inland.

Tropical Storm Wilda
A tropical depression formed on July 4 in the South China Sea 480 mi west of Luzon. After briefly drifting northeast, the depression moved erratically northward on July 5, and it made landfall on mainland China east of Hong Kong on July 6. The system steered northeastward the following day while inland, before entering the East China Sea as an extratropical cyclone on July 8. Wilda made another landfall south of the Korean peninsula on the next day. The system then entered the Korea Strait and curved slightly northward. Wilda made two more landfalls at the Russian Far East, before dissipating on July 10.

Operationally the system was classified as a different tropical storm under the name Wilda, but post-analysis determined that tropical cyclone never attained winds of 39 mph or greater. No reconnaissance aircraft investigated the system, which was one of only three disturbances not monitored during the season.

Tropical Depression Anita
Tropical Depression Anita was first observed on the vicinity of the Federated States of Micronesia on July 5. The system moved west before recurving east on July 6, and dissipated on that same day.

Typhoon Billie
An area of disturbed weather between Yap and Koror organized into a tropical depression on July 12. Moving to the northwest, it quickly strengthened, reaching tropical storm status, after an eye was found by a recon aircraft. On July 13, Billie intensified into a typhoon, before gradually strengthening further. After peaking at 105 mph that day, Billie crossed over northeastern Taiwan, quickly weakened, and made landfall on eastern China on July 15. A weak trough brought the storm northeastward, where after weakening to a tropical storm, it traversed the Yellow Sea and crossed the Korean Peninsula, losing tropical characteristics on July 18.

Typhoon Billie caused extreme flooding in northeastern Taiwan, causing $500,000 in property damage, leaving 10,000 homeless in the capital city of Taipei, and killing 1. In Japan, the outer edges of the typhoon caused torrential rains, killing 44 and destroying more than 65,000 houses. Storms accompanying Billie and its remnants brought heavy rains and strong winds to South Korea, knocking out police telephone lines in Busan. The sudden onslaught of these storms caused a stampede of roughly 70,000 people out of a stadium, resulting in the indirect deaths of 68 people. Around 125 people were injured and 40 were hospitalized after the mass evacuation.

Typhoon Ellen
On August 1, a well-developed low pressure area and easterly wave accompanying the area was detected northwest of Guam. Following the discovery of an eye in the system, the area was designated as Tropical Depression Ellen by the JTWC at 06:00 UTC of August 2. Ellen intensified into a tropical storm four hours later, before consolidating further into a typhoon 24 hours after. On August 4, as Ellen moved northwestward, the storm reached its peak intensity while located 200 mi south-southeast of Okinawa, attaining winds of 185 km/h. Taking an erratic path, Ellen proceeded to decelerate off the coast of Kyushu. A strong ridge to the north prevented Ellen from further movement for approximately 46 hours. During that time, a recon aircraft measured the very large eye at 100 mi. The ridge then weakened, allowing the typhoon to accelerate in an east-northeast direction. By August 8, Ellen had weakened into a tropical storm. Ellen moved along the south coast of Japan, passing directly above its capital city Tokyo. The storm entered the open sea east of Honshu on August 9, before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone.

Ellen dropped up to 35 in of rainfall on Japan, killing 11 and causing severe rice crop damage. Ellen's greatest effect, however, was on Taiwan, where torrential rains associated with the typhoon caused disastrous flooding that killed nearly 700, left tens of thousands homeless, and destroyed much of the transportation infrastructure in the central and southwestern part of the island. Some locations received almost 50 inches of rain in three days, exceeding local annual average totals. The heaviest rain event was on August 7, when as much as 25 in of rain fell in the mountains and western plains, causing rivers and streams to burst through levees and flood thousands of hectares of farmland, washing away rural villages, and causing widespread urban flooding as well in Taichung and other cities. The economic impact was particularly extensive and long-lasting due to the widespread flooding of farmland. In Taiwan the event is remembered as the "Great August 7 Flood".

Tropical Depression Fran
First observed on August 11, Tropical Depression Fran was located 60 mi north of Guam. The depression moved northwest before dissipating on August 12, under the influence of Typhoon Georgia's predominant circulation.

Typhoon Georgia
On August 12, Fran was split into two circulation centers by an upper-air polar trough. The new circulation consolidated into a tropical storm on August 13, receiving the name Georgia. Georgia quickly strengthened into a typhoon, and reached its peak intensity of 205 km/h in 06:00 UTC of that same day. The typhoon then proceeded to rapidly accelerate at a speed of 25 km/h for the next 24 hours. After crossing through the Japanese mainland, Georgia weakened into an extratropical cyclone on August 14.

Just 4 days after Ellen hit Japan, Typhoon Georgia hit the southeastern portion of the country. Georgia brought more heavy rains to the country, causing 246 fatalities and leaving over 50,000 homeless. Georgia caused torrential damage to Japan's railroad network, and combined with Typhoon Ellen, produced a damage total of $50 million (1959 USD).

Tropical Depression Hope
A tropical disturbance in the Philippine Sea was first indicated on August 13, taking a slight dip south on August 15, before generally going in a west direction. The system made its first landfall over Luzon at 12:00 UTC of August 17, before intensifying into a tropical depression that day. The depression continued its journey westward before reaching inland at Hainan on August 19, prior to weakening back into a tropical disturbance. The system entered the Beibu Gulf and made its final landfall over northern Vietnam, and dissipated on August 20.

Typhoon Iris
On August 18, a tropical disturbance on the ITCZ was found on a surface chart, possessing a weak circulation. However, later on August 20, a recon aircraft was sent to the center of the system, and recorded typhoon strength winds. Typhoon Iris passed north of Luzon, where it steered west-northwestward, subdued from going more north by a strong high. The high gradually weakened, beginning Iris's recurvature toward the northwest. The typhoon's winds then peaked at 170 km/h on August 22, before they weakened to tropical storm strength. The storm moved over the coast of China near Kao-Chi, where it rapidly became extratropical and dissipated on August 23.

Typhoon Iris caused rough seas off the coast of Luzon, sinking at least two ships and killing 89 people. In China, the storm brought torrential rains, killing 720 people with 996 missing in the Fujian province in southeast China; however, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the death toll may be as high as 2,334.

Typhoon Joan
A surface circulation was found northeast of Guam on August 23. The system was classified as a tropical storm at 02:35 UTC of August 25, and quickly strengthened into a typhoon within 23 hours. Moving in a northwest direction, Joan proceeded to rapidly intensify to winds of 315 km/h and deepened to sea-level pressure of 885 hPa on August 29, becoming the 11th most intense tropical cyclone and the most powerful storm of the season. Such winds are dubious, due to the infancy of reconnaissance aircraft at the time and the lack of satellite images. Nevertheless, Joan was a powerful typhoon, and struck eastern Taiwan with estimated winds of 185 mph. The mountainous terrain in Taiwan induced a weakening effect on Joan as the storm's center moved above the island, before passing through the Chinese mainland on August 30, before rapidly dissipating inland. During its lifespan, Joan was at one point a huge storm, extending to 1000 mi in diameter, with 90 km/h winds spanning up to a radius of 300 mi.

Strong winds and heavy flooding caused 11 casualties and $3 million in crop damage in Taiwan. Property damage was extensive as well, with 3,308 houses destroyed from the typhoon. In China, 3 people were killed and 57 were injured from Joan. About 50,000 homes were evacuated in Fuzhou as the typhoon nears landfall. There were 60 casualties, including 3 deaths. Rainfall from Joan caused several rivers on the Korean peninsula to overflow their banks, killing 17 people and injuring 21. Another 7,000 people were rendered homeless.

Tropical Storm Kate
A tropical depression formed east of the Philippines on August 25, drifting northward before generally moving west. The system peaked as a tropical storm with winds of 75 km/h on the that same day. Kate gradually weakened throughout its lifespan after its peak as it recurved northeastward, degrading to a tropical depression on August 26, before dissipating by August 27.

Typhoon Louise
As Typhoon Joan impacted Taiwan, an elongated low-pressure area from the vicinity of Truk formed along the ITCZ on August 27. A recon aircraft was sent on August 30, and concluded the existence of a closed surface circulation, assigning the system as Tropical Depression Louise. Though multiple circulations were present in the same general area, Louise's circulation, being the strongest, drifted to west-northwest of Guam, retaining its name. Moving westerly throughout the next day, Louise intensified into a tropical storm. The storm began to recurve to the north-northwest on September 1, and rapidly intensified into a typhoon on that same day. Louise maintained this recurvature throughout the next day, and by September 3, it had attained peak intensity with winds of 220 km/h. Around that time, its eye was measured at 50 mi.

Typhoon Louise struck Taiwan, where it left 6 people dead, 167 injured, and 6,100 homeless throughout the island. The Hualien County suffered the brunt of it, enduring great force from the storm. The eye then expanded to 100 mi upon reaching the Taiwan Strait, though the storm had weakened to 120 km/h. The semi-permanent North Pacific High influence the typhoon into a steady north-northwestward course. Further weakening was induced, downgrading Louise to a tropical storm on September 4, before passing above the coast of China. Louise further downgraded to a tropical depression, but was upgraded to tropical storm strength after reaching the Yellow Sea. As Louise moved farther north, it weakened back to a tropical depression on September 7, before transitioning into an extratropical low, and become embedded with the polar front.

Tropical Depression Marge
A weak system, Tropical Depression Marge was first observed on September 1, before its winds was assessed by the next day. The depression moved in a north-northeast direction before recurving westward on September 3, striking Zhanjiang on that day also, before dissipating by 12:00 UTC.

Tropical Storm Nora
Nora formed along the ITCZ on September 5. The system traversed west-northwestward and passed above the northern side of Luzon on September 7. Two days later, Nora intensified into a tropical storm and peaked with winds of 50 kn. Whilst in the South China Sea on September 10, Tropical Storm Nora took a turn in a northeast direction, before reaching the Chinese coast the following day. Nora weakened into a tropical depression, and entered the East China Sea on September 12. The storm continued northeast until it dissipated on the same day near the Oki Islands.

Tropical Depression Opal
Tropical Depression Opal was short-lived, forming between northeast of Pohnpei and southwest of Ujelang Atoll on September 5, moving west-northwestward before dissipating the next day.

Typhoon Patsy
On September 6, reports from aircraft indicated the existence of a tropical storm near the International Date Line. Earlier stages were missed because of a lack of data in the isolated area. A trough moved Patsy northeast. A second trough then developed, dominated over the first, and recurved Patsy northeast. It then slowly headed northwards and gradually weakened. It dissipated on September 10. Patsy's erratic path near the dateline was unusual and no known tropical cyclone had taken such a path over the previous ten years, although that of Typhoon June 1958 was somewhat similar.

The Japan Meteorological Agency's "best track" does not give windspeeds, only indicating that Patsy was a typhoon. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's report disagrees on location but also has Patsy's maximum windspeed east of the dateline; the JMA's data does not indicate windspeeds. Patsy is an uncommon west-to-east crosser of the dateline. Including only systems recognized by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, that has only happened six times since.

Tropical Depression Ruth
Forming on September 8 along the ITCZ, Ruth moved southwest midway between Guam and the Philippines. By 12:00 UTC of September 10, Ruth had dissipated.

Typhoon Sarah
A tropical disturbance north of Ponape formed along the ITCZ on September 10. Based on data gathered by a reconnaissance aircraft, it intensified into a tropical depression on September 11. Sarah passed north of Guam, giving the island light wind gusts and some showers. After the circulation had been well-defined, it was upgraded to a tropical storm at 12:00 UTC. About 12 hours later, it further strengthened into a typhoon. On September 14, rapid intensification ensued, and Sarah attained maximum sustained winds of 165 kn. Following a parabolic path, Sarah passed above the island of Miyako-jima, where winds of 106 kn were recorded. Sarah struck the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula and accelerated and weakened afterward. By September 16, Sarah had become extratropical.

On Miyako-jima, Sarah's high winds and rain caused 7 deaths and destroyed 6,000 houses, causing $2 million in crop damage. In all of Korea, extreme flooding and storm surge killed 669 people and left 782,126 homeless one day before Chuseok, which is one of the Korea's biggest holidays. Extreme crop damage and property damage amounted to $100 million (1959 USD) ($638 million 2005 USD). Flooding in Japan killed 24, with thousands of houses either destroyed or damaged.

Tropical Depression Thelma
On September 18, the China Meteorological Administration assessed that a tropical disturbance formed northeast of Ulithi Atoll. It moved in a west-northwest direction before becoming classified as a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC. Thelma however weakened back into a disturbance 24 hours later on September 19. On the following day, Thelma recurved more northward, before steering west then southwest on September 21. The disturbance later dissipated on September 22 at 06:00 UTC.

Typhoon Vera
Vera developed on September 20 between Guam and Chuuk State, and initially tracked westward before taking a more northerly course, reaching tropical storm strength the following day. By this point Vera had assumed a more westerly direction of movement and had begun to rapidly intensify, and reached its peak intensity on September 23 with maximum sustained winds equivalent to that of a modern-day Category 5 hurricane. With little change in strength, Vera curved and accelerated northward, resulting in a landfall on September 26 near Shionomisaki on Honshu. Atmospheric wind patterns caused the typhoon to briefly emerge into the Sea of Japan before recurving eastward and moving ashore Honshu for a second time. Movement over land greatly weakened Vera, and after reentering the North Pacific Ocean later that day, Vera transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 27; these remnants continued to persist for an additional two days.

Though Vera was accurately forecast and its track into Japan was well anticipated, limited coverage of telecommunications, combined with lack of urgency from Japanese media and the storm's intensity, greatly inhibited potential evacuation and disaster mitigation processes. Rainfall from the storm's outer rainbands began to cause flooding in river basins well in advance of the storm's landfall. Upon moving ashore Honshu, the typhoon brought a strong storm surge that destroyed numerous flood defense systems, inundating coastal regions and sinking ships. Damage totals from Vera reached US$600 million (equivalent to US$0 billion in ). The number of fatalities caused by Vera remain discrepant, though current estimates indicate that the typhoon caused more than 5,000 deaths, making it one of the deadliest typhoons in Japanese history. It also injured almost 39,000 people and made around 1.5 million people homeless.

Typhoon Amy
Typhoon Amy developed near Yap on October 3. After strengthening and subsequent weakening, Amy struck Japan. Shortly thereafter, the system became extratropical on October 9.

Tropical Storm Babs
Tropical Storm Babs developed in the South China Sea on October 5. The storm struck the western side of Luzon, before entering the Pacific Ocean. By October 10, Babs dissipated south of the Ryukyu Islands.

Typhoon Charlotte
An area of low pressure organized into a tropical depression on October 9 to the east of the Philippines. It moved northwestward, quickly intensifying to typhoon status on the 10th. Charlotte continued to intensify, and reached a peak of 165 mph on the 13th before recurving to the northeast. Cooler, drier air weakened the typhoon, and after passing near Okinawa on the 16th it paralleled the southern coast of Japan offshore. The weakening storm turned to the east, and dissipated on the 19th. Charlotte brought a total of 24 in of rain on Okinawa, causing landslides that damaged much of the island. Crop damage was severe, with 75% of the rice crop destroyed. The five feet of flooding in some areas damaged 618 homes and destroyed 275. In all, Charlotte caused 46 casualties and left 1,068 homeless.

Typhoon Dinah
Just weeks after Super Typhoon Vera, another northward moving 170 mph Super Typhoon was moving northward toward Japan. Dinah's turn to the northeast spared the country, and it became extratropical on October 21 to the east of the archipelago.

Typhoon Emma
Typhoon Emma existed from November 5 to November 15.

Typhoon Freda
A disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone organized into a tropical storm to the east of the Philippines on November 13. Freda moved west-northwestward, attaining typhoon status the next day. As it paralleled the northeast coast of Luzon, it rapidly intensified to a 135 mph typhoon, and made landfall on the 16th with slightly weaker winds of 120, the weakening due to land interaction. Freda rapidly weakened as it crossed the island, and turned to the north. After passing close to Taiwan on the 18th, it accelerated to the north and became extratropical on the 20th. Freda brought torrential rains to the city of Manila, driving two vessels aground. Crop damage was heavy on the southern part of the island, while 7,600 were left homeless from the flooding. Freda caused 58 fatalities as it passed through the Philippines.

Typhoon Gilda
On December 18, 175 mph Super Typhoon Gilda made landfall on the eastern Philippines. It quickly crossed the archipelago, and weakened over the South China Sea. Gilda made landfall on southeastern Vietnam on the 21st as a tropical storm, and dissipated the next day. Gilda caused 23 casualties in the Philippines from extensive rainfall, and left nearly 60,000 homeless.

Typhoon Harriet
On December 30, just weeks after Gilda, 150 mph Typhoon Harriet hit the eastern Philippines. It weakened as it crossed the islands, and dissipated over the South China Sea on January 2. Harriet brought strong winds and rainfall to Luzon, causing considerable property and crop damage. In all, the typhoon killed 5 and left more than 12,000 homeless.

Storm names
During the season, 31 systems developed in the Western Pacific, according to the JTWC, and were named by the agency. The names were drawn sequentially from a set of four alphabetical naming lists and were all feminine. Three Central Pacific storms developed and were named Dot, Patsy, and Wanda. The policy at the time was to use the Western Pacific nomenclature for the basin.