Typhoon Tip
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- This article deals with the 1979 Typhoon Tip. For other storms of the same name, see Typhoon Tip (disambiguation).
Typhoon Tip was the largest and most intense tropical cyclone on record. The storm weakened greatly before landfall, but still caused widespread flood damage across most of Japan during the 1979 Pacific typhoon season. It is sometimes regard as the first super typhoon known.
Storm history
The cyclone formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean on October 4, 1979 as a tropical depression. It strengthened to tropical storm status, the 20th of the season, on October 6, and became a Typhoon on October 9. After moving into a very favorable environment for development, Typhoon Tip quickly strengthened and its pressure dropped from 996 to 898 hPa (mbar). It was during this time that Tip reached its peak in size, with tropical storm force winds extending 1,085km (675 miles) in radius. On October 12, Typhoon Tip continued to intensify, with winds at 258 km/h (161 mph) at 0600 GMT and central pressure at 870 hPa (mbar).
After reaching its peak on October 12, Tip slowly weakened as it headed toward Japan. It made landfall on Honshu on October 19 as a minimal typhoon.
Impact
Tip caused significant damage in Japan. Tip cost the agricultural and fishing industries of Japan millions of dollars in damage. There were 68 deaths from Tip, including many due to floods that breached a fuel retaining wall in Camp Fuji.Records
Tip is both the largest and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed.
At its largest, Tip sustained tropical storm-force winds at a radius of 675 miles (1,087km). [link] With a minimum central pressure of 870 hPa (mbar) , Tip is also the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in any basin and holds the record for lowest pressure ever recorded at Earth's surface. Note, however, that since the 1990s, hurricane hunter flights are no longer made into NW Pacific typhoons, and storm intensity is now estimated from satellite imagery.
Links
References
- [RSMC Tokyo 1976-1980 Best Track]
- [1979 Annual Typhoon Report ~ Murray T.R. & Morford, D.R. (1980) (.pdf file)]
- [Typhoon Tip's track]
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