Typhoon Kalmaegi (2008)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Typhoon Kalmaegi (Helen)
Type=typhoon
Year=2008
Basin=WPac
Image location=Kalmaegi 17 jul 2008 0225Z.jpg


Formed=13 July 2008
Dissipated=20 July 2008
10-min winds=75
1-min winds=90
Pressure=960
Da

Fatalities=21 dead, 6 missing
Areas=Philippines, Taiwan, Fujian
Hurricane season=2008 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Kalmaegi (international designation: "0807", JTWC designation: "08W", PAGASA name: Helen) was the seventh named storm and the fifth typhoon that was recognised by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center also recognised it as the eighth tropical depression, the seventh tropical storm and the sixth typhoon of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season.

The name Kalmaegi was submitted to the World Meteorological Organisation's Typhoon Committee by North Korea and was one of the original names submitted for use from January 1, 2000. The name Kalmaegi is Korean for a seagull which is a type of bird which lives by the sea.

Kalmaegi formed as a tropical depression on 13 July when it was located to the east of the Philippines. It was named Kalmaegi by RSMC Tokyo on 15 July; the storm reached its peak winds of convert|75|kn|km/h on 17 July. Shortly afterwards it made a direct landfall on Taiwan and then moved into China's Fujan province the next day it emerged into the Taiwan Strait and raced towards North Korea where it became fully extratropical and the last advisories were released.

Meteorological history

Early on July 13, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), began to issue full advisories on a tropical depression, which was located to the east of the Philippines. [cite web|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/typh_wstorm.html|title=Tropical Cyclone Information|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=2008-07-18] Later that day PAGASA allocated the name Helen to the depression, followed the next day by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) designating the number 08W. Early on July 15, both the JTWC, and the JMA upgraded the depression to tropical storm status, with RSMC Tokyo assigning the name "Kalmaegi" to the storm, which was submitted by North Korea and is Korean for seagull. Early on the 17th, Kalmaegi began rapidly intensifying; JMA was the first agency to upgrade it into a typhoon. [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZMsTdFev] JTWC followed a few hours later. [ ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2008071703-WTPN.PGTW ] Finally, PAGASA upgraded Kalmaegi (Helen) into a typhoon on later that day. [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZNPprwWK]

Typhoon Kalmaegi, which was downgraded to tropical storm status by Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau while still east of the country, made landfall at Ilan County in northeast Taiwan in the evening of July 17 at 19:40 local time (13:40 UTC) and emerged into the Taiwan Strait at 7:20 in the morning local time (01:20 UTC) on July 18. cite web|author=United Daily News|url=http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080718/2/13h71.html|title=Center, South, Heavy Rains Until Tomorrow (中南部超大豪雨 下到明天)|accessdate=2008-06-18] From Taiwan, the typhoon, now downgraded to a tropical storm, turned toward southeast China. In Xiapu County of Fujian Province, the tropical storm made landfall at 17:50 local time (0950 UTC), with winds of about 90 miles per hour.cite news|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/typhoon-kalmaegi-hits-china-leaves-13-killed-in-taiwan-lead_10073258.html|title=Typhoon Kalmaegi hits China, leaves 13 killed in Taiwan (Lead)|publisher=Thaindian|accessdate=2008-07-18|date=2008-07-18] Early on July 19, the JTWC issued its final advisory on Kalmaegi and downgraded it to a tropical depression. However, the JMA continued to issue advisories and maintained Kalmaegi as a tropical storm as it moved to the Yellow Sea. Late the next day, the JMA downgraded Kalmaegi to a low (extratropical cyclone) as it moved inland over North Korea.

Preparations and impact

PAGASA issued Public Storm Warning Signals for provinces across Northern Luzon from July 14th till the 17th. Initially, PAGASA issued Storm Signal Number 1 over Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes Group of Islands and Calayan Group of Islands. [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZJTvHEgU] But as the storm tracked nearer to Northern Luzon, more and more are issued Signals 1, 2 and 3. By the aftenoon of the 16th Philippine Time, only Batanes was left under Signal Number one. [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZNPprwWK] PAGASA issued their last advisory on Helen (Kalmaegi) on 2100 UTC 17 July (5 a.m. 18 July PST). [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZOHzu3n1]

In the Philippines, it passed over Northern Luzon (mostly affecting Ilocos and Cagayan Valley), where it killed two people, injured one, left more than 31,129 people affected in 146 barangays in three provinces and damaged ₱ 7 million worth of property. [cite news|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/107924/Helen-toll-2-dead-P7M-in-damage|title=Helen toll: 2 dead, P7M in damage|publisher=GMA|date=2008-07-19] [http://210.185.184.53/ndccWeb/images/ndccWeb/ndcc_advisory/TC_Helan/sitrep4_ty_helen.pdf] The storm also hit 82 villages (all in Northern Luzon) and caused around ₱45,000 worth of damage to farmland and livestock, [cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080717-149005/UPDATE-Helen-now-typhoon-leaves-2-dead|title=(UPDATE) ‘Helen,’ now typhoon, leaves 2 dead|first=Joel|last=Guinto|date=2008-07-17|date=2008-07-18|publisher=Inquirer.net] Meanwhile, the storm intensified the southwest monsoon, thus causing torrential rains over the rest of Luzon. [cite news|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/107152/Helen-closes-in-on-Cagayan-six-areas-under-Signal-No-2|title='Helen' closes in on Cagayan, six areas under Signal No. 2|publisher=GMA|date=2008-07-15|accessdate=2008-07-19] The resulting rains thus caused suspension of classes in parts of Metro Manila. [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/107300/Manila-suspends-afternoon-college-classes]

At least nineteen have lost their lives due to the storm and six are currently reported as missing, and caused an estimated US$16 million in agricultural losses. [cite news|url=http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=361&sec=1|title=19 killed by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Taiwan|publisher=Asia News Network|accessdate=2008-07-27|date=2008-07-21] Tainan County in southern Taiwan is reporting more than 1100 mm of rainfall in some mountain regions. cite web|author=China Post|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/07/18/166133/Tropical%2Dstorm.htm|title=Tropical storm floods southern Taiwan, 4 killed, 5 missing|accessdate=2008-06-18] Local media are reporting that an estimate 115,000 people in Taiwan, primarily in Tainan, Nantou County, and Taichung County have lost power during the storm.cite web|author=Now News|url=http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080718/17/13h9d.html|title=115,000 lost power due to Kalmaegi, 81,000 already restored.(卡玫基颱風全台11.5萬戶停電　已修復8.1萬戶修復率70%)|accessdate=2008-06-18] The storm caused NT$ 300 million worth of damage, and destroyed about 5,100 hectares of orchards and crops.cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=128935|title=Typhoon hits China after killing 13 in Taiwan|publisher=Bangkok Post|accessdate=2008-07-18|date=2008-07-18] In Xiapu County of Fujian Province and in neighboring Zhejiang Province, 360,000 residents left coastal and low-lying homes to escape the storm. Schools and many businesses remained closed, and the storm was expected to travel northwest.

ee also

*2008 Pacific typhoon season

References