Typhoon Kong-rey (2007)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Typhoon Kong-rey
Type=typhoon
Year=2007
Basin=WPac
Image location=Kong-Rey 04 apr 2007 0342Z.jpg


Formed=March 31, 2007
Dissipated=April 6, 2007
1-min winds=100
10-min winds=80
Pressure=960
Da

Fatalities=None reported
Areas=Mariana Islands
Hurricane season=2007 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Kong-rey (international designation: "0701", JTWC designation: "01W") was a moderate typhoon that affected Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in early April 2007. The first named storm of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season, Kong-rey became the earliest-occurring typhoon since Typhoon Sudal on April 6, 2004. At its peak, it was considered to be a Category 2-equivalent typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, though re-analysis increased it to a Category 3-equivalent. Typhoon Kong-rey caused no major damage or injuries along its path.

Meteorological history

On March 26, the Naval Research Laboratory identified a broad area of low pressure in the Western North Pacific. It moved west-northwestward over the next few days, slowly gaining organisation. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's best-track, it became a tropical depression on March 30. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5OroY8sbw WebCite query result ] ] The next day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert due to an increased consolidation of the low-level circulation of the system. [cite web|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5Nzu7DoCx|title=Tropical Depression 01W Warning Nr 001|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url=http://listserv.uiuc.edu/wa.cgi?A2=ind0703e&L=wx-tropl&T=0&P=28422
archivedate=2007-04-10|accessdate=2007-04-10|date=2007-03-31|quote=THIS WARNING SUPERSEDES AND CANCELS REF A, NAVPACMETOCCEN 300552Z MAR 07 TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION ALERT (WTPN21 PGTW 300600)] The intensity was increased to 30 knots at the same time by the JMA, as the depression moved westward. [cite web|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5NzuJ7FSL|archivedate=2007-04-10|accessdate=2007-04-11
title=Warning and Summary 311200|author=Japan Meteorological Agency|date=2007-03-31|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/en/g3/index.html]

The JTWC issued its first warning on Tropical Depression 01W late that evening local time. [cite web|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5Nzu7DoCx|title=Tropical Depression 01W Warning Nr 001|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url=http://listserv.uiuc.edu/wa.cgi?A2=ind0703e&L=wx-tropl&T=0&P=28422
archivedate=2007-04-10|accessdate=2007-04-10|date=2007-03-31] As it continued to strengthen, the JTWC upgraded it to a tropical storm, the first of the season. The JMA followed suit, and named the system Kong-rey. [cite web
archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5NzuYyYjM|archivedate=2007-04-10|accessdate=2007-04-10
date=2007-03-31|author=Japan Meteorological Agency|title=Tropical Storm 0701 Kong-rey (0701) Upgraded From Tropical Depression|url=http://listserv.uiuc.edu/wa.cgi?A2=ind0703e&L=wx-tropl&T=0&P=32428] The name was submitted by Cambodia, and refers to a character in a Khmer legend, which is also the name of a mountain.cite web|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/tyname.html#Column%20II|author=RSMC Tokyo-Typhoon Center|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=2007-03-31|title=List of names for tropical cyclones adopted by the Typhoon Committee for the western North Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea]

Kong-rey continued to track towards the Mariana Islands, all the while continuing to organise, causing the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm on the morning of April 2 local time, [cite web|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5Nzufwag5|title=Severe Tropical Storm 0701 Kong-rey (0701) Upgraded From Tropical Storm|date=2007-04-01|accessdate=2007-04-10|archivedate=2007-04-10|url=http://listserv.uiuc.edu/wa.cgi?A2=ind0704a&L=wx-tropl&T=0&P=9174|author=Japan Meteorological Agency] with the JTWC declaring it a typhoon later that evening. It then turned poleward, and starting moving towards the Northern Mariana Islands, passing through the islands on April 3. The JMA then upgraded it to a typhoon as it headed away from the islands. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NzurAe5Y WebCite query result ] ]

As Kong-rey began to take a turn to the north and east, it developed a ragged 16 nm (30 km, 18 mi)-wide eye. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NzvBrmw8 WebCite query result ] ] Operationally, its peak was estimated at 165 km/h (105 mph), though in post-season analysis, it was considered to have reached peak winds of 185 km/h (115 mph). It strengthened slightly further before encountering strong wind shear and colder sea surface temperatures, causing core convection to rapidly weaken, and was downgraded back to a severe tropical storm on April 4. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NzvHFEtD WebCite query result ] ] As Kong-rey accelerated towards the northeast, it encountered a hostile environment related to a midlatitude trough. It began undergoing extratropical transition early on April 5 and the JTWC issued its final warning. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NzvKgY51 WebCite query result ] ] The JMA issued its final warning on the morning of April 6 after it had completed extratropical transition. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NzvSJNpy WebCite query result ] ]

Preparations

As Kong-rey headed towards the Mariana Islands, a typhoon watch was issued for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan in the morning of April 1 local time. Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 3 was declared by the Governor of Guam at 2 p.m. local time (0400 UTC) the same day, advising residents to prepare emergency kits, review disaster plans and take necessary precautions as the storm approached. [ [http://www.kuam.com/news/21725.aspx Governor declares Guam in Condition "3" as winds get stronger ] ] The typhoon watch was upgraded to a typhoon warning later in the day as Kong-rey approached the islands. Condition of Readiness 2 was declared across all four islands, and the Port Authority of Guam opened its Harbor of Refuge to house stranded boats. [ [http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/NEWS01/70402008/1002 Pacific Daily News - www.guampdn.com - Hagatna, GU ] ]

[
Guam of Kong-rey passing through the Mariana Islands on April 3] The typhoon warnings for Guam were cancelled on April 2 after the National Weather Service office in Guam noted that damaging winds were now not expected on the island. The typhoon warning for Rota was downgraded to a tropical storm warning at the same time, and a typhoon warning was newly issued for Agrihan. Residents on Agrihan, Pagan and Alamagan were advised to take precautionary measures. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NnjDIK1z WebCite query result ] ] In Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands Governor Benigno R. Fitial released non-essential government staff in the afternoon of April 2, as the Emergency Management Office began opening shelters. Furthermore, scoping meetings for an Environmental Impact Statement regarding military relocation were postponed by a fortnight. Several flights were also cancelled across the islands. [ [http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=67117&cat=1 Saipan Tribune ] ]

The tropical storm warning for Rota and typhoon warning for Tinian and Saipan were discontinued on the morning of April 3 as the storm no longer posed a wind threat, [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NobQXB4p WebCite query result ] ] and Fitial declared an all-clear for the islands. [ [http://www.webcitation.org/5NobHxdGe WebCite query result ] ] Condition of Readiness 1 was maintained in Agrihan, Pagan and Alamagan until late on April 3 local time, but as the storm passed, all warnings and watches were discontinued by the morning of April 4. [http://www.webcitation.org/5Nzo9U5ML WebCite query result ] ]

Meteorological observations and impact

The highest gust recorded on Guam was 28 kt (32 mph, 52 km/h) at Andersen Air Force Base, while in the Northern Mariana Islands Agrihan reported the highest gust, of 67 kt (77 mph, 124 km/h). The lowest pressure recorded in the island chain was 995.3 hPa on Saipan, although a few readings taken on other islands may not have been the lowest recorded pressure. Only minimal rainfall fell on Guam from Kong-rey. The maximum 24-hour rainfall total on the islands was measured at 2.7 inches (68.6 mm) at Saipan, although the total rainfall throughout the storm was heaviest on Agrihan, which recorded 3.58 inches (90.9 mm) over thirty hours from April 3 to April 4 local time.

The storm delayed a congressional delegation to Guam, which was to be led by Texan congressman Solomon P. Ortiz. [ [http://www.kuam.com/news/21750.aspx Bad weather pushes congressional delegation's trip back ] ]

The effect of strong winds on agriculture was minimal. Several minor power outages occurred, mostly in Saipan. [ [http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=67153&cat=1 Saipan Tribune ] ] However, no casualties, major damage or flooding was reported.

References

ee also

External links

* [http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/200701.html.en Digital Typhoon page on Kong-rey]