1973 Pacific typhoon season explained

Track:1973 Pacific typhoon season summary.jpg
Basin:WPac
Year:1973
First Storm Formed:May 12, 1973
Last Storm Dissipated:December 27, 1973
Strongest Storm Name:Nora
Strongest Storm Pressure:875
Strongest Storm Winds:160
Average Wind Speed:1
Total Depressions:39
Total Storms:21
Total Hurricanes:12
Total Intense:3 (unofficial)
Fatalities:>1,011
Damages:7
Damagespre:>
Five Seasons:1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
Atlantic Season:1973 Atlantic hurricane season
East Pacific Season:1973 Pacific hurricane season
North Indian Season:1973 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1973 Pacific typhoon season, in comparison to the two years preceding it, was a below average season, with only 21 named storms and 12 typhoons forming. However, it featured Typhoon Nora, which ties Typhoon June of 1975 for the second strongest typhoon on record. It has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1973, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

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 1973 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

Season summary

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Systems

25 tropical depressions formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 21 became tropical storms. 12 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 3 reached super typhoon strength.[1]

Severe Tropical Storm Wilda (Atring)

Basin:WPac
Track:Wilda 1973 track.png
Formed:June 28
Dissipated:July 6
Type1:STS
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:60
Pressure:980
Tropical Storm Wilda formed as a disturbance east of the Philippines. It traveled northwest and became a tropical depression as it made landfall on Luzon on June 30. It crossed the island, and became a tropical storm as it entered the South China Sea on 1 July. It traveled north and made landfall in southern China on the 3rd. The remnants of Wilda dissipated inland a few days later.

Typhoon Anita

Basin:WPac
Formed:July 4
Dissipated:July 10
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat1
1-Min Winds:70
Pressure:980

Typhoon Billie (Bining)

Basin:WPac
Track:Billie 1973 track.png
Formed:July 11
Dissipated:July 19
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat4
1-Min Winds:130
Pressure:915

Tropical Storm Billie, which developed on July 12 east of the Philippines, rapidly strengthened on the 14th and 15th to a 150 mph super typhoon. It tracked due north, fluctuating in intensity for the next 3 days. A building ridge over the Sea of Japan forced Billie to the northwest, where it weakened greatly, first to a tropical storm on the 18th, then to a tropical depression on the 19th as it passed over northeastern China. The storm dissipated on the 20th.

Typhoon Dot

Basin:WPac
Track:Dot 1973 track.png
Formed:July 11
Dissipated:July 21
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat2
1-Min Winds:85
Pressure:975

Typhoon Dot struck Hong Kong causing sustained storm force winds, killing one person.[2]

Severe Tropical Storm Clara

Basin:WPac
Track:Clara 1973 track.png
Formed:July 11
Dissipated:July 15
Type1:STS
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:55
Pressure:985

Typhoon Ellen

Basin:WPac
Track:Ellen Pacific 1973 track.png
Formed:July 16
Dissipated:July 29
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat3
1-Min Winds:105
Pressure:940

Typhoon Ellen formed as a disturbance on July 16 in the vicinity of Okinotorishima, from a trough in the convergence zone trailing to the southeast of Typhoon Billie the day before.[3] Its circulation closed up by 17 July,[3] and at 0900 JST (0000 UTC) on the following day, the JMA upgraded it to a tropical storm.[4] Due to its sluggish, erratic movements, Shikoku and Kyushu received heavy rains between July 23 and July 26. This contributed to the above-average monthly precipitation for July 1973 in southern Shikoku and eastern Kyushu, when the rest of Japan was suffering from droughts.[5]

Tropical Storm Fran (Kuring)

Basin:WPac
Formed:July 23
Dissipated:July 30
Type1:nwpstorm
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:40
Pressure:1000

Typhoon Georgia

Basin:WPac
Track:Georgia 1973 track.png
Formed:August 5
Dissipated:August 15
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat1
1-Min Winds:70
Pressure:980

Typhoon Iris (Daling)

Basin:WPac
Track:Iris 1973 track.png
Formed:August 6
Dissipated:August 21
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat2
1-Min Winds:85
Pressure:970

Iris struck North Korea and Japan.

Tropical Storm Hope

Basin:WPac
Formed:August 8
Dissipated:August 13
Type1:nwpstorm
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:45
Pressure:1000

Tropical Depression 11W

Basin:WPac
Formed:August 10
Dissipated:August 18
Type1:nwpdepression
Type2:depression
1-Min Winds:30
Pressure:1008

Tropical Storm Joan (Elang)

Basin:WPac
Formed:August 18
Dissipated:August 22
Type1:nwpstorm
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:45
Pressure:990

Severe Tropical Storm Kate (Goring)

Basin:WPac
Track:Kate 1973 track.png
Formed:August 20
Dissipated:August 26
Type1:STS
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:60
Pressure:975

Tropical Depression 14W

Basin:WPac
Formed:August 28
Dissipated:September 3
Type1:nwpdepression
Type2:depression
1-Min Winds:30
Pressure:1002

Typhoon Louise (Huling)

Basin:WPac
Track:Louise 1973 track.png
Formed:August 30
Dissipated:September 6
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat1
1-Min Winds:75
Pressure:975

Typhoon Marge (Ibiang)

Basin:WPac
Track:Marge 1973 track.png
Formed:September 10
Dissipated:September 15
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat1
1-Min Winds:80
Pressure:≤960

See main article: Typhoon Marge (1973).

Hainan, Qionghai Jiaji town recorded a minimum central pressure of 937.8 hPa when Marge made landfall. Marge killed 903 people in Hainan.Marge made its final landfall in Tam Diep Mountains (border of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces) Vietnam in late September 14, 1973; brought heavay rainfall and flooding in North Vietnam.[6] [7]

Typhoon Nora (Luming)

Basin:WPac
Track:Nora 1973 track.png
Formed:October 1
Dissipated:October 10
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat5
1-Min Winds:160
Pressure:875

See main article: Typhoon Nora (1973). The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression east of the Philippines on October 1. Under weak steering currents, it meandered westward, where favorable conditions allowed for it to strengthen, first to a tropical storm on the 2nd, then to a typhoon on the 3rd. Nora continued to the northwest, and explosively deepened on the 5th and 6th to a 185 mph super typhoon. At the time, it had a minimum central pressure of 875 millibars, the lowest pressure on record at the time and currently tied for 9th. The typhoon weakened as it headed to the northwest, and struck northeastern Luzon on the 7th as a 115 mph typhoon. Nora continued to the northwest, weakening to a minimal typhoon as it hit southeast China on the 10th. The typhoon caused 18 fatalities, with over $2 million in damage.

Typhoon Opal

Basin:WPac
Track:Opal 1973 track.png
Formed:October 3
Dissipated:October 8
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat1
1-Min Winds:75
Pressure:970

Typhoon Patsy (Miling)

Basin:WPac
Track:Patsy 1973 track.png
Formed:October 5
Dissipated:October 15
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat5
1-Min Winds:140
Pressure:895

Typhoon Ruth (Narsing)

Basin:WPac
Track:Ruth 1973 track.png
Formed:October 11
Dissipated:October 19
Type1:typhoon
Type2:cat2
1-Min Winds:90
Pressure:960

27 people were killed when Typhoon Ruth crossed Luzon on October 15 and caused $5 million in damage. Ruth continued to the northwest, and hit Hainan Island and Quang Ninh, Vietnam on the 19th, respectively.

Severe Tropical Storm Sarah

Basin:WPac
Formed:November 9
Dissipated:November 12
Type1:STS
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:55
Pressure:985

On November 12 this system emerged in the Bay of Bengal and became Tropical Storm Thirteen (13B)[1]

Severe Tropical Storm Thelma

Basin:WPac
Track:Thelma 1973 track.png
Formed:November 13
Dissipated:November 18
Type1:STS
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:55
Pressure:990

Severe Tropical Storm Vera (Openg)

Basin:WPac
Track:Vera 1973 track.png
Formed:November 18
Dissipated:November 26
Type1:STS
Type2:storm
1-Min Winds:50
Pressure:990

One of the strongest tropical cyclones to hit Visayas when it entered on November 20, although the system didn't reach typhoon status. Tropical Storm Openg affected around 3.4 million people.[8]

Storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1973 was named Wilda and the final one was named Vera.

Agnes

Bess

Carmen

Della

Elaine

Faye

Gloria

Hester

Irma

Judy

Kit

Lola

Mamie

Nina

Ora

Phyllis

Rita

Susan

Tess

Viola

Winnie

Alice

Betty

Cora

Doris

Elsie

Flossie

Grace

Helen

Ida

June

Kathy

Lorna

Marie

Nancy

Olga

Pamela

Ruby

Sally

Therese

Violet

  • Wilda 1W
  • Anita 2W
  • Billie 4W
  • Clara 3W
  • Dot 5W
  • Ellen 6W
  • Fran 7W
  • Georgia 8W
  • Hope 9W
  • Iris 10W
  • Joan 12W
  • Kate 13W
  • Louise 15W
  • Marge 16W
  • Nora 17W
  • Opal 18W
  • Patsy 19W
  • Ruth 20W
  • Sarah 21W
  • Thelma 22W
  • Vera 23W

Wanda

Amy

Babe

Carla

Dinah

Emma

Freda

Gilda

Harriet

Ivy

Jean

Kim

Lucy

Mary

Nadine

Olive

Polly

Rose

Shirley

Trix

Virginia

Wendy

Philippines

Atring Bining Kuring Daling Elang
Goring Huling Ibiang Luming Miling
Narsing Openg
Auxiliary list
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones in their area of responsibility. PAGASA assigns names to tropical depressions that form within their area of responsibility and any tropical cyclone that might move into their area of responsibility. Should the list of names for a given year prove to be insufficient, names are taken from an auxiliary list, the first 10 of which are published each year before the season starts. This is the same list used for the 1969 season. PAGASA uses its own naming scheme that starts in the Filipino alphabet, with names of Filipino female names ending with "ng" (A, B, K, D, etc.).

Season effects

This table will list all the storms that developed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean west of the International Date Line and north of the equator during 1973. It will include their intensity, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, missing persons (in parentheses), and damage totals. Classification and intensity values will be based on estimations conducted by the JMA, however due to lack of information around this time sustained winds were recorded by the JTWC. All damage figures will be in 1973 USD. Damages and deaths from a storm will include when the storm was a precursor wave or an extratropical low.

|-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || South China || None || None |||-| Wilda (Atring) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, China || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Anita || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vietnam, Thailand || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Billie (Bining) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, China || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Dot || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || China, Ryukyu Islands, Korean Peninsula || Unknown || |||-| Clara || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| Ellen || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Japan || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Mariana Islands || None || None |||-| Fran (Kuring) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines || None || None |||-| Georgia || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || China || Unknown || Unknown |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines || None || None |||-| Iris (Daling) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Ryukyu Islands, Korean Peninsula || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Hope || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| 11W || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines || None || None |||-| Joan (Elang) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, Taiwan, China || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Taiwan || None || None |||-| Kate (Goring) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, South China, Vietnam || Unknown || Unknown |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, China || None || None |||-| 14W || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || South China, Vietnam || None || None |||-| Louise (Huling) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, South China || Unknown || Unknown |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| Marge (Ibiang) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, South China || Unknown || |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| Nora (Luming) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, South China || || |||-| Opal || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Patsy (Miling) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, Vietnam || Unknown || Unknown |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| Ruth (Narsing) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Caroline Islands, Philippines, South China || || |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vietnam || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Mariana Islands || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Palau || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None |||-| Sarah || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Thelma || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand || Unknown || Unknown |||-| Vera (Openg) || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines || Unknown || Unknown |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Malaysia || None || None |||-| TD || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Philippines || None || None |||-

See also

References

  1. Web site: 1973 ATCR TABLE OF CONTENTS . 2009-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606234646/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1973atcr/pdf/1973.html . 2011-06-06 . dead .
  2. Web site: Historical Information . 2007-12-17 . 2015-05-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150516012539/http://www.hko.gov.hk/informtc/historical_tc/cdtc.htm . dead .
  3. Buckmaster. Albert T.. Atkinson. Gary D.. 1973 Annual Typhoon Report. 28-29. Fleet Weather Central/Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Guam, Mariana Islands. 1975-01-01. 2024-06-10.
  4. Web site: 台風経路図 昭和48年(1973年) . Tropical Cyclone Tracks of Showa 48 (1973) . . . 2024-06-14.
  5. Web site: 昭和48年7・8つきの高温・少雨 昭和48年(1973年) 6月~9月. High Temperatures and Low Precipitation in July and August of 1973: Showa 48 (1973) June-September. ja. . Japan Meteorological Agency. 2024-06-10.
  6. https://ncics.org/ibtracs/index.php?name=v04r01-1973253N14129 1973 Super Typhoon MARGE (1973253N14129)
  7. http://tapchikttv.vn/data/article/2904/2.%2520T%25E1%25BB%2595ng%2520k%25E1%25BA%25BFt%2520t%25C3%25ACnh%2520h%25C3%25ACnh%2520KTTV%2520v%25C3%25A0%2520%25E1%25BA%25A3nh%2520h%25C6%25B0%25E1%25BB%259Fng%2520c%25E1%25BB%25A7a%2520n%25C3%25B3%2520%25C4%2591%25E1%25BA%25BFn%2520s%25E1%25BA%25A3n%2520xu%25E1%25BA%25A5t%2520n%25C3%25B4ng%2520nghi%25E1%25BB%2587p%252010%2520n%25C4%2583m%2520qua%2520(1971-1980).pdf TÌNH HÌNH KTTV VÀ ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA NÓ ĐẾN SẢN XUẤT NÔNG NGHIỆP 10 NĂM QUA (1971-1980)
  8. Web site: Worst natural disasters in the Philippines. de la Cruz. Gwen. Romulo. Mica. August 2, 2014. Rappler. Rappler. March 2, 2016.

External links