Typhoon Bess (1982)

Typhoon Bess struck Japan in early August 1982, resulting in severe damage. The eleventh tropical storm, sixth typhoon, and first super typhoon of the 1982 Pacific typhoon season, the system first developed on July 21. Two days later, it was upgraded into a tropical storm, and subsequently began to intensify while tracking northwest. Bess attained typhoon intensity on July 24, before it briefly turned southwest. After turning north-northwest, the typhoon entered a period of rapid intensification and late on July 28 reached peak winds of 230 km/h (145 mph). After turning north, Bess began to weaken as it encountered less favorable conditions. On August 1, Bess was downgraded into a tropical storm. Shortly after that, the storm struck southeastern Japan, and on August 2 merged with a low pressure area atop of the Sea of Japan.

Typhoon Bess
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS)
Typhoon Bess at its peak intensity
FormedJuly 21, 1982
DissipatedAugust 9, 1982
(Extratropical after August 3, 1982)
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
1-minute sustained: 260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure900 hPa (mbar); 26.58 inHg
Fatalities95 total
Damage$2.38 billion (1982 USD)
Areas affectedJapan
Part of the 1982 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Bess cut through a 400 km (250 mi) swath that included the most populated portion of Japan. Bess caused ¥591.6 billion (US$2.38 billion) in damage and 95 casualties. Furthermore, 119 others were hurt. Four people were killed due to landslides, while two other individuals were buried alive. A series of landslides stranded about 2,000 people, including 1,500 children. In all, 43 dwellings were destroyed and 17,000 homes were flooded. A total of 59 roads were impassable, 42 bridges were destroyed and 785 landslides occurred. Fifteen railway lines were disrupted due to torrential rainfall. In addition, 2,857 acres of farmland were flooded, 101 bridges were washed out and roads were damaged at more than 1,000 locations. Two boats sunk. Roughly 25,000 people were displaced. Following the storm, 2,100 policeman and firefighters dug through debris to rescue people. Following the season, the name Bess was retired from the list of names.

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

A large monsoon trough was anchored south of Guam towards the end of July. By July 21, three areas of disturbed weather had formed. Although the westernmost disturbance dissipated, the easternmost two continued to develop, one of which would later become Typhoon Andy. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued for the easternmost system at 1900 UTC on July 21 as sea level pressures fell and convection increased within the vicinity of the disturbance. After becoming better organized,[1][nb 1] the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started monitoring the system.[3][nb 2] Later on July 22, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started monitoring the same system as it developed rainbands and a further increase in thunderstorm activity. Initially, the JTWC correctly predicted the low to move northwest. Hurricane Hunters indicated that the low and mid-level centers were not vertically aligned.[1] On July 23, both the JMA and JTWC upped the depression into a tropical storm.[2][5] Bess then began to intensify.[1][3] At 0600 UTC on July 24, Bess was upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA.[3] After the formation of an eye, both agencies classified Bess as a typhoon.[1][3]

By July 24, Typhoon Bess began to move north-northwest and slow down due to the westward building of the subtropical ridge to the north. The JTWC expected Bess to turn west; however, Bess instead turned southwest on July 25 due to interactions with a trough.[1] By this time, the JMA estimated winds of 130 km/h (80 mph).[3] Shortly thereafter, the JTWC increased the intensity of the typhoon to 175 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). After performing a small loop,[1] the storm maintained its intensity until July 27, when the JMA raised the wind speed of Bess to 180 km/h (110 mph).[3] The typhoon then turned north-northwest[1] while slowly intensifying.[5] On July 28, the system turned northwest along the southwestern edge of the ridge.[1] That afternoon, the JMA estimated winds of 185 km/h (115 mph).[3] Subsequently, Typhoon Bess entered an episode of rapid deepening.[1] Only a few hours later, the JMA reported that Bess had attained its peak intensity of 230 km/h (145 mph), which it would maintain for 12 hours. At 0000 UTC on July 29, according to the JMA, the typhoon attained a minimum barometric pressure of 900 mbar (27 inHg).[3] Later that morning, the JTWC estimated that Bess attained its peak intensity of 260 km/h (160 mph), a Category 5 hurricane-equivalent on the SSHWS,[1] though JMA data suggests that Bess was weakening by this time.[3] At this time, Typhoon Bess was located 460 km (285 mi) to the southeast of Iwo Jima.[1]

After slowing down further, Bess curved north along the southern periphery of a weakness in the subtropical ridge. Even though the JTWC expected Bess to recurve well east of Japan within 36 hours, this did not materialize.[1] On July 30, the JMA lowered the intensity of the typhoon to 190 km/h (120 mph). During the evening hours of July 31, the JMA further the intensity of the storm to 170 km/h (105 mph). Bess continued to weaken[3] while accelerating.[1] The next day, August 1, the JMA downgraded Bess into a severe tropical storm. Later that morning, the JMA downgraded Bess into a tropical storm.[3] Around this time, the tropical storm made landfall along central Honshu. Shortly thereafter, the JTWC reported that Bess was no longer a typhoon. On August 2, Bess merged with a low pressure area over the Sea of Japan.[1] The JMA ceased monitoring the typhoon midday on August 3.[3]

Impact and aftermath
Image of Bess at peak intensity on July 29

Typhoon Bess cut through a 400 km (250 mi) swath across the most populated portions of Japan;[6] damage was reported in 30 of the 45 provinces.[7] As a precaution, flood warnings were issued near Tokyo, which warned of possible landslides.[8] An "alert" was issued for the Bonin Islands for vessels.[9] By Mount Hidegadake, in Nara, a peak rainfall total of 1,078 mm (42.4 in), including 922 mm (36.3 in) in 24 hours. A peak hourly total of 103 mm (4.1 in) was recorded in Toba in Mie. A maximum wind of 104 km/h (65 mph) was recorded at Tsukubasan in Ibaraki.[10]

Costliest Known Japan typhoons
Rank Typhoon Season Damage
(2019 USD)
1 Mireille 1991 $18.8 billion
2 Hagibis 2019 $15 billion
3 Jebi 2018 $13.2 billion
4 Songda 2004 $12.6 billion
5 Faxai 2019 $10 billion
6 Bart 1999 $8.82 billion
7 Bess 1982 $6.31 billion
8 Tokage 2004 $3.11 billion
9 Fran 1976 $2.97 billion
10 Yancy 1993 $2.96 billion
Source:

Overall, Super Typhoon Bess was responsible for ¥591.6 billion (US$2.38 billion) in damage and 95 fatalities.[11][nb 3] According to police reports, 26 people were initially missing.[12] A total of 119 were hurt.[13] Four people were killed in Osaka due to landslides,[6] while two people were buried alive in Yokohama via mudslides.[14] At the foot of Mount Fuji, a series of mudslides buried 36 vehicles, killed one person and injured five policemen.[15] The landslides stranded approximately 2,000 persons, including 1,500 primary school children on a camping trip.[7] In Mie, Bess was considered the worst storm to affect the city in 23 years, where 17 fatalities occurred and seven were initially listed missing. Elsewhere, in Nara, a couple was killed and a boy was hurt.[6] Throughout western Japan, five people were rendered missing in heavy rains that caused at least five landslides and damaged 15 automobiles.[8] Along Tokyo Bay, high waves from Typhoon Bess left windows 11 stories high coated with salt.[6] Although Tokyo was on the eastern edge of the storm, large trees were uprooted nevertheless due to high winds. Five people were wounded in the city.[16] Many cars and trucks were stranded due to mudslides;[17] air traffic was also paralyzed.[18]

In all, 43 dwellings were destroyed and 17,000 homes were flooded. Due to the storm, 59 roads were impassable. In addition, 42 bridges were destroyed and 785 landslides occurred.[6] According to railroad authorities, 15 railroad lines were either totally or partially disrupted due to torrential rains, forcing the cancellation of 27 scheduled trains and delaying 211 others. Police reports suggest that 2,857 acres (1,155 ha) of farmland were flooded, 101 bridges were washed out, and roads were damaged at 1,094 places. Additionally, 25 ships ran aground or were washed away[19] and two boats sunk.[6] A total of 25,000 individuals were left homeless,[7] including 24,702 people that were evacuated from their homes.[6]

Following the storm, 2,100 police and firemen dug furiously through mud and debris in search of the missing.[19] The name Bess was previously retired in 1974 and replaced with Bonnie. However, when the list of typhoon names was changed to incorporate male names in 1979, the name was re-introduced to the roster. After this usage of the name Bess, it was retired for the second time and was replaced with Brenda.[20] This marked the only occasion where a single name was removed twice in the same basin.[21]

See also

Notes
  1. Wind estimates from the JMA and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10 minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1 minute. 10 minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1 minute winds.[2]
  2. The Japan Meteorological Agency is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.[4]
  3. All currencies are converted from Japanese yen to United States Dollars using this with an exchange rate of the year 1982.

References
  1. Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center (1983). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1982 (PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Airforce. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  2. Christopher W Landsea; Hurricane Research Division (April 26, 2004). "Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?". Frequently Asked Questions. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  3. Japan Meteorological Agency (October 10, 1992). RSMC Best Track Data – 1980–1989 (Report). Archived from the original (.TXT) on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  4. "Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000" (PDF). Japan Meteorological Agency. February 2001. p. 3. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  5. Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1982 BESS (1982202N11165). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  6. "Intentional News". Associated Press. August 1, 1982.
  7. Mark Kuramitsu (August 2, 1982). "International News". United Press International.
  8. "Intentional News". United Press International. August 1, 1982.
  9. "Storm taking aim at Japan". The Bulletin. United Press International. August 1, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  10. Digital Typhoon (March 19, 2013). Typhoon 198210. Digital Typhoon Detailed Track Information (Report). National Institute of Informatics. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  11. "台風198210号 (Bess) - 災害情報". Digital Typhoon (in Japanese). National Institute of Informatics. 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  12. "Typhoon kills 54". The Sydney Morning Herald. Rueters. August 2, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  13. "Typhoon Victim". The Montreal Gazette. August 3, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  14. "Typhoon kills 38 in Japan". Lakeland Ledger. August 2, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  15. "Japan hit by lethal typhoon". Spokane Chronicle. United Press International. August 2, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  16. "Typhoon Bess lashes Japan, leaves 54 dead". The Free Lance-Star. August 2, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  17. "Typhoon Bess slashes Japan, kills 37". Gettysburg Times. August 7, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  18. "Typhoon Leaves 54 Dead in Japan". St. Joseph News-Press. Associated Press. August 2, 1982. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  19. "International News". United Press International. August 2, 1982.
  20. Xiaotu Lei and Xiao Zhou (Shanghai Typhoon Institute of China Meteorological Administration) (February 2012). "Summary of Retired Typhoons in the Western North Pacific Ocean". Tropical Cyclone Research and Review. 1 (1): 23–32. doi:10.6057/2012TCRR01.03. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  21. Gary Padgett, Jack Beven, James Lewis Free, Sandy Delgado, Hurricane Research Division (May 23, 2012). "Subject: B3) What storm names have been retired?". Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Questions. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved November 29, 2013.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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