Typhoon Emma (1959)

Typhoon Emma was a strong typhoon that struck Okinawa during the 1959 Pacific typhoon season. An area of severe weather formed near Kwajalein Atoll on October 30, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began tracking it as a tropical depression on November 1. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center followed suit on November 5 after finding a closed circulation, and the depression received the name Emma. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm west of Guam on November 6 and gradually gained strength. Emma became a typhoon on November 11 near Luzon, and it reached its peak sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) later that day. The typhoon turned northeastwards and grazed Okinawa the next day. Emma steadily weakened and became extratropical on November 13, and the JMA ceased tracking the storm on November 15.

For other storms of the same name, see Tropical Storm Emma.

Typhoon Emma
Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
Surface analysis of Typhoon Emma on November 12
FormedNovember 1, 1959 (1959-11-01)
DissipatedNovember 15, 1959 (1959-11-15)
(Extratropical after November 13, 1959 (1959-11-13))
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph)
Lowest pressure960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg
Fatalities4 confirmed, 2 missing
Damage> $219,587 (1959 USD)
Areas affectedGuam • Philippines • Okinawa
Part of the 1959 Pacific typhoon season

On November 12, Emma caused significant damage in Okinawa, in addition to those caused by Typhoon Charlotte in October. Heavy rainfall and strong winds were reported on the islands, flooding the city of Naha and blocking access off to it due to landslides. Shops in the city lost thousands of dollars in merchandise, while crops in the territory were damaged. Minor damage was reported for American military installations, and Kadena Air Base listed a damage total of $219,586.50 (1959 USD). A total of four people were killed during the storm, and two more were missing. Minor impacts were reported in Guam and the Philippines, and several ships were damaged or sunk by the storm.

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

On October 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began tracking an area of severe weather south of Kwajalein Atoll.[1] Two days later, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated the area as a tropical depression.[2][nb 1][nb 2] By November 5, a reconnaissance aircraft discovered the area had formed a closed surface circulation, along with wall clouds and sustained winds of 55 km/h (35 mph). The area was designated as a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC of November 5 by JTWC, receiving the name Emma. The depression continued west-northwest, traveling past Guam at an average speed of 9–10 knots (17–19 km/h).[1] Both JMA and JTWC upgraded Emma to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC of November 6 west of Guam, with sustained winds of 80 km/h (50 mph) and a surface pressure of 990 hectopascals (29 inHg).[2][5][nb 3] The storm gradually increased strength, with its eye ill-defined majority of the time.[1] At 00:00 UTC of November 11, Emma strengthened into a typhoon east of Luzon,[7] with winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson scale,[5] and pressure of 970 hPa (29 inHg).[2]

Emma began to turn north at an average speed of 11 knots (20 km/h). At 07:30 UTC on November 11, a reconnaissance aircraft entered the 110-kilometer (60 nmi) eye of Emma and recorded flight-level winds of 195 km/h (105 kn), estimating surface winds of 240 km/h (130 kn).[1] JTWC assessed the typhoon had reached its peak at 18:00 UTC later that day, with surface winds of 205 km/h (125 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale.[5] JMA reported Emma's lowest surface pressure, 960 hPa (28 inHg) at 00:00 of November 12 east of Formosa.[2][7] After reaching its peak, westerlies had begun to influence Emma, and the typhoon began to turn northeast and accelerate.[1] Emma weakened to 165 km/h (105 mph) by 12:00 UTC of November 12,[5] as it was southeast of Okinawa. The typhoon continued to increase in speed, and it lost strength throughout November 13.[7] At 18:00 UTC of that day, JTWC discontinued advisories for Emma, as it had transitioned into an extratropical cyclone,[1] with surface winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and moving at an average speed of 35 kn (65 km/h).[1][5] JMA declared the storm as extratropical six hours later,[2] and its surface winds dropped to 100 km/h (60 mph), below typhoon strength. JTWC ceased tracking the cyclone at 00:00 UTC of November 15,[5] and JMA stopped 12 hours later,[2] where it was located west of the Midway Atoll.[7]

Preparations and impact

As Emma passed through Guam as a tropical depression on November 6, a pressure of 995 hectopascals (29.4 inHg) and sustained winds of 56 km/h; 35 mph (30 kn) were recorded.[1] The depression caused a postponement of a baseball game at Paseo De Susana Ballpark due to wet field conditions.[8] In the Philippines, the storm delayed President Carlos P. Garcia's departure from Tagbilaran via ship late on November 12. The ship, RPS Lapu-Lapu, received high winds and waves throughout the day.[9]

At sea, several Japanese tankers were damaged by the storm. Nikkai Maru, a tanker carrying timber from the Philippines, was sunk by the storm on November 12, 800 kilometers (500 mi) east of Formosa. The tanker had sprung a leak,[10] and 35 of the 38 members of its crew were rescued by Ryuho Maru, which arrived at Naha on November 15.[11] One member of the Nikkai Maru crew drowned, and two were reported as missing.[12] Another tanker, Yoneyama Maru, had its rudder damaged by driftwood near Ishigaki, causing it to drift. The tanker was rescued by a United States Navy ship.[11] In total, officials reported eight vessels were sunk and eight more were missing,[1] with others reporting 47 vessels that were damaged or sunk.[12]

Several preparations were made before Emma struck Okinawa. American servicemen across the territory received warnings and emergency food and water, while remaining in their homes.[13] American military aircraft stationed in the area were evacuated to other areas in East Asia.[14] Nike Hercules missile testing was cancelled for November 14–16 and was rescheduled for the week after. Construction of bleachers for the event was also disrupted.[11] Due to concerns after the landslides caused by Typhoon Charlotte one month earlier,[14] 2,400 residents were evacuated from dangerous areas. There were concerns about food shortages for January 1960, as Charlotte destroyed much of the crops earlier.[15]

Emma passed Okinawa to the south by 65 kilometers; 40 miles (35 nmi) late on November 12. At Kadena Air Base, sustained winds of 102 km/h; 63 mph (55 kn) and gusts of 157 km/h; 98 mph (85 kn) were reported.[1] A rainfall total of 129.2 centimeters (50.87 in) was recorded at the air base.[16] A weather station on a hill near Naha reported a gust of 196 km/h; 122 mph (106 kn).[1] Landslides blocked off roads leading to Naha and many trees were uprooted.[12][15] Power lines were downed and communications were disrupted,[14][17] preventing an early assessment of damage.[14] The storm caused severe flooding in downtown Naha, with low-lying areas submerged under 2.4 meters (8 ft) of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground.[15] Many shops in the area were damaged by the debris in the flooding, destroying thousands of dollars of merchandise.[12] Crops, which were already damaged by Charlotte, were damaged again by heavy winds and rains. On Amami Ōshima, one-fourth of Nago was flooded by heavy rains.[15] American military installations in the territory were slightly damaged, and several Marine units reported flooding and damaged buildings and supplies.[17] At Camp Butler, floodwaters rose up to one meter (40 in) in one hut Marines resided in. A habu, along with other types of debris, washed into the camp.[18] The damage at Kadena Air Base amounted to $219,586.50 (1959 USD).[16] At least two people were killed in Okinawa and one fisherman away from the islands during the storm.[11] There were no fatalities or injuries within the number of American servicemen and their dependents.[17] One fisherman previously listed as missing and presumed dead on November 13, Kentoku Kayoda, was found washed ashore after ten days at sea. He survived on rainwater and raw fish, and when he returned home he was able to join a meal of rice cakes which his wife had prepared for his funeral.[19]

Cleanup began soon after Emma passed Okinawa, and electricity was restored to the islands after late on November 13. Telephone service soon returned on the next day.[11] Repairs for roads, culverts, and drainage ditches began in February 1960, using $100,000 (1960 USD) of funding requested after the storm hit Okinawa.[20]

See also

Notes
  1. The Japan Meteorological Agency is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.[3]
  2. The Japan Meteorological Agency's Best Track Data for Typhoon Emma is in 1 Header Line format.[4]
  3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's Best Track Data for Typhoon Emma is shown in Best Track Data format.[6]

References
  1. Hoffman, Robert M. (1959). Annual Typhoon Report 1959 (PDF) (Report). Guam: Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 151–159. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  2. "RSMC Best Track Data (Text)". Japan Meteorological Agency. 1951–1959. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000 (PDF) (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. February 2001. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. "Format of RSMC Best Track Data". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  5. "Typhoon Emma (20W) Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  6. "Western North Pacific Ocean Best Track Data". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  7. Knapp, Kenneth R.; Kruk, Michael C.; Levinson, David H.; Diamond, Howard J.; Neumann, Charles J. (2010). 1959 Super Typhoon EMMA (1959305N06167). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  8. "Postpone Playoff Games". Guam Daily News. Agana Heights, Guam. November 7, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved March 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Office of the President of the Philippines (November 16, 1959). "Official Week in Review: November 8 – November 14, 1959". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 55 (46). Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. "Late Typhoon Hits Shipping". Spokane Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 12, 1959. p. 18. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Freda Aims at P.I." Pacific Stars and Stripes. Tokyo. p. 23. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
  12. "Typhoon Emma Rips Okinawa, Damage Heavy". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. Associated Press. November 14, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Scheingart, Vic (November 14, 1959). "Typhoon Emma Rakes Okinawa". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Kadena Air Base. p. 28. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
  14. Scheingart, Vic (November 14, 1959). "Typhoon Rakes Okinawa". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Kadena Air Base. p. 32. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
  15. "Typhoon Weakening At Sea". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Naha. November 15, 1959. p. 28. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
  16. "Typhoon Alley". www.kadena.af.mil. Kadena Air Base. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  17. "Typhoon Damage Heavy on Okinawa". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Naha. November 15, 1959. p. 24. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
  18. "Double Trouble for Tengu Marines". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Camp Courtney. November 20, 1959. p. 41. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
  19. "Not In Spirit: Okinawan Returns For Funeral Meal". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press. November 26, 1959. p. 85. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Engineers to Begin Road Repairs". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Naha. February 21, 1960. p. 34. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
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