Typhoon Matsa

Typhoon Matsa, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gorio, was the second of eight Pacific tropical cyclones to make landfall on China during the 2005 Pacific typhoon season. The ninth tropical storm and fifth typhoon of the season, Matsa developed on July 30 to the east of the Philippines. Matsa intensified as it tracked northwestward, and attained peak 10-minute sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) near Taiwan before weakening and striking the Chinese province of Zhejiang on August 5. The system continued northward into the Yellow Sea, and on August 7 Matsa became extratropical after again moving ashore along the Liaodong Peninsula. Matsa is a Laotian name for a lady fish.[1]

Typhoon Matsa (Gorio)
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHWS)
Typhoon Matsa at peak intensity on August 4
FormedJuly 30, 2005
DissipatedAugust 9, 2005
(Extratropical after August 7, 2005)
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph)
1-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure950 hPa (mbar); 28.05 inHg
Fatalities25 direct, 4 indirect
Damage$2.23 billion (2005 USD)
Areas affectedTaiwan, China, Korea, Japan
Part of the 2005 Pacific typhoon season

In Taiwan, Matsa dropped torrential rainfall of up to 1,270 mm (50 in), which caused mudslides and moderate damage across the island. Flooding from the rainfall contaminated some water supplies, leaving around 80,000 homes without water at one point; much of Taoyuan County (now Taoyuan City) was without water for at least 5 days. As in Taiwan, the typhoon dropped heavy precipitation in the People's Republic of China, and in combination with strong winds destroyed about 59,000 houses and damaged more than 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi) of croplands. Throughout the country, Matsa caused 25 direct fatalities and ￥18 billion (2005 CNY, $2.23 billion 2005 USD) in damage.

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

The origin of Typhoon Matsa is traced to the formation of an area of convection about 185 km (115 mi) east of Yap in late July. The convection gradually consolidated over a weak low-level circulation, and at 0300 UTC on July 30 the system was first mentioned in the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) Significant Tropical Weather Outlook. Located within an area of moderate wind shear, the system continued to slowly organize, and by 1200 UTC on July 30 it was sufficiently organized for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to classify it as a weak tropical depression while located about 65 km (40 mi) east of Yap. Shortly thereafter, the JTWC followed suit by issuing a tropical cyclone formation alert. The depression tracked steadily westward, followed by a turn to the northwest on July 31 under the influence of a mid-level ridge to its east. It continued to organize, and at 1200 UTC on July 31 it intensified into Tropical Storm Matsa; the depression was unofficially classified a tropical storm six hours earlier by the JTWC. Additionally, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) named the system Tropical Storm Gorio, due to its location within the administration's area of responsibility.[1][2][3]

Tropical Storm Matsa gradually intensified as it tracked steadily northwestward; by late on August 1 it strengthened into a severe tropical storm. Outflow and deep convection to the north remained limited, though the storm was able to intensity further to attain typhoon status on August 2 about 780 km (480 mi) south of Okinawa. Intensification slowed, and late on August 3 Matsa reached a peak intensity of 150 km/h (90 mph) while located 495 km (308 mi) east of the southern tip of Taiwan as reported by the JMA; the JTWC and the National Meteorological Center of China reported the typhoon as strengthening further to attain peak winds of 165 km/h (105 mph) on August 4. Shortly after passing over the Japanese island of Ishigaki, Matsa began to weaken steadily as it approached the coast of China, and made landfall as a minimal typhoon late on August 5 near Yuhuan in the southern region of Zhejiang Province. It crossed the Gulf of Yueqing and 40 minutes after its first landfall it struck Mainland China near Yueqing. It quickly weakened to a tropical storm, and within hours of moving ashore the JTWC issued its last advisory. Matsa turned to the north, weakening to a tropical depression on August 7 shortly before entering the Yellow Sea. The weakening depression continued northward, and became an extratropical cyclone on August 9 after hitting the Liaodong Peninsula.[1][2][3]

Preparations
Typhoon Matsa making landfall on August 6

The Taiwan Central Weather Bureau warned for the potential for heavy amounts of rainfall across the island. This resulted in officials to close schools and offices in Taipei. Additionally, the typhoon caused the cancellation or delay of several flights in and out of Taipei,[4] though complete air service was restored by the day after Matsa's passage.[5] The Taiwan Stock Exchange closed due to the threat of the typhoon.[6]

Prior to the arrival of the typhoon, officials in China ordered the evacuation of about 2.3 million people, mostly in Zhejiang. The typhoon also resulted in the cancellation or delay of thousands of flights,[1] with the two main airports in Shanghai closed for 30 hours.[7] Officials near Matsa's projected landfall were advised to lower the levels in reservoirs to mitigate the threat of flooding.[8] In Zhejiang, officials set up shelters for about 35,000 boats to prevent marine damage.[9] Due to the potential for rough seas, officials closed the port at Ningbo and Shanghai and also canceled some ferry service.[10] Matsa was predicted to be first typhoon to affect Beijing in 11 years by dropping heavy amounts of rainfall.[11] Local officials advised water operators to lower water levels to prevent flooding.[12] Up to 100 mm (4 in) of rainfall was forecast for the city, and officials prepared to evacuate 40,000 residents in the outskirts of the city.[13]

Impact

Taiwan

While passing to the north of Taiwan, Matsa produced strong winds reaching 144 km/h (89 mph), with gusts of up to 188 km/h (117 mph).[5] The storm dropped heavy rainfall across the island, with precipitation totals reaching up to 1270 mm (50 in) in a 30‑hour period; one station located in Taitung County recorded 843 mm (33.2 in) in one day, which was the highest daily rainfall total in association with the storm. The rainfall led to flooding and mudslides throughout the island.[1] In response to the flooding, residents placed sandbags around houses and office buildings to prevent flood damage.[4] The mudslides blocked roads across the mountainous region, leaving hundreds stranded, and in combination with flooding the mudslides washed away several bridges and damaged some roadways. Strong winds left 56,211 houses without power, most of which were quickly repaired. Typhoon Matsa caused moderate crop damage across the island, which was still recovering from the damage caused by Typhoon Haitang a month before.[5] More than 80,000 homes were left without water due to the passage of the typhoon.[5] Subsequent flooding left more than 630,000 homes without water or receiving water at infrequent intervals.[14] About 368 ha (909 acres) of crop fields were destroyed,[15] and crop damage from Matsa totaled NT$47 million (2005 TWD, $1.5 million 2005 USD).[1] According to the Taiwan Council of Agriculture, the banana and pear crops were the worst affected.[15]

China
Deaths and damage by province
Region Deaths Damage
(2005 CNY)		 Damage
(2005 USD)
Zhejiang58.9 billion$1.1 billion
Shanghai71.3 billion$165 million
Jiangsu83.4 billion$420 million
Anhui2660 million$81 million
Shandong02.9 billion$358 million
Liaoning3600 million$74 million
Hebei0170 million$21 million
Total2518 billion$2.23 billion

Upon making landfall in China, several coastal locations reported winds in excess of 120 km/h (75 mph), with wind gusts peaking at 175 km/h (110 mph). Further inland, winds reached 147 km/h (91 mph) at Shanghai, the highest wind gust on record in the city. The storm produced heavy amounts of rainfall, reaching a maximum of 701 mm (27.6 in) at a station in Yongjia County. Extreme amounts of precipitation fell in short durations, including 91 mm (3.6 in) in just 1 hour and 200 mm (7.6 in) in 3 hours at Dinghai District.[1] Just days after a previous heavy rainfall event,[16] the rainfall from Matsa caused record-breaking river flooding along eight Chinese rivers, including a station at a floodgate on Suzhou Creek which peaked at 4.55 m (14.93 feet).[1]

Matsa on August 5

In Zhejiang, where Matsa made landfall, high storm tides occurred along the coastline. In some areas, water levels rose quickly,[8] with some coastal homes experiencing flooding from the tide. Rough seas off of Ningbo capsized a fishing boat, leaving its three occupants missing.[10] About two-thirds of the province reported more than 50 mm (2 in) of rainfall,[17] resulting in flooding in low-lying areas[8] as well as several mudslides,[10] one of which killed two people.[18] The combined effects of the winds and rains destroyed 21 reservoirs and more than 200 km (120 mi) of embankment, and damaged several water stations.[17] Matsa damaged 3,380 km2 (1,310 sq mi) of crops,[1] with around 224 km2 (86 sq mi) of cropland destroyed from the flooding.[10] About 13,000 houses were destroyed in the province. Throughout Zhejiang, Matsa caused $8.9 billion (2005 CNY, $1.1 billion 2005 USD) in damage and five direct fatalities.[1]

Heavy rainfall in Shanghai flooded 84 city streets; in some locations insufficient water drainage left homes and apartments flooded,[19] with a total of 20,000 houses reporting flooding.[7] The flooding also closed the city subway system for a few hours.[1] Strong winds downed 2,700 trees and 400 power lines in the city.[7] The typhoon damaged a construction site in the city, leaving three injured and one person killed.[20] Throughout the city an estimated 15,000 houses were destroyed. Additionally, four people were electrocuted as a result of the flooding.[12] In Shanghai alone, damage totaled $1.33 billion (2005 CNY, $164.5 million 2005 USD); seven people died in the city.[1]

Despite the anticipated effects, Beijing experienced only light rainfall.[13] Throughout China, over 31 million people were affected in over eight provinces. Typhoon Matsa left the agricultural industry severely impacted, with over 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi) damaged.[1] The combination of its winds and flooding damaged around 200,000 buildings,[21] including a total of 59,000 destroyed houses. Damage in the country totaled about $18 billion (2005 CNY, $2.23 billion 2005 USD).[1]

Okinawa and South Korea

Typhoon Matsa affected the southernmost Okinawa Prefecture, and produced peak wind gusts of 182 km/h (51 m/s; 113 mph) on Ishigaki. The storm dropped moderate to heavy rainfall across the region, peaking at 318 mm (12.5 in) on Miyako-jima.[1]

The remnants of Matsa also affected South Korea, with moderate amounts of rainfall reaching 229 mm (9.0 in) in Masan.[1]

Aftermath

Subsequent to the passage of the typhoon in Taiwan, large quantities of mud and impurities entered and polluted the Shihmen Reservoir in Taoyuan County (now Taoyuan City),[22] the county's primary source of water.[23] Severe cloudiness occurred in the water, and at one time the reservoir recorded 25,000 nephelometric turbidity units.[14] Such facilities are unable to operate with mud in the water,[24] and in response, the Taiwan Water Corporation established temporary water stations to alleviate the situation,[5] and the Pingting Water Treatment Plant worked to treat the problem.[14] Furthermore, officials drilled wells to accommodate the shortage. Water supply in the southern portion of Taoyuan County was restored by five days after the storm,[25] with supply restored to the northern portion of the county by ten days after the passage of the typhoon.[23] The same problem had occurred previously after Typhoon Mindulle in July 2004.[14] As a result of the crop damage, the Taiwan Council of Agriculture opened its reserve of frozen vegetables to prevent overharvesting of the existing crops.[5] Despite the measures, crop prices reached record levels, which led to groups calling out for the government to stabilize the price of foods. In reaction, a member of the Council of Agriculture remarked that "vegetable prices [were] expected to go back to normal gradually ... as supplies increase[d]."[26] The passage of the typhoon left hundreds of residents in Hsinchu County isolated from the outside world for four days. As a result, officials deployed helicopters with rescue supplies and returned with the injured. Aid from one internal organization totaled $NT300,000 (2005 TWD, $9,500 2005 USD).[27] Shortly after the effects of the typhoon ended on the island, work began to repair and rebuild the impacted bridges and roads. Electricians quickly began restoring power across northern Taiwan; by the day after the typhoon's passage, the number of houses without power decreased by 90%.[28]

In the People's Republic of China, members of the People's Liberation Army assisted in search and rescue operations.[18] Officials called for about 100,000 citizens in Shanghai for work in disaster control and distribution of relief aid,[29] with some providing relief supplies to flooded areas by inflatable rafts.[30] Within a month, Typhoons Talim and Khanun also affected the same area, further compounding the effects of Matsa.[31] During the 38th Session of the World Meteorological Organization in Hanoi, Vietnam, the name Matsa was retired;[32] during the next session, the name Pakhar was nominated as its replacement.[33] It was first used in the 2012 season.

See also

References
  1. Gary Padgett (2005). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary August 2005". Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  2. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2007). "Typhoon (TY) 09W (Matsa) Report". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  3. Japan Meteorological Agency (2005). "2005 Western Pacific Best Track". Archived from the original on December 10, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  4. Gary Carpenter (2005). "Catastrophe Information for Typhoon Matsa: Status Report 1" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  5. Jessie Ho (2005-08-06). "More rain as Matsa heads for China". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  6. Agence France-Presse (2005-08-07). "Asian stock markets enter mid-summer doldrums". Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  7. Guy Carpenter (2005). "Catastrophe Information for Typhoon Matsa: Status Report 2" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  8. Xinhua News Agency (2005-08-06). "Typhoon Matsa Batters East China". Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  9. Xinhua News Agency (2005-08-06). "Zhejiang evacuates 510,000 as typhoon Matsa approaches". Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  10. Bill Savadove; Lillian Yang (2005-08-06). "Shanghai braces for powerful typhoon". South China Morning Post.
  11. Danwei- Chinese media, advertising; urban life (2005). "Beijing Media Top Stories: Typhoon Matsa, Six-party talks and soccer". Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  12. Jane Cai; Vivian Wu (2005-08-09). "Beijing escapes downpour as killer storm loses power". South China Morning Post.
  13. Irene Wang (2005-08-11). "Chief rides storm over typhoon prediction". South China Morning Daily.
  14. Lee Ken-cheng (2005-08-13). "Water woes demand creative fixes". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  15. Sofia Wu (2005-08-06). "Agricultural Losses from Typhoon Matsa Estimated at NT$4.7 Million". Taiwan Central News Agency.
  16. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2005-08-05). "China: Floods Information Bulletin No. 7". Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  17. Xinhua News Agency (2005-08-07). "Typhoon Matsa kills 2, causes huge damages in Zhejiang".
  18. Deutsche Presse-Agentur (2005-08-07). "Typhoon results in four deaths, millions in damage in China".
  19. Xinhua News Agency (2005-08-07). "Shanghai lifts typhoon warning as Matsa moves northwest".
  20. Quentin Sommerville (2005-08-06). "Typhoon drives million from homes". BBC. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  21. Xinhua News Agency (2005-08-09). "Matsa causes huge economic losses in E. China province".
  22. Chiu Yu-Tzu AND Jimmy Chuang (2005-09-05). "Typhoon Talim hits with force". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  23. Taipei News (2005-08-20). "Hsieh wants to fill Yin's position within a week". Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  24. Lee Hong-yuan (2005-08-12). "The price of water is just too low". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  25. Elizabeth Hsu (2005-08-12). "Government to Drill Wells to Ease Northern Taoyuan Water Shortage". Central News Agency.
  26. Central News Agency (2005-08-09). "Opposition Parties Urge Government to Stabilize Food Prices".
  27. Taipei Times (2005-08-10). "Airlifts of basic necessities go on for Hsinchu villages". Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  28. Associated Press (2005-08-06). "Taiwan Sizes Up Damage After Typhoon Matsa".
  29. Press Trust of India (2005-08-07). "Typhoon Matsa ravages eastern China".
  30. Agence France Presse (2005-08-07). "China mops up after typhoon ravages coastal areas, leaving four dead".
  31. Xinhua News Agency (2005-09-11). "Chinese vice premier condoles with local people of typhoon hit areas".
  32. ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (2006). "Draft Report of the 38th Session". Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2007-04-22.
  33. World Meteorological Organization (2007). "Report on the 39th Session" (in Chinese). Government of China. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-22.

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