Typhoon Amy, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gening, was the second typhoon to strike China in a week during mid-July1991. An area of convection was first observed on July13 within the vicinity of Yap. A tropical depression developed the next day. While initially tracking westward, the system slowly deepened, becoming Tropical Storm Amy on July16. After briefly turning northwestward, Amy intensified into a typhoon on July17. Continuing to intensify as it tracked through the Luzon Strait, Amy reached its peak intensity of 175km/h (110mph) on July18.[nb 1] That evening, the typhoon began to show signs of weakening, although it was still believed to have been a typhoon when it made landfall in the province of Guangdong on July19, becoming the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the province in 22years. Once inland, the storm rapidly weakened, and by late on July20, had dissipated completely.
The storm's large size resulted in flooding, and high winds blew ash from erupting Mount Pinatubo across the Philippines. Around 7,000people were forced to evacuate from their homes due to the threat of mudflows and approximately 500homes were destroyed. One person in the country was killed. Thirty-three people were killed and two others went missing after two ships capsized offshore. In Taiwan, three fatalities were reported and roughly 460,000customers lost power. In the Guandong province, 99people were killed and 5,239others were hurt. Roughly 400,000homes were damaged or destroyed and more than 200,000ha (494,210acres) of farmland was flooded. Monetary damage in the province was estimated at ¥23.6billion (US$4.42 billion). Across southern Fujian, at least 30people were injured and 1,300homes were demolished. Damage in Zhangzhou, the region of Fujian worst affected by Amy, was estimated at ¥2.4billion (US$450million).[nb 2] Throughout its six-day path, the typhoon was responsible for 136 lives and US$4.87billion in damage.
Meteorological history
Typhoon Amy originated from an area of persistent convection that was first noted by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on the morning of July13, 1991. Increased convection, slight pressure falls within a 24-hour period at Yap, and the lack of vertical wind shear led to the issuance of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert during the late morning hours of July14 by the JTWC.[1] Two hours later, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the system into a tropical depression.[2][nb 3] Although the overall cloud organization remained poor, deep convection persisted and a second alert was issued at 10:00UTC on July15.[1] The JTWC classified the system as a tropical depression eight hours later.[4] At the time of the upgrade, the depression was located about 670km (415mi) north-northwest of Yap.[5]
Despite the JTWC suggesting that significant deepening was unlikely,[1] the depression steadily intensified as it tracked westward. The JTWC upgraded the depression into Tropical Storm Amy at 00:00UTC on July16, with the JMA following suit six hours later.[4][7][nb 4] That evening, the JMA reported that Amy had strengthened into a severe tropical storm.[2] Meanwhile, Amy turned northwestward for about 18hours on July16 as a mid-tropsheric shortwave trough passed to its north that temporarily eroded a subtropical ridge to its north. Following the passing of the trough, strong subsidence allowed for the ridge to re-strengthen,[1] resulting in a more westerly track by July17.[5] The JTWC upgraded Amy into a typhoon at 06:00UTC on July17; the JMA did the same at noon.[4] At the time, the typhoon was located roughly 1,000km (620mi) east-southeast of Kaohsiung.[5]
Amy began to intensify at a faster rate on July17 as it traversed the Luzon Strait.[1] At 00:00UTC on July18, the JTWC increased the intensity of Amy to 195km/h (120mph), equivalent to a Category3 hurricane on the United States-based Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). Later that day, both the JTWC and JMA agreed that Amy attained its peak intensity, with the JTWC estimating winds of 235km/h (145mph), equal to Category 4 status on the SSHWS, and the JMA estimating winds of 175km/h (110mph).[4] The typhoon also began to unexpectedly accelerate as it crossed the Bashi Channel.[1][5] By the evening of July18, upper-level outflow became more restricted, signifying a weakening trend.[1] On July19, Amy made landfall near Shantou;[5] the JTWC and JMA estimated winds of 195km/h (120mph) and 145km/h (90mph) respectively at the time of landfall.[4] Upon making landfall, the system dissipated rapidly over the mountains in southeastern China. The JTWC ceased tracking the system at 00:00UTC on July20,[1] with the JMA following suit 18hours later.[2]
Due to the large size of the circulation of Amy, volcanic ash from erupting Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines was blown towards Manila, prompting the closure of Manila International Airport. Volcanic debris from Mount Pinatubo's slopes loosened by heavy rain destroyed approximately 500houses throughout the country,[5] including 300 in Floridablanca, 50 in Santa Rita, and 130 in Concepcion.[9] About 7,000people were forced to flee their homes in eight towns across the Pampanga and Tarlac provinces due to the threat of mudflows,[10] including at least 1,200 in Tarlac.[11] Seven people there were rescued from floodwaters near a river.[9] Floodwaters from the Abacan River resulted in the destruction of three bridges.[12] A 43-year-old man died when his jeep fell into an embankment on Mindoro Island.[10] Offshore, a 460 tonnes (505 short tons) ship Emerald capsized, resulting in the rescue of 83passengers and 21crewmen in addition to two deaths and two others missing.[13] In the Taiwan Strait, a Cypriot ship Blue River with 31 crew members on board vanished on high seas. None of the crew survived.[1]
The outer fringes of the typhoon lashed Taiwan, resulting in high winds and triggering landslides that blocked roads. The Kaohsiung International Airport was closed due to the storm. Strong winds snapped power lines, leaving 460,000households without electricity.[14] A man was killed when his car rammed a truck in heavy rain while two fisherman caught in high waves were presumed to have drowned.[15]
Typhoon Amy became the strongest typhoon to hit Guandong in 22years.[16] Heavy rains spread across eastern Guangdong, peaking at 228mm (9.0in) in Fengshun County,[17] while also providing drought relief to the area.[18] The typhoon also inflicted heavy damage across the province, with the hardest hit areas located near Shantou, where the storm made landfall. According to media reports, 99people were killed and 5,239 others were injured. About 400,000homes were damaged or destroyed,[5] and over 200,000ha (494,210 acres) of farmland was flooded.[19] A total of 214bridges, 408boats, 792km (492mi) of roads, and many irrigation facilities were damaged by the storm. Monetary damage was estimated at ¥23.6billion (US$4.42billion). The airports of Shantou and Xiamen were forced to close.[5] Following the storm, insurance companies provided ¥100million (US$18.7million) in compensation.[20] Across southern Fujian, at least 30people were injured and 1,300homes were demolished. More than 6.9million trees, including 6.2million banana trees, were damaged, while over 10,000ha (25,000 acres) of paddy fields and 13,000ha (32,000 acres) of sugar-cane were flooded. A 20 tonnes (22 short tons) fishing vessel sank. Losses in Zhangzhou, the region of Fujian worst affected by Amy, were estimated at ¥2.4billion (US$450million).[5] Nationwide, the typhoon destroyed 38,000homes.[21] Typhoon Amy was the second typhoon to strike the country in a week, following Typhoon Zeke; later that month, Tropical Storm Brenda would also hit the country, resulting in further destruction across southeastern China.[22]
In Hong Kong, a Hurricane No. 1 signal was issued on the afternoon of July18 when Typhoon Amy was about 780km (485mi) to the east. Early the next day, it was raised to a No. 3 signal. The lowest sea-level pressure of 994mbar (29.4inHg) was recorded at the Hong Kong Royal Observatory shortly before landfall in mainland China. Sha Tin recorded a peak rainfall storm total of 103.5mm (4.07in), of which 60.5mm (2.38in) fell within a 24-hour period. Tai Mo Shan recorded a peak wind gust of 104km/h (65mph). Scaffoldings at North Point collapsed due to strong winds, and a man in Sai Kung was injured after he was blown off a ladder. Two small crafts were damaged at Chai Wan and Stanley. Ferry service from Hong Kong to Shantou was cancelled.[5]
Wind estimates from the JMA and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1minute. 10-minute wind speeds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1-minute wind speeds.[8]
Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (1992). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1991(PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. p.59. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1991 Typhoon Amy (1991194N11147). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Typhoon_Amy_(1991), and is written by contributors.
Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.