Typhoon Babe, known in Japan as Okinoerabu Typhoon (沖永良部台風, Okinoerabu Taifū), and in the Philippines as Typhoon Miling,[1] was regarded as "the worst typhoon to threaten Japan in 18years."[2] Developing as a tropical depression on September2, Babe initially tracked west-northwestward as it intensified. On September5, an abrupt shift in steering currents caused the system to turn north-northwestward. Early on September6, the system intensified into a typhoon. Over the following two days, Babe quickly intensified, ultimately attaining its peak intensity early on September8 with winds of 240km/h (150mph) and a barometric pressure of 905 mbar (hPa; 26.72inHg). Not long after reaching this strength, another shift in the steering patterns caused the typhoon to execute a prolonged counter-clockwise arc, causing it to track through the Ryukyu Islands southwest of Japan, as it interacted with a low pressure originating from the Korean Peninsula. During this time, the system gradually weakened and eventually it made landfall near Shanghai, China on September11 as a minimal typhoon before dissipating inland the following day. Coincidentally, Typhoon Babe and Atlantic Hurricane Babe existed at the same time from September3–9.[3]
Passing through the Ryukyu Islands as a powerful typhoon, Babe caused considerable damage in the region. More than 1,000homes were destroyed and nearly 7,000more were damaged or flooded. One person was killed on Amami Ōshima and 77others were injured throughout the country. Total losses reached ¥6.1billion (US$23million). Offshore, over 100vessels were affected by the storm, including a Panamanian freighter where 13people died. In China, more than 24,000homes were destroyed and nine people were killed.
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Initially, forecasters anticipated Babe to maintain its westward course as it strengthened and threaten the Philippines; however, its forward motion gradually slowed as it neared the region. On September5, an upper-level trough formed over northeastern Asia and created a weakness in the subtropical ridge, allowing Babe to turn north-northwestward. Over the following two days, the storm quickly strengthened as divergence increased ahead of the storm, with Babe attaining typhoon status early on September6 Between 0832UTC on September5 and 2204UTC on September7, the storm's barometric pressure dropped from 988 mbar (hPa; 29.18inHg) to 907 mbar (hPa; 26.78inHg), approximately 1.3 mbar (hPa; 0.04inHg) per hour. Early on September8, Babe attained its peak intensity with winds of 240km/h (150mph) while situated approximately 465km (289mi) southeast of Ishigaki Island. This ranked it as the first and only super typhoon of the 1977 season.[2] At this time, the Japan Meteorological Agency estimated the storm to have had peak ten-minute sustained winds of 205km/h (127mph) and a minimum pressure of 905 mbar (hPa; 26.72inHg).[5]
Until September8, Babe was forecast to continue northwestward into Taiwan and later China; however, another upper-level trough moved into northeastern China and further weakened the ridge. This in turn allowed a new area of low pressure to develop over the Korean Peninsula and cause Babe to curve northeastward. While moving northeastward, Babe gradually weakened and began to undergo a Fujiwhara-like interaction with the low near Korea as that system moved southwestward. Accelerating along a counter-clockwise arc, Babe moved through the Ryukyu Islands as a weakening typhoon on September9 before taking a steady westward course into China.[2] As the system passed through the archipelago, a pressure of 907.3 mbar (hPa; 0.089inHg) was measured on Okinoerabujima.[1] Babe eventually made landfall near Shanghai with winds of 120km/h (75mph) before rapidly weakening over land.[2] The system was last noted early on September12 over Anhui Province.[5]
Torrential rain fell across much of the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The highest total were observed in Kōchi Prefecture, with Funato in Tsuno, Kōchi measuring 705mm (27.8in).[7] The small island of Okinoerabujima reportedly experienced winds in excess of 210km/h (130mph) for two hours as the typhoon passed by.[8] Nearly two-thirds of the homes across the island were damaged or destroyed by the storm and 73people were injured.[9] Most of the injuries across the island were caused by collapsing buildings.[10] One person was killed on Amami Ōshima and 77others were injured across the Amami Islands. According to Japanese police, 1,146homes were destroyed, mainly by flooding and landslides, while 1,097more were damaged and another 5,826were flooded.[8] At least 14,927people were left homeless.[11] Losses across the country amounted to ¥6.1billion (US$23million).[7]
About 420km (260mi) north-northwest of Okinawa, the Panamanian freighter May Cruiser became stranded and in danger of sinking on September10 with its crew of 25.[12] The Japanese Maritime Safety Agency deployed five airplanes and four patrol boats to search for survivors. Additionally, ten Japanese fishing boats in the area assisted in search and rescue. By September12, rescuers found nine sailors and thirteen bodies, while three others remained missing.[13] Elsewhere in the East China Sea, approximately 100Japanese fishing vessels attempting to seek shelter from the storm were damaged.[2]
In China, wind gusts reportedly reached 252km/h (157mph), resulting in extensive damage. Around 24,000homes were destroyed and nine people were killed.[14]
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Typhoon_Babe_(1977), and is written by contributors.
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