Typhoon Rita was the most damaging typhoon to affect northern Japan since 1965. A tropical depression developed on August9, 1975 over the South China Sea. The depression initially meandered offshore Taiwan, but after turning west, it was upgraded into a tropical storm on August19, only to turn back to the east. While growing considerably in size, Rita strengthened into a typhoon during the afternoon hours of the August21. Rita then accelerated to the north-northeast in response to a shortwave trough. Midday on August22, the typhoon reached its peak intensity, with winds of 145km/h (90mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 965mbar (28.5inHg). That evening, the typhoon weakened slightly before making landfall 55km (34mi) west of Osaka, with winds of 130km/h (81mph). Quickly crossing central and northern Honshu, Rita veered slightly northward before weakening into a tropical storm early on August23. On the next day, Rita merged with a cold front before transiting into an extratropical cyclone.
Heavy rains caused landslides and flash flooding that was responsible for extensive crop and property damage across Japan. The typhoon contributed to the worst flooding in Hokkaido in ten years. Overall, 33people were killed and 51others were injured, including 36seriously. Fifty-six trains and seventy-five flights were cancelled; ferry services were also disrupted by the storm. Greater than 100landslides occurred while over 40bridges were inundated. A total of 48,832houses sustained flooded and 3,000dwellings were damaged. Moreover, 177houses were destroyed, resulting in almost 2,800homeless families. Twenty-eight ships, as well as 80,033 hectares (197,770 acres) of farmland, suffered damage. Nationwide, the typhoon inflicted 34billion yen (US$114million) worth of damage.[nb 1][nb 2]
Meteorological history
On August 9, 1975, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated a tropical depression in the South China Sea.[1][nb 3][nb 4] The depression did not initially develop further as it meandered offshore Taiwan[4] and passed through the Ryuku Islands.[5] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated that a monsoon depression formed over 320km (200mi) southeast of Okinawa on August18. Drifting first east then westward,[4] Rita was upgraded into a tropical storm the next day by both the JTWC and JMA,[6] based on Hurricane Hunter reports of storm-force winds. Due to a weakening subtropical ridge east of Japan, the storm reversed back to an easterly direction near the northern tip of Okinawa. Rita strengthened into a typhoon, the sixth of the season, on the afternoon of the August21 as the storm grew significantly in size, especially in the eastern semicircle.[4]
After becoming a typhoon, Rita accelerated gradually in a north-northeasterly direction as a shortwave trough approached. Around this time, Rita became the second of seven tropical cyclones that season to be observed by Japanese radar. Midday on August21, the typhoon reached its peak intensity, with winds of 145km/h (90mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 965mbar (28.5inHg). That evening, the typhoon weakened slightly before making landfall 55km (35mi) west of Osaka, with winds of 130km/h (80mph). At the time of landfall, Rita exhibited a 70 to 115km (45 to 70mi) wide eye. Quickly crossing central Honshu, Rita veered slightly northward and accelerated to speeds of 55 to 65km/h (35 to 40mph) ahead of an advancing cold front in the Sea of Japan. First tracking along the western coast, Rita crossed the northern portion of Honshu before emerging back into the Pacific.[4] At 00:00UTC on August23, Rita was downgraded to a tropical storm,[7] and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone 24hours later,[1] after merging with a frontal zone south of Hokkaido.[4] However, its remnants were tracked through August25.[6]
Impact
Prior to the arrival of Rita, thousands of people were evacuated, including 16,000from four coastal villages.[8] Early on August 20, a minimum pressure of 983.4mbar (29.0inHg) was observed at Kadena Air Base, although winds were comparatively light with a peak gust of 69km/h (43mph) at 05:14UTC. Prior to landfall, Rita's large eye moved directly over Murotomisaki, where sustained winds of 145km/h (90mph) along with a minimum pressure of 966.3mbar (28.5inHg) were measured. The storm lashed the southern coast of Honshu with heavy rains and strong wind, with wind gusts near 105km/h (65mph) recorded at Yokota Air Base between 03:00 and 04:00 on August23.[4] Many locations across the country received at least 300mm (12in) of precipitation,[9] with 710mm (28in) falling in Osaka City during a 13-hour time period.[10] Along west facing beaches, a storm surge of up to 2.0m (6.4ft) was recorded.[11]
Heavy rains caused landslides and flash flooding, which were responsible for extensive crop and property damage.[4] Throughout the island of Shikoku, 14people were killed.[12] In Mishima, two landslides claimed a total of four lives. Another landslide in Tsukude killed a 53-year-old man, a 78-year-old women, and a 14-year-old girl.[13]Hokkaido suffered the most severe flooding in 10years. Several major rivers on the island overflowed their banks, leaving towns inundated and isolated.[4] Around 1,200residents in Tsukigata were evacuated after a nearby river overflowed its banks.[14]
Combined with Typhoon Phyllis, the two storms contributed to the majority of tropical cyclone casualties in Japan during the 1975 Pacific typhoon season.[4] From Rita alone, 33people perished and 51others were injured,[15] 36 seriously.[16] Fifty-six trains were cancelled,[17] with all bullet trains between Tokyo and Hakata delayed for nine hours.[18][19] Seventy-five flights were called off[13] while ferry services were also disrupted by the storm.[20] More than 100 landslides occurred.[21] Over 40bridges were inundated.[22] A total of 48,832homes were flooded[15] and 3,000 dwellings were damaged.[23] Furthermore, 177houses were destroyed, resulting in almost 2,800homeless families.[24] Twenty-eight ships were damaged, as well as 80,033ha (197,770 acres) of farmland. Nationwide, the typhoon was responsible 34billion yen (US$114million) in damage.[15]
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 winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1-minute winds.[3]
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 July 4, 2017.
Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (1976). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1975(PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. pp.5, 27. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1975 RITA:TD0809 (1975221N18116). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
"Typhoon Rakes Japan with 116 MPH winds". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. August 23, 1975. p.1. Retrieved July 4, 2017.–vianewspapers.com (subscription required)
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