Typhoon Yuri (1991)

This article is about 1991 typhoon. For other storms of the same name, see 1994 Pacific typhoon season § Tropical Storm Yuri.
Super Typhoon Yuri
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Super Typhoon Yuri at peak intensity
Formed November 17, 1991
Dissipated December 4, 1991
(Extratropical after December 1, 1991)
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 220 km/h (140 mph)
1-minute sustained: 280 km/h (175 mph)
Lowest pressure 895 hPa (mbar); 26.43 inHg
Fatalities None
Damage $36 million (1991 USD)
Areas affected Pohnpei, Guam
Part of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season

Super Typhoon Yuri was a powerful Category 5 tropical cyclone that formed in November 1991. It was the strongest storm in 1991. The nineteenth typhoon and final super typhoon of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season, it formed as a tropical depression on November 22, about 1,590 kilometers east of Truk Island.[1] Moving rather slowly at first, the system continued to intensify, and was given the name Yuri. It had become a severe tropical storm about 1,480 kilometers east of Truk Island and took on a west-northwestward track at 22 km/h. Typhoon intensity was attained that night when Yuri was 1,050 km east of Truk Island. Yuri turned more to the west on 26 November and reached peak intensity the following morning packing winds of over 220 km/h near its centre. Moving northwestwards at 30 km/h, Yuri passed 140 km to the south-southwest of Guam on the evening of November 27. After recurving November 29, Yuri accelerated northeastwards on 30 November and weakened to a severe tropical storm that night. By the morning of December 1, it had degenerated into a tropical storm about a few hundred kilometers east-northeast of Iwo Jima. Extratropical transition was completed soon afterwards.[1]

Although Yuri never directly made landfall, it still had managed to cause $3 million (1991 USD) in damage to Pohnpei, including the loss of a radio tower. In Guam, the storm caused extensive beach erosion and destroyed between 60 and 350 buildings. There, damage totaled to $33 million (1991 USD).[2] It is one of the most closely observed storms ever, its eye was studied for research.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

In mid-November, the presence of low-level westerlies in the central Pacific provided suitable atmospheric conditions for tropical cyclogenesis. The rapid development of thunderstorm activity near the Marshall Islands on November 16 prompted the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to monitor the area for signs of development. The disturbance tracked slowly in a counter-clockwise loop over the next few days as it slowly organized,[3] and at 0000 UTC on November 22, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression,[4] with the JTWC following suit about a day later. Upon becoming classified as a tropical cyclone, the disturbance intensified at a fast pace, reaching tropical storm strength based on satellite intensity estimates on November 23. Yuri later reached typhoon intensity at 1200 UTC on November 24 located roughly 335 km (210 mi) east of Pohnpei while exhibiting an eye.[3]

At 0540 UTC on November 25, Yuri passed 85 km (55 mi) north of Pohnpei with winds of 140 km/h (85 mph).[4] During this time, the typhoon began a phase of unimpeded and steady intensification, contrary to most intense typhoons which typically strengthen dramatically in short bursts. Concurrently, Yuri expanded in size, reaching a maximum diameter of 600 km (370 mi) at one point.[3] At 0000 UTC on November 27, the JMA assessed the storm to have reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 895 mbar (hPa; 26.43 inHg).[4] The JTWC analyzed winds at this time to have been equivalent to a Category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale—the highest classification possible.[3]

Rounding the western periphery of a subtropical ridge, Yuri began to take a more northerly course, bringing it to within 100 km (60 mi) of Guam on November 27 as a strong typhoon. After passing south of the island, the typhoon weakened but continued to grow in size, reaching an estimated 900 km (560 mi) in diameter upon clearing the Northern Mariana Islands. After recurving towards the northeast, Yuri weakened below typhoon status early on December 1 shortly before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone;[3] these remnants continued to track northward before they were last noted on December 3.[4]

Impact

Storm surge on Guam from Yuri

Pohnpei

On Pohnpei, the storm had caused a loss of a radio tower. The total damage on the island of Pohnpei was totaled to $3 million (1991 USD).

Guam

On the United States territory of Guam, the large yet particularly dangerous and destructive tropical cyclone passed this western Pacific island on November 27. The storm brought wind gusts of up to 115 mph to the territory. The storm caused 2,500 people into shelters. The storm also produced high waves as tall as a two-story building to the Guam shoreline.[5] The storm also managed to dump 4 inches of rain on the Territory.[6] As civil defense and other workers tried to recover from the 24-foot waves and 115 mph winds of Typhoon Yuri, about three-quarters of Guam remained without electricity on November 28. But Guam was spared the full brunt of Yuri. It missed the island by 50 miles. No deaths were reported from the storm.[7]

Nearly all of Guam (ninety percent of the 133,000 residents) remained without water and electricity on November 29, nearly two days after the powerful tropical cyclone passed Guam. 2,500 of the residents that took shelters were crammed into 12 school shelters on November 28.[8]

Overall, the storm caused 33 million dollars (1991 USD) in the area.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Typhoons of 1991" (PDF). Hong Kong Royal Observatory. 1991. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center.“Super Typhoon Yuri” Retrieved on 2007-05-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Rudolph, Dieter K.; Guard, Charles P. (1991). "1991 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Guam, Mariana Islands: Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 140–45. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "JMA Best Track Data (1990–99)" (TXT). Tokyo, Japan: Japan Meteorological Agency. January 4, 1992. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "BREAKINGNEWS:TYPHOON YURI PASSES GUAM". The Eugene-Register Guard. 1991.
  6. ↑ "Guam still recovering from Yuri". The Rock Mountain News. 1991. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  7. ↑ "Typhoon Yuri passes Guam". Deseret News. November 28, 1991. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ YURI PASSES GUAM The Daily News. November 1991. Retrieved 11-12-28.
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