Tropical Storm Kelly

Tropical Storm Kelly
Severe tropical storm (JMA scale)
Category 1 (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Kelly near peak intensity
Formed June 27, 1981
Dissipated July 6, 1981
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 110 km/h (70 mph)
1-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure 975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg
Fatalities 192 total
Damage $7.8 million (1981 USD)
Areas affected Philippines, China
Part of the 1981 Pacific typhoon season

Tropical Storm Kelly was a weak but destructive tropical storm that struck the Philippines in June 1981. A tropical disturbance organized into a tropical depression east of the Philippines on June 28. It tracked westward, reaching tropical storm on June 30 before hitting the central Philippines. Kelly weakened over the islands, but re-strengthened over the South China Sea, nearly attaining typhoon status on July 2. The system passed through the southern Hainan Island on July 3. The cyclone then crossed the Gulf of Tonkin as a weakening tropical storm, and made landfall in northern Vietnam on July 4 as a tropical storm. Kelly dissipated two days later inland.

Tropical Storm Kelly was the worst storm to affect the Philippines in eight months. Nine towns in an 6,920 km (4,300 mi) area near the Mayon Volcano sustained flooding. Over 1,450 km (900 mi) of railways lines were washed out. At least 800 homes were destroyed while 3,845 ha (9,500 acres) of rice fields were ruined. More than 3,600 individuals were displaced. Overall, damage totaled to $7.8 million (1981 USD).[nb 1]

Meteorological history

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

The origins of Tropical Storm Kelly can be traced back to an area of disturbed weather that was first detected by weather satellite imagery on June 25. Although the system was well-organized at this time, there was little evidence of a low-level circulation.[1][nb 2] Despite this, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started watching the system.[3][nb 3] Meanwhile, Dvorak classifications were placed at T2.5, equivalent to 65 km/h (40 mph). Based on this, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) was issued that evening as the system moved west. However, on June 26, the TCFA was cancelled. Midday on June 28, following an increase in convection, the TCFA was re-issued.[1] On that day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name Daling.[5][6] After further development and a subsequent TCFA, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified the system as a tropical depression on June 30.[1]

At 0600 UTC on June 30, the JTWC upgraded the depression into Tropical Storm Kelly.[7] Twelve hours later, the JMA followed suit.[3] At this time, Tropical storm Kelly moved ashore along the central Philippines. Due to land interaction, the tropical cyclone became less organized. Six hours after landfall, the JTWC downgraded Kelly into a depression,[1] even though the JMA maintained Kelly as a tropical storm thorough its passage through the country.[3] After emerging into the South China Sea, Kelly resumed deepening. At 0600 UTC on July 1, the JTWC re-upgraded Kelly into a tropical storm.[1] After turning northwest,[7] After exiting PASGA's warning zone,[5] Kelly continued to strengthen, and midday on July 2, the JMA estimated that the storm reached its peak intensity of 115 km/h (70 mph).[3] Several hours later, the JTWC upgraded Kelly to a typhoon. At 0300 UTC on July 3, surface observations from the Paracel Islands indicated winds of 134 km/h (83 mph) and a pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg). Based on this, the JTWC reported that Kelly reached its peak wind speed of 135 km/h (85 mph).[1] Meanwhile, the JMA noted that Kelly attained its peak barometric pressure of 975 mbar (28.8 inHg).[1] Thereafter, the storm's eye became less defined and the surrounding convection weakened. On the evening of July 3, the eye collapsed as Kelly skirted southern Hai-nan. Due to land interaction, Kelly continued to weaken and early on July 4, the JTWC downgraded the typhoon into a tropical storm. Later that morning, the eye briefly re-developed over the Gulf of Tonkin;[1] however, no re-intensification occurred[7] as Kelly remained poorly organized.[1] Late on July 4, Kelly made landfall as a 95 km/h (60 mph) tropical storm[7] 185 km (115 mi) south of Hanoi in Vietnam. On July 5, the JTWC stopped monitoring the system as it had moved inland.[1] The JMA followed suit the next day.[3]

Impact and aftermath

Tropical Storm Kelly was the worst storm to affect the Philippines in eight months. Mudslides were reported along the slopes of the Mayon volcano,[8] as a result, many nearby villages were destroyed.[9] Some people were buried under rocks and debris due to mudslides.[10] Nine towns in an 6,920 km (4,300 mi) area were flooded.[8] Huts and rice feels were inundated by mud in debris in parts of Legaspi, Daragan, Ligao, and Camalig.[9] The towns of Ligao, Oas, Camalig and Guinobatan were the worst affected by Kelly.[10] Although winds were not very strong, many rivers overflowed their banks.[8] In the Albay Province, more than 1,450 km (900 mi) of railways lines were washed out. Over 800 dwellings were destroyed,[11] including 597 houses made of light wood and straw,[12] were destroyed and 9,500 acres (3,845 ha) of rice field were destroyed.[11] More than 3,600 persons lost their homes.[13]

One hundred ninety-two fatalities were reported,[14] including 120 casualties in the Albay Province[8] and five in Ligao.[12] Nine cities sustained fatalities near the Mayon volcano,[15][16] Twelve children also died.[17] Nine individuals were also listed missing[10] and 30 were injured.[13] Most of the fatalities were due to drownings.[9] Overall, damage totaled to $7.8 million,[6] including $3.7 million from infrastructure.[5] Losses were estimated at $1.1 million.[12] Following the storm, relief teams were sent in to provide aid such as rice and sardines for the homeless.[11][13] A few days following Kelly, the island nation was struck by Tropical Storm Lynn, which was responsible for further destruction.[18]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ All currencies are converted to United States Dollars using Philippines Measuring worth with an exchange rate of the year 1981.
  2. ↑ Wind estimates from the JMA and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10 minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1 minute. 10 minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1 minute winds.[2]
  3. ↑ The Japan Meteorological Agency is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center (1982). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1981 (PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ 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 November 29, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Japan Meteorological Agency (October 10, 1992). RSMC Best Track Data – 1980–1989 (.TXT) (Report). Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000" (PDF). Japan Meteorological Agency. February 2001. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Destructive Typhoons 1970-2003 (Report). National Disaster Coordinating Council. November 9, 2004. Archived from the original on November 9, 2004. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Destructive Typhoons 1970-2003: 1981 (Report). National Disaster Coordinating Council. November 9, 2004. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kenneth R. Knapp; Michael C. Kruk; David H. Levinson; Howard J. Diamond; Charles J. Neumann (2010). 1981 KELLY (1981176N08150). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "International News". United Press International. July 1, 1981.
  9. 1 2 3 Marylin Ochimar (July 1, 1981). "Storm Kelly kills 120 in Philippines". United Press International.
  10. 1 2 3 "Mud and rocks loosened by storm destroy villages". Associated Press. July 1, 1981.
  11. 1 2 3 "Storm death rises to 145". United Press International. July 2, 1981.
  12. 1 2 3 "Flood toll climbs to 146, survivors bury dead". Associated Press. July 2, 1981.
  13. 1 2 3 "International News". United Press International. July 2, 1981.
  14. ↑ "Tornado, Two Storms Leave 207 Dead In Philippines". Associated Press. July 5, 1981.
  15. ↑ "Tropical storm Kills 103 in the Philippines". The Miami News. July 2, 1981. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Tropical Storm slams Philippines". Rome News-Tribune. July 2, 1981. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  17. ↑ "International News". Associated Press. July 1, 1981.
  18. ↑ "Philippine storm death toll soars". The Spokesman-Review. July 6, 1981. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
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