Typhoon Violet (1961)

Super Typhoon Violet was a Super typhoon hit Japan in October 1961.

Super Typhoon Violet
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS)
Typhoon Violet (8 Oct)
FormedOctober 2, 1961
DissipatedOctober 10, 1961
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 335 km/h (205 mph)
Lowest pressure895 hPa (mbar); 26.43 inHg
Part of the 1961 Pacific typhoon season

Meteorological history

track of Violet
SS Pioneer Muse standed on Kitadaitōjima

Violet was first observed as a small circulation to the southwest of Marcus Island. On October 2, the system had organized enough to warrant further investigation. After a few days of observation, a report of tropical storm force winds was relayed back to the JTWC and on October 4, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Violet. Violet took an unusual track, moving in a southern direction after formation. This was due to its location west of a high-pressure system, which the storm struggled to move around. After completing a curve to the south of the ridge, Violet quickly intensified into a typhoon. The movement of the subtropical ridge to the east resulted in Violet turning abruptly to the northwest. Violet continued to intensify and soon reached its peak intensity, on October 7, with sustained winds of 205 mph (335 km/h) and a minimal surface pressure of 886 hPa (26.2 inHg);[1] however, the wind readings during this era of reconnaissance were erroneously high. Violet moved in a smooth path northward and clipped the Boso Peninsula area of Japan, near Tokyo. After landfall, Violet began to transition into an extratropical cyclone and continued to move northward. By October 10, Violet had become fully extratropical.[2]

Impact

SS Pioneer Muse and SS Sheik stranded on Kitadaitōjima

Violet was an intense storm, yet did not impact any landmass at or near peak intensity. On Guam damages were light, mostly consisting to crop damage. The effects on Japan were generally minimal due in part to early preparation. A 9124-ton freighter, The Pioneer Muse, was left stranded on the Daitō Islands during the passing of the typhoon on October 9. All men on board were saved and later the cargo of military hardware was scavenged.[3] Another ship, The Sheik, also was stranded a few miles from The Pioneer Muse, it would later break in two due to rough seas. Two fatalities were reported in Japan due to the passage of Violet.[2]

References

  1. National Climatic Data Center (2013). "Violet IBTrACS File". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (1962). "Annual Typhoon Report 1961" (PDF). United States Navy. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  3. Rosendal, Hans (January 1962). "Mariners Weather Log". Six (one). United States Weather Bureau: 24. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.