![]() Nesat nearing the Philippines at peak intensity on September 26, 2011 | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 23, 2011 |
Dissipated | September 30, 2011 |
Typhoon | |
10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
Highest winds | 150 km/h (90 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 950 hPa (mbar); 28.05 inHg |
Category 4-equivalent typhoon | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 937 hPa (mbar); 27.67 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 98 total |
Damage | $2.12 billion (2011 USD) |
Areas affected | Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Vietnam |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season |
Typhoon Nesat, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Pedring, was the most powerful tropical cyclone to directly impact China since 2005.[1] It also struck the Philippines during the 2011 Pacific typhoon season, killing 98 people.[2][3] It is the 17th named storm, the 11th severe tropical storm, the 7th typhoon and overall, the 30th tropical cyclone to be monitored by the Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA) during the year. Nesat came exactly two years after Typhoon Ketsana made landfall in the Philippines as the most devastating typhoon in the 2009 Pacific typhoon season with a damage of US$1.09 billion and 747 fatalities.[4] Nesat was also the first of twin tropical cyclones to batter the Philippines within one week during September 2011, the second was Nalgae.
The low pressure area that was to become Nesat developed on the evening of September 21, to the east-southeast of Palau. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) originally anticipated Nesat would become a Category 4 super typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS) with winds exceeding 130 kn (240 km/h; 150 mph) (1-min sustained). However, because of a cold anomaly, the system only reached a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 115 kn (213 km/h; 132 mph) making it a powerful Category 4 typhoon. Nesat made landfall over the Luzon region of the Philippines and the maximum 1-min sustained winds dropped to 95 kn (176 km/h; 109 mph). The system continued to weaken with convective banding loosely wrapped into the partially exposed low-level circulation center(LLCC). The winds continued to drop and eventually reached 65 kn (120 km/h; 75 mph) (1-min sustained) which made it a minimal typhoon on the SSHS. On September 29, by the time Nesat managed to re-develop a 10 nautical miles (19 kilometres; 12 miles) ragged eye, it made landfall over Wenchang in Hainan, China and started weakening again. Due to the rapid weakening, the JTWC ceased advisories on the storm, soon afterwards. Later that evening, the JMA downgraded Nesat to a tropical low over land and issued their final warning on the system.
As Nesat neared the Philippines, the local government ordered the evacuation of residents living in low-lying areas, cancelled flights and suspended classes on all levels. Several provinces were placed under Signal Number 2 and 1. China's flood control authority activated their emergency response system so that they can cope up with the upcoming typhoons Nesat, and Nalgae. The authority requested local governments in relevant areas to closely monitor both the typhoons and keep the public aware of what is happening. They initiated a level IV typhoon response program and sent two working teams to the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan so that they can assist people in all the preparations that they have to make. Ships were recalled, flight and ferry services were suspended and schools were shut as the strongest typhoon to directly impact Hainan in 2011 was approaching its final landfall. Macao's public transportation system was also suspended after typhoon signal No. 8 was hoisted by most local meteorological authorities. In Hong Kong, many functions and activities were canceled or postponed because of the fast approaching storm.
Early on September 27, Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines with a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 kn (194 km/h; 121 mph) and killed four people after pinning them under a collapsed wall in Valenzuela. The residents of Manila had no other choice but to wade through waist-deep floodwaters, dodging branches and flying debris as the typhoon sent surging waves as tall as palm trees over seawalls, completely submerging neighborhoods. The typhoon made landfall before dawn triggering instant response. Officials in Albay province said that "About 112,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in five towns prone to flashfloods and landslides in central Albay province. Among the hardest hit provinces were Isabela and Aurora where most of the population was directly dependent on agriculture. Very similar to what happened after Typhoon Ketsana, a state of calamity was declared in Luzon in order to undertake an emergency procedure in order to ensure safe and timely water releases from the dams. Nesat approached China just one day after the preparations for it started. Because of the low strength of the storm, the damages from Nesat to China were expected to be near US$50 million. The typhoon then hit Vietnam and weakened into a tropical storm.
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