The 1983 Pacific typhoon season was the latest start for a Pacific typhoon season on record, and also slightly below-average in terms of named storms. It ran year-round in 1983, but all tropical cyclones formed between June and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. A total of 32 tropical depressions formed this year, of which only 23 became tropical storms and were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Additionally, tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names. This year, a total of 23 storms were named this way.
The season had a late start, as the first system did not form until early June for the first time since 1973.Hong Kong Royal Observatory (1984). Meteorological Results: 1983. Retrieved on 2008-11-08. The last tropical cyclone dissipated in mid-December. Of the 23 tropical storms, one formed in June, three formed in July, five formed in August, two formed in September, six formed in October, five formed in November, and one formed in December. Ten storms reached typhoon intensity according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, of which four reached super typhoon strength. Fifteen of the tropical cyclones made landfall, with six moving through the Philippines, six striking China, six moving into Vietnam, and three moving in Japan. Vera, Wayne, Kim, and Lex led to over half of the fatalities from tropical cyclones this season. Forrest became the fastest-developing tropical cyclone on record for the western Pacific Ocean, with a pressure drop of in a 24‑hour period.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator between 100°E and 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, there are two separate agencies that assign names to tropical cyclones which can often result in a cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) will name a tropical cyclone if it has 10-minute sustained wind speeds of at least anywhere in the basin. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N–25°N, regardless of whether or not a tropical cyclone has already been given a name by the JMA. Tropical depressions that are monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a number with a "W" suffix. __TOC__
Season summary
The season had a late start, as the first system did not form until late June for the first time since 1973. The last tropical cyclone dissipated in mid-December. A total of 26 tropical depressions formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 23 became tropical storms. Of the 26 tropical cyclones, one formed in June, three formed in July, six formed in August, three formed in September, seven formed in October, five formed in November, and two formed in December. Ten storms reached typhoon intensity, of which four reached super typhoon strength. The activity of the season was reflected with an ACE of 220 units. Fifteen of the tropical cyclones made landfall, with six moving through the Philippines, six striking China, six moving into Vietnam, and three moving in Japan. Tropical cyclones accounted for 24 percent of the annual rainfall in Hong Kong this season.
Wayne formed east of the Philippines, becoming the first super typhoon of the season before striking mainland China on July 25. Abby was a long-lived system, forming near Guam and remaining an intense typhoon for a number of days before recurving into Japan as a weakening tropical storm on August 17.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. CHAPTER Ill - SUMMARY OF TROPICAL CYCLONES. Retrieved on 2008-11-14. Ellen was a strong typhoon which tracked from the International Dateline westward near the northern Philippines and mainland China by September 9. Forrest formed well east of the Philippines in late September, becoming the fastest-developing tropical cyclone on record for the western Pacific Ocean, with a pressure drop of in a 24‑hour period. Marge was an intense typhoon which recurved well off the coast of Asia during the first week of November. Orchid was a long-lived and erratic tropical cyclone which moved slowly just east of the Philippines during late November, absorbing Percy along the way. Vera, Wayne, Kim, and Lex led to over half of the fatalities from tropical cyclones this season.
Systems
Tropical Storm Sarah
When Tropical Storm Sarah formed in the South China Sea on June 24, it became the latest start of a western Pacific season since 1973. The initial tropical disturbance formed south of Guam on June 16. By June 19, a low level circulation formed as the system moved westward. As a tropical disturbance, the low crossed the Philippines with light winds. The system finally organized into a tropical depression and then a tropical storm on June 25. Sarah moved west-northwestward across the South China Sea, striking Central Vietnam before dissipating on June 26.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical Storm Sarah. Retrieved on 2007-01-06. Damage across the Philippines totaled 2.77 billion Philippine Pesos (1983 pesos),Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Most Destructive Tropical Cyclones for the Month of June (1948-2000) via Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2008-11-10. or US$249.3 million (1983 dollars).Measuring Worth (2008). Philippines, 1983 - 1986. Retrieved on 2009-01-22.
Typhoon Tip (Auring)
A tropical disturbance first noted east of the Philippines, the system moved through the archipelago as a tropical depression before strengthening briefly to a typhoon in the South China Sea. A combination of northeasterly vertical wind shear and proximity to land weakened the cyclone to a tropical storm before its landfall on Hai-nan and struck Chan Chiang, China as a tropical depression.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Typhoon Tip. Retrieved on 2007-01-06. Winds peaked at at Tate's Cairn in Hong Kong.
Typhoon Vera (Bebeng)
The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression on July 12, east of the Philippines. It headed westward, strengthening to a tropical storm that night and a typhoon on the 13th. Vera made landfall on the 14th as an typhoon in the Philippines, weakened over the islands, and restrengthened over the South China Sea to a typhoon. Damage totaled US$9 million in the Philippines. In Hong Kong, winds peaked at at Tate's Cairn. Vera struck Hainan Island on the 17th, crossed the Gulf of Tonkin, and made landfall near Haiphong, Vietnam on the 18th. Vera brought torrential flooding, resulting in the deaths of 106 people.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Typhoon Vera. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
Typhoon Wayne (Katring)
Becoming a tropical depression east of the Philippines, Wayne strengthened rapidly to become a tropical storm on July 22, a typhoon on July 23, and a super typhoon around midday on July 24 before moving south of Taiwan into mainland China on July 25 and dissipating. In the Philippines, 20 perished due to flash flooding.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Super Typhoon Wayne. Retrieved on 2007-01-07. Wayne was the fifth most intense tropical cyclone to impact Fujian between 1960 and 2005.Guy Carpenter. Typhoon Saomai: Impact and Historical Comparison. Retrieved on 2008-11-15. Heavy rainfall led to severe flooding in Fujian and Guangdong. The total death toll reached 105.
Typhoon Abby (Diding)
First noted southeast of Guam on July 31, this system slowly matured into the season's second super typhoon as it moved west-northwest over the following nine days. Intensification was most rapid as it was slowly recurving northward on August 7 and August 8. After peaking early on August 9, Abby slowly weakened as it interacted with the main belt of the Westerlies. It managed to remain a major typhoon, with winds at or above , for a week. Abby finally weakened back into a tropical storm on August 17 just before its landfall at Hamamatsu, Japan. By late that night, Abby completed the transition to an extratropical cyclone after moving through central Japan. Two perished from Abby in Japan. Its deluge led to numerous landslides and the destruction of 19 bridges. Commercial traffic by land, sea, and air was also paralyzed by the cyclone.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Super Typhoon Abby. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
Tropical Storm Carmen (Etang)
Originating in the monsoon trough in the South China Sea in early August, a low level circulation was first spotted about 370 km east of Vietnam on August 8. Slow development ensued, and the system became a tropical depression during the night of August 12. Tracking slowly north-northeast, Carmen began to accelerate to the east-northeast towards the Luzon Strait, steered by Abby. This acceleration was likely a redevelopment of the low-pressure area downshear. The system became a tropical storm early morning of August 14 as it continued to close the distance to Abby. By late morning on August 15, absorption into Abby was complete.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical Storm Carmen. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
Severe Tropical Storm Ben
An area of strong thunderstorms formed east of Abby, developing a low level center on August 12 on the western side of the thunderstorm activity, due to westerly vertical wind shear from nearby Abby. It developed into a tropical storm that night and moved northwest due to Abby's influence on the steering across the western Pacific at that time. Turning to the west, Ben moved along the southern coast of Honshū and made landfall west of Hamamatsu. Due to land interaction and increasing upper level westerly wind shear, Ben became an exposed low level circulation on August 14 in the Sea of Japan, eventually dissipating late on August 15.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical Storm Ben. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
Tropical Storm Dom (Gening)
On August 17, a tropical disturbance was noted west of Guam. Slow development ensued, and the system became a tropical storm late on August 19. As a deep cyclone near Japan linked up with the monsoon trough, the cyclone turned sharply northeast on August 20. Persisitently sheared by strong northeasterly flow aloft initially, once Dom recurved its convection was left completely behind, weakening the system to a tropical depression on August 21. Thunderstorms began to redevelop near the center, and by midday on August 23 Dom was a tropical storm once more. At this point Dom was moving erratically as the trough near Japan moved off to the east, and by August 24 Dom turned back to the north-northwest. By August 25 strong winds aloft weakened Dom once more, and the cyclone dissipated as a tropical cyclone on August 26.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical Storm Dom. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
Tropical Depression 09W
This system formed well north of the normal climatological position to the west of Dom, as the monsoon trough was similarly displaced. It was first noted on August 25, but showed no further development. Thunderstorms were located about south of the center, but since the central pressure was under 1000 mb, it was considered a tropical depression while an exposed low level swirl. The system did develop some central convection, and moved northward into South Korea, bringing showers to the region, and dissipated late on August 27.Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical Depression 09W. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
Typhoon Ellen (Herming)