The 1960 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1960, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the dateline and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1960 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical storms formed in the entire west Pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin had the "W" suffix added to their number.
Seasonal summary
Systems Tropical Depression Ivy Ivy formed on January 30. Over the next few days, it moved towards the Philippines. It then turned east and dissipated on February 3.
Tropical Depression Jean Jean was a short-lived tropical depression. It formed on March 7. The storm slowly moved west and dissipated on March 9.
Typhoon Karen
An area of disturbed weather in the Philippine Sea moved westward and organized into a tropical depression on April 22. It moved northwestward through the Philippines, strengthening quickly to a typhoon on the 24th due to its small size. Karen turned to the northeast, and despite favorable conditions, rapidly weakened until dissipation on the 26th. Karen left 56 dead in the Philippines, left 7,000 homeless, and caused $2 million (1960 USD) in crop and property damage.
Tropical Storm Lucille
Lucille was identified as a weak tropical depression on May 25 to the east of the Philippines. Tracking northwestward, the system failed to develop and warnings on it were discontinued on May 27. At the same time, a second system began organizing along the west coast of Luzon. The two systems ultimately merged into one over the Philippines between May 28 and 29. Now tracking northeastward, the system re-intensified and became a tropical storm on May 30. Lucille attained its peak intensity later that day with winds of . As it accelerated over open waters, the system brushed the islands of Iwo Jima and Chichi-jima before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on June 1. The remnants of Lucille were last noted on June 4 near the International Date Line.
Between May 27 and 29, heavy rains fell across much of Luzon as Lucille developed. These rains, amounting to in the suburbs of Manila,Longshore, p. 400 triggered destructive floods that left some areas under of water. The worst of the floods took place during the overnight hours of May 28 to 29. During that time, hundreds of homes were swept away and an estimated 300–500 people, including at least 80 children, were killed. Monetary losses from the floods exceeded $2 million.
Typhoon Mary
A trough of low pressure spawned a tropical depression in the South China Sea on June 3 and moved slowly westward. Favorable conditions allowed it to quickly strengthen into Tropical Storm Mary, and after turning northward it attained typhoon status on the 7th. Mary continued to intensify to a typhoon just before making landfall west of Hong Kong on the 8th. After weakening while moving northeastward over China, the storm restrengthened over the Western Pacific to a typhoon on the 10th. It passed near Okinawa, weakened, and accelerated to the east until it became extratropical on the 13th.
Also known as Bloody Mary, the typhoon was the worst to hit Hong Kong in 23 years (since the worst typhoon on the record of Hong Kong hit on 2 September 1937). Its of rain, mudslides, and strong winds caused extreme damage across Hong Kong and southern China, leaving over 100 dead and over 18,000 homeless. The only positive aspect of the storm was its rainfall, which helped end a severe drought in the colony. An additional 1,600 people were killed following more landslides triggered by the remnants of the storm.Longshore, p. 71
In addition to its impact in Hong Kong, Mary brought heavy rains and flooding in Taiwan, especially in the capital city of Taipei. Moderate crop damage was seen to the rice crop. Four fishermen drowned off the island's southern coast, but there were no fatalities on the island. Despite its effects, the name Mary was not retired.
Tropical Storm Nadine
On June 3, Nadine formed as Tropical Depression Five, which later became a tropical storm. On June 5, Nadine appeared to have been intensifying, likely at a pressure of , with a ship reporting winds of around the same day. A P2V reconnaissance aircraft on June 6 reported winds of and , respectively. By June 9, the storm began to weaken, and by June 10, the final warning was issued, as it dissipated.
Typhoon Olive
On June 23, a tropical depression developed to the east of the Philippines. It entered nearly ideal conditions as it moved to the west-northwest, and, just 42 hours after forming, reached peak intensity of . Due to lack of inflow from the archipelago to its west, Olive weakened to a typhoon at the time of its eastern Philippine landfall. It rapidly weakened while crossing to a tropical storm, but restrengthened into a typhoon in the South China Sea. It turned to the west, and struck southern China on June 29 as an typhoon. Olive rapidly weakened over land and the northern Gulf of Tonkin and dissipated on July 1.
A storm surge of 6–8 feet flooded much of Manila, causing extensive property and transportation damage. Rains, amounting up to triggered flooding and numerous landslides. About 80 percent of the crops in southeast Luzon were destroyed by the flooding, and 404 people were killed. At least 32,000 buildings were destroyed by the storm, resulting in $30 million in damages. In addition, nearly 60,000 people were left homeless in the period after the storm's passage. During rescue attempts, many coastal defense force ships were either sunk or ran aground due to swell produced by Olive.Longshore, p. 253
China and Hong Kong received heavy rainfall from Olive, causing moderate crop damage, though there were no reported casualties there.
Typhoon Polly Typhoon Polly formed east of the Philippines on July 17. It slowly moved north-northeast and intensified to a Category 4 super typhoon with windspeed of 215 km/h (130 mph). It then moved north and sped up. It hit China before turning into an extratropical cyclone and dissipated on July 28.
Tropical Storm Rose
Rose was a short-lived storm that appeared on July 24. It quickly strengthened to a tropical storm. The storm was close to Japan, but didn't make landfall. The storm moved northeast and dissipated on July 21.
Typhoon Shirley
On July 29, a tropical depression formed to the east of northern Luzon. Moving to the northwest, it encountered favorable conditions for development, and rapidly intensified to a super typhoon just 48 hours after forming, with an eyewall only wide. Shirley continued to the northwest, and struck northeastern Taiwan as a slightly weaker typhoon on the July 31. The mountainous terrain ripped apart the typhoon's circulation, and after crossing the Taiwan Strait, it made landfall on southeastern China as a tropical storm. Shirley turned northward while moving inland, and dissipated on August 2. An unusual feature of the storm was the development of a secondary center while approaching Taiwan.
Shirley's winds and torrential rains devastated Taiwan, overflowing many rivers and trapping thousands. Nearly a foot of rain was reported on the island, causing extensive road and property damage. Little crop damage occurred due to Typhoon Mary destroying much of it months before. In all, Typhoon Shirley caused 104 fatalities, destroyed or damaged 9,890 houses, and left 50,194 people homeless.
Typhoon Trix
Just one week after Shirley hit Taiwan, Typhoon Trix, which weakened from a peak of , hit the northeastern part of the island with winds of . Trix left four more dead and brought more severe flooding to the typhoon-ravaged country.
JMA Tropical Storm Ten A tropical depression formed on August 6 and was noted by JMA. Over the next few days, it moved north-northwest and strengthened into a tropical storm. It soon weakened and dissipated on August 9.
Typhoon Virginia
Typhoon Virginia northwest of Guam on August 7. It moved northeast, and then turned northwest, strengthening to peak intensity of 155km/h (100mph). The storm struck Shikoku and Honshū island in Japan with winds of . 4 inches of rain fell over most of southern Japan. 2 people were killed and one was injured.
Typhoon Wendy
On August 10, a trough extending from Typhoon Virginia developed abnormal wind directions, prompting the JTWC and JMA to designate it a tropical depression. It quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Wendy west of Iwo Jima. Wendy intensified, becoming a typhoon south of Shikoku and peaking offshore. It made landfall on Shikoku, then southern Honshu, weakening over land. After briefly reemerging over the Sea of Japan, it made a final landfall on northern Honshu before the JTWC discontinued advisories and the JMA declared it extratropical.
Its development within Virginia's circulation was considered unusual. Wendy caused significant damage in Japan's Kinki and Chūbu regions from August 12-13, dropping heavy rain causing floods, landslides, bridge destruction, and inundating thousands of homes. The storm resulted in 28 deaths, 19 missing, and 154 injuries.
Tropical Storm Agnes Agnes formed northeast of Luzon on August 10. It turned northwest and developed into a tropical storm. The storm made landfall in Taiwan. It entered the South China Sea and weakened into a tropical depression. The storm dissipated on August 18.
Typhoon Bess Bess was a category 1 typhoon with a weird track. It affected the coast of Tokyo. Bess later became an extrotropical storm and dissipated in the Bering strait on August 26.
Typhoon Carmen
A sharp trough of low pressure organized into a tropical depression on August 16. It moved northward, quickly strengthening to an typhoon. Carmen lost intensity as it continued to the north, and made landfall on South Korea as a tropical storm on the 23rd. The storm brought waves to the Korean peninsula, flooding coastal cities and sinking ships offshore. In all, Carmen caused 24 casualties and $2 million in damage (1960 USD).
Carmen is known for having the largest eye of any tropical cyclone in recorded history, tied with Typhoon Winnie in 1997. Radar data from Okinawa, Japan indicated that it was more than across.
Typhoon Della
The monsoon trough spawned a tropical storm in the open Western Pacific on August 20. Della moved to the northwest, strengthening to a typhoon on the 22nd before looping to the north-northwest. After peaking at , Della weakened and hit southern Japan as a minimal typhoon. It accelerated to the northeast and became extratropical on the 31st. A landslide on Nishinomiya killed 38 road workers, while another 17 people were killed throughout the country from heavy flooding. Damages from the storm were estimated at $19 million.Longshore, p. 93
Typhoon Elaine
Elaine made an erratic track toward Taiwan, with a second landfall in Mainland China.
Typhoon Faye An aera of low pressure formed near the Micronesia islands on August 21. It developed into tropical storm Faye on August 22. Over the next few days, the storm moved northeast, slowly developing. On August 25, the storm turned west and intensified into a typhoon. Three days later, it reached peak intensity of 230km/h (145 mph). It curved north, passing Japan, and turned extratropical on August 31. The storm eventually dissipated on September 5.
Tropical Storm Gloria Gloria hit the Philippines.
JMA Tropical Storm Nineteen The storm hit Japan.
Tropical Storm Hester Hester was a tropical storm that didn't make landfall.
Tropical Depression Irma Irma affected the Philippines, but didn't make landfall.