Typhoon Higos (2002)

Typhoon Higos was, at that time, considered the third strongest typhoon to affect Tokyo since World War II. The 21st named storm of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season, Higos developed on September 25 east of the Northern Marianas Islands. It tracked west-northwestward for its first few days, steadily intensifying into a powerful typhoon by September 29. Higos subsequently weakened and turned to the north-northeast toward Japan, making landfall in that country's Kanagawa Prefecture on October 1. It weakened while crossing Honshu, and shortly after striking Hokkaidō, Higos became extratropical on October 2. The remnants passed over Sakhalin and dissipated on October 4.

Before striking Japan, Higos produced strong winds in the Northern Marianas Islands while passing to their north. These winds damaged the food supply on two islands. Later, Higos moved across Japan with wind gusts as strong as , including record gusts at several locations. A total of 608,130 buildings in the country were left without power, and two people were electrocuted in the storm's aftermath. The typhoon also dropped heavy rainfall that peaked at . The rains flooded houses across the country and caused mudslides. High waves washed 25 boats ashore and killed one person along the coast. Damage in the country totaled JP¥261 billion ($2.14 billion in 2002 USD), and there were five deaths in the country. Later, the remnants of Higos affected the Russian Far East, killing seven people involved in two shipwrecks offshore Primorsky Krai.

Meteorological history

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) first monitored an area of disturbed weather on September 25. At the time, the system consisted of a weak circulation, but with good outflow and located in an area of low wind shear. The system moved to the west-northwest, steered by a subtropical ridge to the east of Japan. On September 26, a tropical depression developed about east of the Northern Marianas Islands, and also to the south of the Japanese island of Minamitorishima. Later that day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Higos, at the same time that the JTWC also upgraded to a tropical storm. By that time, the system had developed an organized area of convection.

The storm gradually intensified while passing to the north of Saipan, and Higos attained typhoon status on September 27. Shortly thereafter, it also passed just south of Pagan Island. A well-defined eye in diameter developed, and Higos rapidly intensified. At 1200  UTC on September 29, Typhoon Higos reached its peak intensity. The JMA estimated 10 minute maximum sustained winds of , and the JTWC estimated 1 minute winds of , which made Higos a super typhoon. After having moved west-northwestward for several days, Higos slowed and began turning to the north while it was at peak strength. Its change in movement was due to an eastward-moving trough creating a weakness in the ridge. The typhoon accelerated to the north-northeast toward Japan and gradually weakened due to increasing wind shear.

At around 1100 UTC on October 1, Higos passed just east of the Miura Peninsula with winds of , about 30 minutes before making landfall in the eastern portion of Kanagawa Prefecture near Yokosuka. Higos passed very near Tokyo around 1200 UTC that day, becoming the third strongest typhoon to affect the city since World War II, according to the JTWC. The typhoon weakened into a tropical storm while crossing Honshu. Higos briefly emerged over waters, before making a second landfall on Tomakomai, Hokkaidō at 2100 UTC on October 1. By that time, the storm was beginning to transition into an extratropical cyclone, and at 0600 UTC on October 2 Higos completed the transition. Simultaneously, the JTWC discontinued advisories. The storm continued to the north before crossing Sakhalin