Typhoon Janis (1992)

Typhoon Janis, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gloring, was an early-season typhoon that struck Japan during August 1992. An area of disturbed weather formed near Pohnpei in late-July 1992, and after an increase in thunderstorm activity, a tropical depression developed on August 3. After passing near Guam, Janis tracked generally westward, and on August 5, the storm was believed to have attained typhoon intensity. After intensifying at a brisk pace, Janis attained peak intensity on August 6 near Okinawa. Thereafter, the typhoon began to weaken and accelerate as it recurved towards Kyushu, where it made landfall on the next day. Land interaction took its toll on the typhoon as it tracked northeast, paralleling the western coast of Honshu. On August 9, Janis transitioned into an extratropical low over Hokkaido.

Five fishing boats sank offshore Taiwan, where one fisherman was killed, and six others were listed missing. Typhoon Janis was the second of two consecutive systems to move over the Japanese archipelago, with Tropical Storm Irving preceding it. Nationwide, twelve fatalities were reported and another was initially reported as missing. Sixty-seven others sustained injuries. A total 1,561 houses were destroyed while 1,508 others were flooded. In addition, 47 ships and were damaged. Strong winds and torrential rains resulted in 350,000 customers losing power. An eight-hour suspension of high speed rail to Kyushu stranded over 20,000 people at Hiroshima Station. Greater than 80 domestic flights in Kyushu were cancelled, leaving an estimated 45,000 travelers stranded. Damage was estimated at ¥74 billion ($584 million USD).

Meteorological history

The tropical disturbance that would later mature into Typhoon Janis formed near Pohnpei in the eastern Caroline Islands towards the end of July 1992. At 06:00 UTC on July 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started tracking the system. Increased convective development led to the issuance of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert at 13:00 UTC on August 2. Intensification continued through the morning hours, and at 00:00 UTC, the JTWC issued the first warning on Tropical Depression 10W, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) following suit at the same time. At 14:39 UTC, a Hurricane hunter aircraft was able to identify a well-defined center as well as winds of . Passing near Guam and moving into the Philippine Sea, the depression organized further and was upgraded to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC on August 3 by both the JTWC and JMA. At around this time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name ''Gloring''. Midday on August 4, the JMA classified Janis as a severe tropical storm. Six hours later, Janis was declared a typhoon by the JTWC, with the JMA doing the same at 00:00 UTC on August 5. According to the JTWC, Janis entered a period of rapid deepening, intensifying during the day of August 5. At 00:00 UTC on August 6, the JTWC increased the intensity of the storm to 215 km/h (130 mph), equivalent to a low-end Category 4 hurricane on the United States–based Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Operationally, the storm was believed to have attained winds 230 km/h (145 mph), based on Dvorak estimates from polar orbiting satellite imagery. However, in post-storm analysis, the JTWC determined that due to the high resolution of the satellite, the eye temperature of the storm was overestimated, prompting the agency to revise its Dvorak methods to better match intensity estimates derived from geostationary satellites.

After tracking towards the west-northwest during its early stages, Typhoon Janis turned towards the north-northeast and passed east of Okinawa. The JTWC estimated that Janis leveled off in intensity. However, the JMA estimates that Janis was still strengthening, and did not attain its highest intensity until 18:00 UTC on August 6, when the agency reported winds of and a barometric pressure of . After its peak intensity, the typhoon began to weaken and accelerate as it recurved towards Kyushu; this turn was correctly predicted by the JTWC. At the time of landfall on Kyushu late on August 7, the JTWC and JMA estimated winds of and respectively. Over Kyushu, land interaction took its toll on the typhoon, and the JTWC and JMA downgraded Janis to tropical storm intensity on August 8. The tropical storm moved to the northeast, paralleling the western coast of Honshu. At noon on August 9, Janis transitioned into an extratropical low over Hokkaido. It was lasted noted by the JMA around noon on August 13 near the International Date Line.

Impact

Guam and Taiwan

During its formative stages, Jannis brought winds gusting to and 64 mm (2.25 in) of rain in 24 hours to the island of Guam, but caused no major damage. As Janis passed to the east of Taiwan, one fisherman was killed, and six individuals were missing when 8 m (26 ft) waves sank five fishing boats.

Japan

The typhoon dropped heavy rainfall across much of the Japanese archipelago, across western and northern portions of Japan. A peak rainfall total of was observed at Nagaoka District. A peak hourly rainfall total of was observed in Ube. Meanwhile, a peak daily precipitation total of fell in Kuraoka. A wind gust of was recorded in the city of Makurazaki. An airport at Amami Oshima measured winds of and gusts of . Kadena Air Base reported maximum winds of , gusting to . The Marine Corps Air Station Futenma observed peak winds of and wind gusts of gust of .

All transportation was cancelled on Okinawa and the storm resulted in ¥27.4 million in damage. A total of 8,293 households lost power in Tokushima Prefecture, and 25 roads were damaged in 156 location. Nearly of crops were damaged. Prefecturewide, damage was estimated at ¥1.87 billion. A 54-year-old farmer near Susaki was killed when he was struck by a falling rock. Across Kōchi Prefecture, two people were wounded. Roads were damaged in 145 spots and of crops were damaged. A total of 19,855 houses in 17 municipalities, including Susaki, suffered a blackout after falling trees downed power lines. Damage in the prefecture exceeded ¥2.86 billion. Twenty-four flights were cancelled to and from Takamatsu Airport