Typhoon Melor (2009)
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Typhoon Melor, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Quedan, was a powerful typhoon that hit Japan in early October 2009, causing significant damage. As part of the
2009 Pacific typhoon season The 2009 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season that spawned only 22 named storms, 13 typhoons, and five super typhoons. Despite this, it was a very deadly season, with the Philippines having experienced its deadliest season in decad ...
, Melor formed as a tropical depression on September 29 and rapidly intensified into a Category 4-equivalent typhoon just three days later. Subsequently, on October 4, Melor became the second Category 5-equivalent super typhoon to form in the season. During the next days, the typhoon would
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with
Typhoon Parma Typhoon Parma, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Pepeng, was the second-wettest typhoon to affect the Philippines, and the second typhoon to affect the country within the span of a week during September 2009. Typhoon Parma was named by ...
southeast of
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, causing Parma to be almost stationary over northern
Luzon Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous List of islands in the Philippines, island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the List of islands of the Philippines, Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political ce ...
and drop near-records of
rainfall Rain is a form of precipitation where water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. ...
there. Afterwards, Melor gradually weakened in its approach to Japan, making landfall on October 7. As the storm exited Japan during the next day, it transitioned into an
extratropical cyclone Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the weather over much of the Earth. Extratropical cyclones are capable of p ...
. The remnants of Melor were absorbed by a newly-formed extratropical cyclone near
Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
, which strengthened significantly and impacted the West Coast of the United States on October 13. Following the typhoon, Melor caused 3 fatalities and $1.5 billion (2009 USD) in monetary damages in Japan.


Meteorological history

Early on September 27, the
Joint Typhoon Warning Center The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The JTWC is responsible for the issuing of tropical cyclone warnings in the North-West Pacific Ocean, South P ...
(JTWC) reported that an area of deep convection had persisted about 500 mi (310 km) south of the
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and was starting to consolidate around a poorly defined low level circulation center. During the next day, the system gradually developed, as satellite imagery showed a low-level circulation center had begun to form. On the evening of that day, due to a
tropical upper tropospheric trough A tropical upper tropospheric trough (TUTT), also known as the mid-oceanic trough, is a trough situated in the upper-level (at about 200 hPa) tropics. Its formation is usually caused by the intrusion of energy and wind from the mid-latitudes into ...
(TUTT) that was providing good outflow for the system and low level vertical wind shear with a favorable environment, JTWC released a
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Fleet Weather Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone formi ...
, noting that fragmented banding was now wrapping into the western side of the low level circulation center. Early on September 29, the
Japan Meteorological Agency The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA; ''気象庁, Kishō-chō'') is a division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism dedicated to the Scientific, scientific observation and research of natural phenomena. Headquartered ...
(JMA) upgraded the system to a tropical depression. The JTWC followed suit later that day, assigning the designation of ''20W'' to the system, despite it having a poorly defined low level circulation center. Later that day, the depression's convection had improved and was now wrapping into the southern side of the low level circulation center. As a result, both the JTWC and the JMA upgraded the tropical depression to a tropical storm, with the JMA naming it as Melor. An anticyclone to the northeast of the system and an eastward outflow channel into a tropical upper tropospheric trough were providing good outflow for Melor. Early on October 1, intensification continued, and the JMA reported that Melor became a typhoon. By the afternoon of the same day, the JTWC followed suit and upgraded Melor into a typhoon. In just four hours, it intensified rapidly to a Category 3-equivalent typhoon, and continued to track towards northeast Luzon. Early on October 2, it strengthened to a Category 4-equivalent typhoon. After leveling out in intensity, it strengthened again on October 3. Early October 4, the JTWC reported that Melor had intensified to a Category-5 equivalent super typhoon, with JMA reporting a central pressure of 910 hPa and winds of 205 km/h. On October 5, PAGASA allocated the name Quedan to the typhoon as the storm moved into Philippine's area of responsibility. It interacted with Typhoon Parma in Parma's second landfall in the Philippines. By the midday of October 8, Melor made landfall on Japan. After landfall, JMA downgraded Melor into a severe tropical storm, while the JTWC downgraded it into an extratropical storm. Late on October 11, the extratropical remnants of Melor were completely absorbed by a newly formed extratropical storm to the north, near Alaska. The new extratropical storm then strengthened into a powerful storm, which then began to impact the west coast of the United States, late on October 13.


Preparations

Late on September 30, the island of Guam, was placed under a tropical storm warning, while the islands of Rota, Tinian and Saipan were placed under a typhoon watch. These warnings stayed in force until late on October 1, when the islands of Tinian and Saipan were placed under a typhoon warning. The warnings for the islands of Rota,
Agrihan Agrihan (also spelled Agrigan) is an island in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The island has mostly been uninhabited, but had 4 permanent residents in the 2020 U.S. census. Agrihan is located to the north of Pagan. History ...
and Guam were also revised at this time with Rota and Agrihan placed under typhoon watches and tropical storm warnings, while Guam was placed under a tropical storm warning. Late the next day the warnings were once again revised with the tropical storm warning for Guam and while the typhoon watch was cancelled for both Rota and Agrihan, with Agrihan placed under a typhoon warning. Rotas remaining tropical storm warning was then cancelled early on October 3, before all of the warnings were cancelled later that day as Melor moved away from the Mariana Islands.


Japan

The
Japan Meteorological Agency The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA; ''気象庁, Kishō-chō'') is a division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism dedicated to the Scientific, scientific observation and research of natural phenomena. Headquartered ...
forecast that Typhoon Melor would make landfall near
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
on October 8 (Thursday). Weather forecasters issued warnings about strong winds and high waves on the sea. Melor moved with wind speeds of 252 kilometers per hour (156 mph) and bore down on the island of Minami Daito. Typhoon Melor, which was located at 512 km (318 mi) from the southeast of
Naha is the Cities of Japan, capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 people per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). ...
in
Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
on October 6 at 12 p.m. Japan time, was predicted to be on a path for Tokyo. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast that the typhoon would have a speed of 180 kilometers per hour (112 mph) near its center. An official at the agency warned residents that the typhoon could bring very strong winds and high sea waves.


Impact and aftermath


Mariana Islands

Although a very powerful typhoon during its passage of the Mariana Islands, Melor produced little damage in the region. The main effects were minor flooded from heavy rainfall in Saipan. High winds also downed a few power lines and trees; however, no structural damage was reported. Roughly of rain fell on the island during the passage of Melor, including during a six-hour span. At the height of the storm, roughly 500 residences were without power on Tinian and Saipan; this was quickly reduced to 90 residences within several hours.


Japan

As a weakened typhoon, Melor made landfall in Japan on October 7 with wind gusts over 155 km/h (100 mph), causing massive power outages. At the height of the storm, an estimated 500,000 residences, mainly around
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, were without power. Trains were canceled during the storm as they were unable to travel in conditions produced by the storm. More than 2 million people, attempting to get to work, were stranded as transportation halted. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, two people were killed during the storm and at least 100 other were injured throughout the country in various incidents. The first death occurred after a man on a motorcycle crashed into a downed tree and the other occurred after a man was struck by a broken tree limb. Roughly 400 homes were damaged or destroyed by Melor and monetary damages amounted to 130 billion
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($1.5 billion
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). Another 64 people were injured, according to local media reports, after Melor reached landfall in Japan's Aichi prefecture early Thursday morning. Typhoon Melor landed south-west of Tokyo on the main island of Honshū on Thursday, October 8, causing at least two deaths and cutting electricity to thousands. Flights were also canceled and people evacuated amid flood and landslide warnings. Still, initial damage reports suggested the typhoon, while powerful, did not cause the type of widespread devastation initially warned. Meteorologists had been warning that the storm could be the most powerful to hit Japan in more than a decade. Melor was the first typhoon to reach landfall in Japan in two years. The storm was expected to drift off the country's eastern coast into the Pacific Ocean by Thursday evening. An official at Japan's meteorological agency said the storm weakened as it moved along the eastern coast, preventing heavier damage. The typhoon brought wind speeds of about 160 kilometers per hour while dumping 30 centimeters of rain in some regions, according to Japan Meteorological Agency. One 54-year-old man was killed while delivering newspapers when his bike hit a fallen tree in the early morning, while a 69-year-old man died in Saitama prefecture near Tokyo after a tree fell on him, according to local police officials. Many factories in the manufacturing-rich prefectures in central Japan were also shut from the storm.


California

On October 14, 2009, the extratropical cyclone that had absorbed Melor's remnants impacted California, and broke several rainfall records."
List of California hurricanes Since 1854, at least 100 tropical cyclones affected the U.S. state of California, including 1858 San Diego hurricane, a hurricane in 1858 that produced hurricane-force winds near San Diego. This averages to roughly once a year, although events ...
"
Local California media had reported that the remnant of Typhoon Melor was able to kick up winds to as high as 70 mph (110 km/h). Some trees and power lines were downed as a result of this storm. Melor's remnants produced up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain in California's
Santa Cruz Mountains The Santa Cruz Mountains ( Mutsun Ohlone: Mak-sah-re-jah, "Sharp Ridged Mountain of the Eagle" or "People of the Eagle Mountain") are a mountain range in central and Northern California, United States, constituting a part of the Pacific Coast R ...
.


See also

*
Weather of 2009 Global weather activity of 2009 profiles the major worldwide storms, including blizzards, tornadoes, ice storms, tropical cyclones and other meteorogical events, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009. Wintery storms are events in which the ...
*
Tropical cyclones in 2009 Throughout 2009, 130 tropical cyclones formed in bodies of water known as tropical cyclone basins. Of these, 81 were Tropical cyclone naming, named, including a subtropical cyclone in the South Atlantic Ocean, by various weather agencies when ...
*
Typhoon Meari (2004) Typhoon Meari, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Quinta was a typhoon that hit Japan in late September 2004. Meari killed 27 people and caused nearly $800 million in damages. Meteorological history Late on September 18, an area of con ...
*
Typhoon Ma-on (2004) Typhoon Ma-on, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Rolly, was a powerful typhoon that produced record breaking wind gusts across the Tokyo Metropolitan Area during early October 2004. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the region since Ty ...
*
Typhoon Wipha (2013) Typhoon Wipha, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Tino, was a large tropical cyclone, typhoon that caused extensive damage in Japan in mid-October 2013. The system originated from a tropical depression well to the east of Guam on October 8. ...
*
Typhoon Vongfong (2014) Typhoon Vongfong, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Ompong, was the most intense tropical cyclone Tropical cyclones in 2014, worldwide in 2014, and struck Japan as a large tropical system. It also indirectly affected the Philippines and ...
*
Typhoon Choi-wan (2009) Typhoon Choi-wan was a powerful typhoon that became the first Category 5-equivalent super typhoon to form during the 2009 Pacific typhoon season. Forming on September 11, 2009, about to the east of Guam, the initial disturbance rapidly organized ...


References


External links


JMA General Information
of Typhoon Melor (0918) from Digital Typhoon
JMA Best Track Data
of Typhoon Melor (0918)
JTWC Best Track Data
of Super Typhoon 20W (Melor)
20W.MELOR
from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory {{DEFAULTSORT:Melor (2009)
Melor Melor (also known in Latin as Melorius; in Cornish as Melor and in Cornu-English as Mylor; in French as Méloir; and other variations) was a 10th-century Breton saint who, in England, was venerated in Cornwall and at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshi ...
Melor Melor (also known in Latin as Melorius; in Cornish as Melor and in Cornu-English as Mylor; in French as Méloir; and other variations) was a 10th-century Breton saint who, in England, was venerated in Cornwall and at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshi ...
Melor Melor (also known in Latin as Melorius; in Cornish as Melor and in Cornu-English as Mylor; in French as Méloir; and other variations) was a 10th-century Breton saint who, in England, was venerated in Cornwall and at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshi ...
Melor Melor (also known in Latin as Melorius; in Cornish as Melor and in Cornu-English as Mylor; in French as Méloir; and other variations) was a 10th-century Breton saint who, in England, was venerated in Cornwall and at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshi ...
Melor Melor (also known in Latin as Melorius; in Cornish as Melor and in Cornu-English as Mylor; in French as Méloir; and other variations) was a 10th-century Breton saint who, in England, was venerated in Cornwall and at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshi ...
September 2009 in Asia October 2009 in Asia
Melor Melor (also known in Latin as Melorius; in Cornish as Melor and in Cornu-English as Mylor; in French as Méloir; and other variations) was a 10th-century Breton saint who, in England, was venerated in Cornwall and at Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshi ...