1922 Swatow Typhoon
Encyclopedia
The 1922 Swatow Typhoon was a devastating tropical cyclone
that caused thousands of deaths in the Chinese city of Swatow
(now Shantou, both 汕頭) in August 1922. These totals make it one of the deadliest known typhoons in history.
s was first spotted July 27. It moved slowly to the northwest, gradually intensifying. On July 31, it crossed northern Luzon
, and entered the northernmost part of the South China Sea
. It then intensified more and made landfall
on the Chinese coast near the city of Swatow
late on August 2 or early on August 3. It quickly dissipated inland.
The minimum known central pressure
of this typhoon is 27.53 inHg. At one point, the winds were estimated to have a velocity of 100 mph.
, no reports of significant impact were received.
In Swatow in China
, the typhoon caused a storm surge
of at least 12 ft above normal. The rain was heavy, and left enough water to leave the land saturated for a few days. Swatow was an unfortunate city, as around 50,000 people (out of a population of about 65,000) perished in the storm. Some nearby villages were totally destroyed. Several ships near the coast were totally wrecked. Other ones were blown as far as two miles inland. The area around the city had around another 50,000 casualties. The total death toll was above 60,000, and may have been higher than 100,000.
The 60,000–100,000+ deaths caused by this typhoon make it one of the deadlist tropical cyclone
s in the western north Pacific Ocean. The other typhoons with comparable death totals include an unnamed typhoon that hit Haiphong
in 1881, 1975's Typhoon Nina
, and another unnamed typhoon that hit somewhere in China in 1912.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
that caused thousands of deaths in the Chinese city of Swatow
Shantou
Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...
(now Shantou, both 汕頭) in August 1922. These totals make it one of the deadliest known typhoons in history.
Meteorological history
A tropical depression located near the Caroline IslandCaroline Island
Caroline Island or Caroline Atoll , is the easternmost of the uninhabited coral atolls which comprise the southern Line Islands in the central Pacific Ocean....
s was first spotted July 27. It moved slowly to the northwest, gradually intensifying. On July 31, it crossed northern Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, and entered the northernmost part of the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. It then intensified more and made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
on the Chinese coast near the city of Swatow
Shantou
Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...
late on August 2 or early on August 3. It quickly dissipated inland.
The minimum known central pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
of this typhoon is 27.53 inHg. At one point, the winds were estimated to have a velocity of 100 mph.
Impact
Due to the typhoon passing through a lightly inhabited part of the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, no reports of significant impact were received.
In Swatow in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the typhoon caused a storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
of at least 12 ft above normal. The rain was heavy, and left enough water to leave the land saturated for a few days. Swatow was an unfortunate city, as around 50,000 people (out of a population of about 65,000) perished in the storm. Some nearby villages were totally destroyed. Several ships near the coast were totally wrecked. Other ones were blown as far as two miles inland. The area around the city had around another 50,000 casualties. The total death toll was above 60,000, and may have been higher than 100,000.
The 60,000–100,000+ deaths caused by this typhoon make it one of the deadlist tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s in the western north Pacific Ocean. The other typhoons with comparable death totals include an unnamed typhoon that hit Haiphong
Haiphong
, also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong...
in 1881, 1975's Typhoon Nina
Typhoon Nina (1975)
Super Typhoon Nina was a short-lived but intense super typhoon that caused catastrophic damage and loss of life in China after causing the Banqiao Dam to collapse...
, and another unnamed typhoon that hit somewhere in China in 1912.
