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Typhoon Dot (1985)
Encyclopedia
Super Typhoon Dot was the only super typhoon of the 1985 season
, with maximum wind speeds of 150 knots (175 mph or 280 km/h) at peak intensity. Dot is also the sixth-most intense tropical cyclone
in terms of wind speed to affect Bicol Region
, Philippines
between 1947 and 2004.
was first detected 150 nautical miles (280 kilometres) southeast of Ponape
on October 11. Moving west-northwest, the system reached tropical storm intensity on October 13 south of Guam
, and was named Dot.
Continuing its track towards the west, it attained typhoon status north of Yap
late on October 14. Continuing to move west-northwestward at a nearly-constant 12 knots, it rapidly intensified on October 15, with the minimum sea-level pressure of the storm deepening 66 millibars in 23 hours - a rate of a drop of 2.8 mb/hour (in comparison, Hurricane Wilma
of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
, the most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded, deepened at a rate of 3 mb/hour at one point). This rapid deepening caused problems with the JTWC's intensity forecasts, and by the end of the day Dot had been upgraded to a super typhoon (winds above or equal to 130 knots).
Dot maintained super typhoon strength until just before its first landfall on the Philippines
on the 18th, crossing Luzon
without ever losing typhoon intensity. Once back in open water of the South China Sea
, Dot reintensified, peaking at 90 knots south-southwest of Hong Kong
.
Weakening, Dot scraped the southern Hainan
coast before making its final landfall in the former North Vietnam
130 nautical miles (240 km) south of Hanoi
. Dot then dissipated over mountains while inland.
. Also of note was the small radius of maximum winds, and the lack of a low-level monsoon
inflow.
While there were no difficulties in forecasting Dot's track, its sudden intensity increase on October 15 caused problems with the JTWC's intensity forecasting technique, due to the lack of airplane reconnaissance data.
and Cubi Point NAS necessary. Ships in Subic Bay
were also moved. Philippine Airlines
cancelled domestic flights out of Manila
and moved its planes out of the storm's path to Mactan Island
. While the airport remained open, twelve international flights were cancelled. Residents were told to remain indoors, and schools cancelled classes.
In all in the Philippines, Dot left 101 people dead and affected more than 1 million people, and left behind over $68 million (1985 USD
) in damage. However, this figure is considerably limited due to Dot's small size. Floods resulting from Dot affected some 90,000 square kilometres of land. On Hainan, floods were triggered in the wake of Super Typhoon Dot, which also left two dead on the island. More than 2300 houses also collapsed from Dot's winds.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Dot in the Philippines, UNICEF was asked to provide water-purifying
tablets. The Philippine Red Cross, Philippine government, local authorities and civic organisations provided relief assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Appeals were made for up to US$1.4 million for reconstruction, although the Philippine government did not submit a request for international aid.
1985 Pacific typhoon season
The 1985 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1985, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern...
, with maximum wind speeds of 150 knots (175 mph or 280 km/h) at peak intensity. Dot is also the sixth-most intense 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...
in terms of wind speed to affect Bicol Region
Bicol Region
The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Its regional center is Legazpi City...
, Philippines
Philippines
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...
between 1947 and 2004.
Meteorological history
A tropical disturbance in a troughTrough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
was first detected 150 nautical miles (280 kilometres) southeast of Ponape
Pohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
on October 11. Moving west-northwest, the system reached tropical storm intensity on October 13 south of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, and was named Dot.
Continuing its track towards the west, it attained typhoon status north of Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
late on October 14. Continuing to move west-northwestward at a nearly-constant 12 knots, it rapidly intensified on October 15, with the minimum sea-level pressure of the storm deepening 66 millibars in 23 hours - a rate of a drop of 2.8 mb/hour (in comparison, Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
2005 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering numerous records. The impact of the season was widespread and ruinous with an estimated 3,913 deaths and record damage of about $159.2 billion...
, the most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded, deepened at a rate of 3 mb/hour at one point). This rapid deepening caused problems with the JTWC's intensity forecasts, and by the end of the day Dot had been upgraded to a super typhoon (winds above or equal to 130 knots).
Dot maintained super typhoon strength until just before its first landfall on the Philippines
Philippines
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...
on the 18th, crossing 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...
without ever losing typhoon intensity. Once back in open water 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...
, Dot reintensified, peaking at 90 knots south-southwest of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Weakening, Dot scraped the southern Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
coast before making its final landfall in the former North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
130 nautical miles (240 km) south of Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. Dot then dissipated over mountains while inland.
Peculiarities
Dot had several distinguishing characteristics, mainly the small size of the area of intense convectionConvection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
. Also of note was the small radius of maximum winds, and the lack of a low-level monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
inflow.
While there were no difficulties in forecasting Dot's track, its sudden intensity increase on October 15 caused problems with the JTWC's intensity forecasting technique, due to the lack of airplane reconnaissance data.
Preparations, impact and aftermath
Super Typhoon Dot caused all United States military installations in the Philippines to be placed in a Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1 and made an evacuation of Clark Air BaseClark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
and Cubi Point NAS necessary. Ships in Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
were also moved. Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
cancelled domestic flights out of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and moved its planes out of the storm's path to Mactan Island
Mactan Island
Mactan is an island located a few kilometres from Cebu Island in the Philippines. The island is part of Cebu Province and it is divided into Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova...
. While the airport remained open, twelve international flights were cancelled. Residents were told to remain indoors, and schools cancelled classes.
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damage. However, this figure is considerably limited due to Dot's small size. Floods resulting from Dot affected some 90,000 square kilometres of land. On Hainan, floods were triggered in the wake of Super Typhoon Dot, which also left two dead on the island. More than 2300 houses also collapsed from Dot's winds.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Dot in the Philippines, UNICEF was asked to provide water-purifying
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
tablets. The Philippine Red Cross, Philippine government, local authorities and civic organisations provided relief assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Appeals were made for up to US$1.4 million for reconstruction, although the Philippine government did not submit a request for international aid.