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Typhoon Ora (1972)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Ora was a June 1972 Category 1
typhoon that left 131 people dead and $15 million (1972 USD
, $68.4 million 2005 USD) in damage.
embedded in a trough
formed on June 20 and moved westward without development. By June 23, the disturbance had strengthened, and became Tropical Storm Ora about 330 miles east of the Philippines
.
Although poorly organized, Ora continued strengthening, becoming a Category 1
typhoon before encountering a high pressure system.
The area of high pressure forced the storm to make landfall on Luzon
on June 25, emerging over the South China Sea
later that day. Ora then continued its northwest track, turning northeast near Hainan Island and making landfall in southern China
as a tropical storm. Ora then weakened and dissipated after moving inland.
, Hurricane Hunter crews reported typhoon force winds on the southeast quadrant of the storm. However, this area is usually the weakest area of a tropical cyclone
in the Northern Hemisphere
.
Ora made landfall in the Philippines
and again in southern China
. The first landfall brought 115 mph gusts and 9.3 inch
es (236.2 mm
) of rain in a 24 hour period to Luzon
. Flashfloods from Ora damaged homes and businesses, and the storm surge caused many ships offshore to run aground. A sailboat capsized near Rapu Rapu during the storm, causing one fatality. Three others were declared missing. In the Philippines
, Ora caused 131 deaths, left almost 400,000 people homeless and left behind $15 million (1972 USD
, $68.4 million 2005 USD
) worth of damage.
Oras second landfall was in southeastern China
as a tropical storm on June 27, however deaths or damage during that landfall is unavailable.
The name Ora was not retired so it was used again to name future typhoons until a change in the naming list in 1979 prevented the further use of the name.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
typhoon that left 131 people dead and $15 million (1972 USD
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....
, $68.4 million 2005 USD) in damage.
Meteorological history
A tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
embedded in a trough
Trough (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...
formed on June 20 and moved westward without development. By June 23, the disturbance had strengthened, and became Tropical Storm Ora about 330 miles east of 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...
.
Although poorly organized, Ora continued strengthening, becoming a Category 1
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
typhoon before encountering a high pressure system.
The area of high pressure forced the storm to make landfall on 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...
on June 25, emerging over 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...
later that day. Ora then continued its northwest track, turning northeast near Hainan Island and making landfall in southern China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
as a tropical storm. Ora then weakened and dissipated after moving inland.
Unusual characteristics
When Typhoon Ora crossed the South China SeaSouth 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...
, Hurricane Hunter crews reported typhoon force winds on the southeast quadrant of the storm. However, this area is usually the weakest area of a 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 the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
.
Impact
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...
and again in southern China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. The first landfall brought 115 mph gusts and 9.3 inch
Inch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
es (236.2 mm
Millimetre
The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....
) of rain in a 24 hour period to 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...
. Flashfloods from Ora damaged homes and businesses, and the storm surge caused many ships offshore to run aground. A sailboat capsized near Rapu Rapu during the storm, causing one fatality. Three others were declared missing. In 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...
, Ora caused 131 deaths, left almost 400,000 people homeless and left behind $15 million (1972 USD
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....
, $68.4 million 2005 USD
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....
) worth of damage.
Oras second landfall was in southeastern China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
as a tropical storm on June 27, however deaths or damage during that landfall is unavailable.
The name Ora was not retired so it was used again to name future typhoons until a change in the naming list in 1979 prevented the further use of the name.
