Typhoon Malakas (2016)

Typhoon Malakas (Gener)

Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 4 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Typhoon Malakas approaching Japan on September 19
Formed	September 11, 2016
Dissipated	September 23, 2016
(Extratropical after September 20)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 175 km/h (110 mph) 1-minute sustained: 215 km/h (130 mph)
Lowest pressure	930 hPa (mbar); 27.46 inHg
Fatalities	2 total
Damage	$739 million (2016 USD)
Areas affected	Mariana Islands, Taiwan, Japan
Part of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Malakas, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gener, was a powerful tropical cyclone which affected Taiwan and Japan in mid September 2016. It was the sixteenth named storm and the sixth typhoon of the annual typhoon season in 2016.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

During September 11, both the JMA and the JTWC started to monitor Tropical Depression 18W approximately 58 km (36 mi) south of Hagåtña, Guam.^[1][2] Due to decent organization and improved banding, JTWC upgraded 18W to a tropical storm.^[3][4] 18W was fully upgraded to a named tropical storm by the JMA few hours later and was named Malakas.^[5] By September 13, Malakas had improved in its organization and was already strengthening with deep convection wrapping into its LLCC;^[6] the JMA upgraded Malakas to a severe tropical storm thereafter.^[7] In the same time, Malakas had entered the Philippine area of Responsibility, with PAGASA assigning the local name Gener.^[8] Later, it was reported that Malakas was located in marginal conditions for further development due to wind shear caused by the proximity of the outflow of Typhoon Meranti.^[9] However the JMA upgraded Malakas to a typhoon three hours later.^[10] With improving conditions, it was reported that a cold dense overcast was forming and the JTWC upgraded Malakas to a Category 1 typhoon during the next day.^[11]

By September 15, Malakas was over in very favorable conditions of Sea surface temperature (SSTs) of nearly 30 °C (86 °F) and was later upgraded to a Category 2 typhoon.^[12][13] After maintaining this intensity for six hours, satellite imagery depicted an improved deep convection and a well-defined 10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) eye feature, as Malakas rapidly intensified into a Category 4 typhoon.^[14] Malakas reached its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph) and a minimum pressure of 930 hPa (27.46 inHg). The JMA had 10-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) on midnight of September 17.^[15] Shortly thereafter, its eye became cloud-filled and ragged and weakened to a Category 3 typhoon.^[16] Later in that same day, Malakas further weakened to a Category 2 as satellite imagery depicted warming cloud tops, decreasing convection and SSTs of only around 28 °C (82 °F).^[17] However, by September 18, Malakas started to re-intensify as it moved east-northeastward.^[18] Malakas reached its secondary peak intensity on September 19, but only as a Category 3 typhoon.^[19] Malakas then started to weaken due to land interaction with Japan.^[20] On September 20, the JTWC downgraded Malakas to a tropical storm,^[21] while the JMA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm.^[22] Both agencies issued their final advisory later that day as it became extratropical.^[23][24]

At around 00:00 JST on September 20 (15:00 UTC on September 19), Malakas made landfall over the Ōsumi Peninsula in Japan.^[25] It subsequently crossed Cape Muroto at around 11:00 JST (02:00 UTC) and made landfall over Tanabe at around 13:30 JST (04:30 UTC).^[26][27]

Impact

Taiwan

Malakas passed about 130 km (81 mi) to the east of Taipei on September 17,^[28] producing heavy rain and strong winds to northern Taiwan.^[29] Meanwhile, Taitung City was affected by Foehn wind. At 15:11 TST (07:11 UTC), a weather station recorded the temperature of 36.1 °C (97.0 °F).^[30] Overall, damages from Malakas to Taiwan was minimal.

Japan

Malakas passed over the Yaeyama Islands on September 17, producing heavy rain and hurricane-force winds, especially in Taketomi. The damage in the Yaeyama Islands was about ¥30.93 million (US$0.297 million).^[31] Malakas also caused widespread damage to the Japanese archipelago, Yamakawa Station to Makurazaki Station of the Ibusuki Makurazaki Line have to be closed due to falling trees.^[32] In Nobeoka City, the recorded rainfall on September 20 during the previous 24 hours was 444.5 mm (17.50 in). Heavy rains caused flooding to these areas.^[33] In Tokushima Prefecture, the weather station also recorded the rainfall of 85.5 mm (3.37 in).^[34] Malakas also brought heavy rains to Kansai region. In Sumoto City, the weather station recorded the rainfall of 85.5 mm (3.37 in) in 1 hour.^[34]

See also

• Typhoon Jelawat (2012)
• Typhoon Neoguri (2014)
• Typhoon Vongfong (2014)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon Malakas (2016).

• JMA General Information of Typhoon Megi (1616) from Digital Typhoon
• 19W.MALAKAS from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Tropical cyclones of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season
	TD 01W TD TD TD Ambo TY Nepartak TD 03W TS Lupit STS Mirinae TD TD TD TD STS Nida STS Omais TD TD TS Conson TD TD STS Chanthu TD TD TS Dianmu TD TD TY Mindulle TY Lionrock TD TD TS Kompasu TD 14W TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TD TY Namtheun TS Malou TY Meranti TD 17W TS Rai TY Malakas TY Megi TY Chaba TY Songda STS Aere TY Sarika TY Haima TD TD TY Meari TD TD TD TD TS Ma-on TD 28W TS Tokage TD TD STS Nock-ten
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