2009 West Pacific Typhoons in the Philippines

Early on April 26, an area of disturbed weather formed near Baler, Aurora. It was formerly a tail end of cold front that passed by Northern Luzon.
However, on April 28, JTWC downgraded the disturbance as dissipating because of interaction with nearby Tropical Depression Crising and JMA Tropical Depression 03. A few days later, the disturbance moved south-westward, and late on April 30, the disturbance made landfall at Albay.
On May 1, JTWC again upgraded the disturbance into having a potential to form into a significant Tropical Cyclone within 24 hours to "fair". And later that day, PAGASA classified the disturbance as a tropical depression, naming it "Dante" and issued public storm warning signal number one in the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Burias Island, and Southern Quezon.PAGASA also reported that Dante made landfall in the vicinty of Sorsogon within the Bicol region of the Philippines.
Early on May 2, JTWC issued a TCFA as the depression was in an almost stationary position. Later that day, JMA classified Dante as a full depression. Early the next morning it became a tropical storm and was named Kujira. Kujira continued to strengthen and was upgraded to a severe tropical storm that afternoon. When it was over the Philippines it killed 27 people while 9 others are missing. The JMA upgraded the system to a typhoon early on May 4. Kujira intensified quickly, doubling in strength from a Category 2 typhoon to a Category 4-equivalent typhoon within 24 hours. On May 6, The JTWC reported that Kujira was in its beginning stages of becoming extratropical, with the low level circulation center almost fully exposed in association with increasing vertical wind shear and lower sea surface temperatures in the region. Late that, JMA downgraded Kujira to a Severe Tropical Storm as strong wind shear weakens the system. Then early on May 7, JTWC issued its last advisory on Kujira, already reporting it as an extratropical system.

Early on June 10, the JTWC reported that an area of disturbed had formed about 140 km (85 miles) to the southeast of Palau. Over the next few days the disturbance gradually developed until early on June 14, when the JMA reported that the disturbance had become the fifth tropical depression. During June 15 and 16, the remants of the depression brought heavy rainfall to the various islands of Luzon as it moved through the Philippines. They moving into the South China Sea sooner that day, the remnants started to rapidly develop with a second TCFA being issued late on June 16. The JMA then reported early the next morning that the disturbance had reintensifed into a second minor tropical depression. Later that day, The JTWC then followed suit designating the depression as 03W. In the morning of June 18, the depression rapidly intensified and reached tropical storm status, being named Linfa.

Upper-level wind shear rapidly increased, preventing re-intensification of the cyclone. Linfa then began to interact with land and was downgraded to a tropical storm by the JTWC on June 21 and then during that afternoon the storm made landfall on the southern chinese provence of Fujian. Deep convection then rapidly dissipated with both the JMA and the JTWC downgrading Linfa to a Tropical depression by early on July 22, as the storm moved away from the Chinese coastline. The system later dissipated just offshore with a circulation was no longer evident on satellite imagery.

Early on June 23, PAGASA issued its first warning on Tropical Depression and assigned its local named "Feria". In the afternoon, Nangka (Feria) made its first landfall on Borongan, Eastern Samar at 5:00PM / PST or 09:00 UTC. and made its second landfall in Masbate around 10:00PM / PST or 14:00 UTC. On June 24, Nangka rapidly slow down while moving on Mindoro area. The storm then made its third landfall at Calapan City, Mindoro at 12nn PST / 04:30 UTC. After crossing Mindoro for 8 hours, Nangka (Feria) was downgraded by PAGASA into a tropical depression, while both the JMA and JTWC still classified Nangka as a tropical storm on that day..

As of 24 June, Nangka (Feria) has caused 6 deaths and left 11 people missing. Property damage from the storm is estimated at PHP 2.8 million (US$54,000).

Late on July 10, an area of disturbed weather persisted about 280 km (175 miles), to the southeast of Yap. Convection was wrapping into a poorly organized and drawn out low level circulation center and was under minimal wind shear. It gradually developed further throughout the next day with convection continuing to consolidate over a low level circulation center. However early on July 12, the JTWC reported that the disturbance had dissipated, as outflow was being hampered by the outflow of Huaning. However late on July 13, the JTWC reported that the disturbance had rapidly redeveloped and released a TCFA on the disturbance.

Early the next day both PAGASA and the JMA designated the disturbance as a Tropical Depression with PAGASA assigning the local name of Isang to the depression. The Depression continued to develop and was designated as Tropical Depression 07W by the JTWC early on July 15, whilst PAGASA upgraded Isang to a Tropical storm later that day. On July 17, JMA upgraded Molave as a Severe Tropical Storm and Typhoon by PAGASA. On morning of July 18, HKO upgraded Molave as a Typhoon. Later that day, Molave quickly moved into the South China Sea. On July 19, at 1700 UTC or 1am HKT, Molave made its first landfall. On the afternoon, as Molave move through China, both JMA and JTWC issued their final warning as Molave weakened into a Tropical depression. Molave killed at least four people.

Late on July 25, the JTWC reported that an area of convection had formed in a monsoon trough about 815 km (515 mi) to the northeast of Guam. Over the next few days the disturbance gradually developed before the disturbance was declared as dissipated early on July 28 as the low level circulation center was not well defined and higher vertical wind shear affecting the system. However the disturbance regenerated early on July 30 whilst located about 630 km (390 mi), the disturbance's low level circualtion center was elongated with indications of multiple circulation centers. Later that day PAGASA reported that the disturbance had developed into a tropical depression and assigned its local name of Jolina.

During August 3, the JMA reported that the tropical depression had intensified into a tropical storm and assigned the Goni to the cyclone. At 1700 UTC of August 4, Goni made its second landfall over Macau. Early on the next day, JTWC issued their final warning on Goni. On August 7, The Joint Typhoon Warning noted that remnant of Goni re-entered into the Gulf of Tonkin and had a poor chance of regenerating. Later in the day, Joint Typhoon Warning Center reissued advisories on the system upgrading it to a tropical storm near Hainan Island.
In the Philippines Goni (Jolina) death toll is 8 with 5 more missing. Goni (Jolina) affected 38,589 families or 160,038 people in 119 villages in 25 towns and five cities in Ilocos Sur, Batangas, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Mindoro Occidental, Palawan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Lanao del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.

From their first warning PAGASA warned that the depression was expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring occasional heavy rain over Luzon and Western Visayas. However early on August 6 they placed the Batanes in Northern Luzon under Public Storm Warning Signal 1 (PSWS 1) which meant that winds of up to 35kts were expected in Batanes within 36 hours. They then placed Northern Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos and Norte, under PSWS 1 later that day as it moved toward Taiwan. They kept these warnings in place until early on August 8, when they revised the warnings downgrading the signal for Northern Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos and Norte, whilst putting Babuyan and Calayan Islands under PSWS 1 and then early the next day PAGASA released their final warning and downgrade all signals for the Philippines.

In the Philippines, eleven villages (Pagudpod, San Juan, Baton-lapoc, Carael, Tampo, Paco, San Miguel, Binig, Bangan, and Capayawan) were submerged in 4-foot to 5-foot deep floods after the Pinatubo Dike overflowed around 4:00 p.m. on August 6, 2009.Joint military and police rescue teams rescued 3 Koreans and 9 Canadian nationals. About 29,000 people were affected by Morakot; nine people have been confirmed dead.Three French tourists and two Filipino guides were killed in a flashflood caused by a landslide. Thousands have been trapped on rooftops or in trees awaiting helicopter rescue attempts and thousands have lost their homes. At least two have died from flooding. Landslides have claimed the lives of no less than twelve miners while others are still missing after a mine caved in. Schools have suspended their classes in the hardest hit area, and highways have been closed due to landslides

Typhoon Morakot was the deadliest typhoon to impact Taiwan in recorded history. Throughout Taiwan, at least 107 people were confirmed to have been killed by the storm as of August 13. The record-breaking rains also caused catastrophic agricultural losses, with estimates reaching NTD9 billion (USD274 million). At its peak, roughly 1.58 million were without power across the island and over 710,000 were without water pressure.Tourism losses due to the typhoon were estimated to be at least NTD800 million (USD24.4 million).

On September 9, an area of convectional cloudiness associated with the monsoon trough formed 370 km (250 mi) to the northwest of Palau. Early of September 12, PAGASA upgraded the system in their responsibility and assigned its local name, Nando. At 1500 UTC, PAGASA reported that the depression made its landfall over northern Palanan, Isabela.

Early of September 13, both JMA JTWC upgraded the system as a tropical storm and assigned its international name, Koppu. In the afternoon, JMA reported that Koppu intensified into a severe tropical storm. On the 14th, the JMA reported that Koppu had intensified to a minimal typhoon, but the JTWC still kept Koppu as a tropical storm for the next few hours but later acknowledging the intensification and upgraded Koppu to a minimal typhoon.

In the Luzon, a 48 hour rainfall was experienced. In Visayas and Mindanao, a 24 hour rainfall was also experienced due to Nando's enhancing southwest monsoon. About 10 provinces were raised in signal warning no.1 from September 12 - September 13. Nando had triggered landslides resulting road closures and evacuations of some residents in Kalinga province. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) also reported that the Sabangan section of the Baguio-Bontoc Road in Mountain Province is closed to traffic with clearing operations stopped due to continuous rains and soil erosion.

Fortunately Choi-wan did never make landfall. Typhoon Choi-wan formed as weak tropical disturbance early on September 11, 2009, about 1100 kilometers (700 mi) to the east of Guam. During September 13, Choi-wan's rapid intensification slowed down barely intensifying into a severe tropical storm, before early the next day it was upgraded to a typhoon and rapidly intensified during the day to become a Category 4-equivalent typhoon.

Choi-wan then intensified further during September 15, as it moved through the Northern Marina Islands with the Japan Meteorological Agency reporting peak wind speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph), whilst the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported 1-minute peak wind speeds of 260 km/h (160 mph) which made it the first Category 5-equivalent typhoon of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season and the strongest storm thus far in 2009.

During September 19, Choi-wan rapidly weakened, as it moved into an unfavorable environment with higher amounts of vertical wind shear, causing the storm's deep convection to erode. As a result of this and dry latitude air wrapping into the low level circulation center, the JTWC decided to downgrade Choi-wan to an extratropical system and released their final advisory early the next day.

Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) formed early on September 23 2009, about 860 km (535 mi) to the northwest of Palau.
The intensification of Ondoy was hampered throughout September 25 by the system moving into an area of moderate vertical windshear and an upper level trough of pressure which was moving over the system. It was then upgraded to a Tropical Storm and named as Ketsana before passing over the island of Luzon in the Philippines. As it moved into the South China sea later that day the system dramatically deepened and expanded whilst moving towards the west which lead to the JMA upgrading it to a Severe Tropical Storm.

While located over the Philippines Ketsana brought torrential rains to the Philippines before heading out to the South China Sea, where it is currently located. Ketsana has brought record rainfall to Metro Manila, not seen since the start of rainfall record keeping according to PAGASA, producing only moderate winds but hours of extremely heavy rain, which led to the worst flooding in living memory. At least 86 people were reported dead in landslides and other incidents, and president Gloria Arroyo declared a "state of calamity" encompassing most of Luzon. Flood water levels reached a record 20 feet high in rural areas. By September 28, at least 240 casualties were reported officially.

A total of 25 provinces and Metro Manila were placed under state of calamity, with Metro Manila experiencing a record amount of rainfall in 42 years, with rain falling between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. of September 26 pegged at 341mm, over the record established in June 1967 at 334mm.

Early on September 25, an area of convectional cloudiness associated with the monsoon through formed 410 km (280 mi) to the southeast of Palau.
By early September 30, due to the storm moving through warm water temperatures, the JTWC and JMA upgraded it to a Category 1 typhoon. Satellite imagery also began showing that an eye wall structure had formed. Intensification continued into in the morning of the next day, reaching Category 3 status.

Before it made landfall over northern Cagayan at 3:00 pm PST(07:00 UTC) on October 3, it weakened into a Category 2 typhoon. Parma crossed northern Luzon over 12 hours, during which the typhoon weakened into a category 1 equivalent typhoon. PAGASA reported that the typhoon was moving almost stationary in their area of responsibility due to interaction with Typhoon Melor and a ridge of high pressure area over mainland China.

On October 6, at 11:00 pm PST (15:00 UTC), Parma made its second landfall over Ilocos Norte as it noved to the Southeast. In the afternoon of the next day, PAGASA reported that Parma weakened into a tropical depression near the Isabela area, while both JMA and JTWC still classified Parma as a tropical storm. In the morning of October 8, it emerged back into waters near Isabela. After four hours, Parma made its third landfall in Cagayan. The next day, Parma crossed Northern Luzon for the third time. Then by the afternoon of that day, Parma exited La Union and emerged back into the South China Sea. As it moved out into the Philippine area of responsibility, then PAGASA issued their final warning on Parma.

By late of October 12, it made its fourth landfall over Hainan Island in China. Early on October 14, Parma was downgraded by JMA to a tropical depression because of there was a lack of convection. Then by the afternoon of that day, it made its fifth landfall over the coastline of Vietnam. In the evening, JMA reported that Parma weakened into an area of low pressure, becoming the agency issues their final advisory. However, JTWC still considered Parma as a tropical storm.

On September 28, an area of convectional cloudiness formed 370 km (250 mi) to the northeast of Pohnpei.

Early on October 1, Melor intensified further from a severe tropical storm into a typhoon. Intensification continued, and by the afternoon of the same day the JTWC reported that Melor had intensified into a Category 1-equivalent 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. On October 4, 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,

Early on October 13, the JTWC reported that an area of convection had persisted about 380 nm to the northwest of Kwajalein.
On October 15, JMA upgraded it to a Tropical Storm with the name Lupit. On the afternoon of next day, JTWC reported that Lupit strengthened into a Category 1 typhoon. That evening, PAGASA started issuing warnings on Lupit as it entered into their area of responsibility and assigned its local name, Ramil.

By October 17, it rapidly intensified into a Category 3-equivalent typhoon. In the morning of the next day, it strengthened into a Category 4 typhoon, then strengthened further to Super Typhoon classification.

On October 20, Lupit weakened to a minimal typhoon. By the 24th, dry air entrainment and an unfavorable environment had weakened Lupit further to a strong tropical storm, and caused the storm to change track from its westward drift to accelerate northeastward.

JMA upgraded a Tropical Depression to Tropical Storm Mirinae on October 27, and it rapidly strengthened to a Typhoon, to a peak of 105-110 mph. It did not strengthen much further, due to wind shear and its fast movement of the typhoon.

PAGASA allocated the name Santi to the system the next day, as the storm had entered their area of responsibility. Then Mirinae crossed the Philippines, causing it to rapidly deorganize and was downgraded from a Category 2 Typhoon, to a tropical storm in one advisory. It then crossed into the South China Sea, and slowly, but steadily strengthened until it was very close to Vietnam. Where it rapidly intensified to a Typhoon again. It made landfall and rapidly weakened.

Early on November 21 the JTWC reported that an area of convection had persisted within a monsoon trough about 880 km, (545 mi) to the southeast of Guam.
On November 23, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm, and JMA followed suit allocating the name Nida. Later the next day, JTWC reported that Nida rapidly intensified into a the equivalent of a category 1 typhoon.

On November 25, JTWC reported that Nida intensified from category 2 to a category 4 super typhoon equivalent.

During the evening of November 25, Nida further intensified into an extremely intense Category 5 equivalent super typhoon, according to the JTWC, attaining winds of 285 km/h (180 mph) as it moved north west past Guam. Nida became the first storm of this intensity in the basin in terms of 10-minute winds (JMA) since Typhoon Jangmi in 2008. Additionally, the JMA reported that the barometric pressure had decreased to 905 mbar, ranking Nida as the strongest storm to form during 2009 worldwide,

On December 1, Nida weakened to a JMA Severe Tropical storm, with top winds weakening to 60 knots as Nida remained nearly stationary. By December 2, Nida began to move northward slowly, while weakening further to JMA Tropical Storm status. On December 3, Nida weakened into a PAGASA tropical depression.

Nida was one of the most intense cyclones ever to develop in the month of November.