Typhoon Ruth (1951)


Typhoon Ruth was a typhoon that hit Japan in October 1951.[1][2]

Typhoon Ruth
Analysis of Typhoon Ruth on October 12
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 8, 1951
DissipatedOctober 15, 1951
Category 4-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds220 km/h (140 mph)
Lowest pressure924 hPa (mbar); 27.29 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities572 died, 371 missing
Areas affectedGuam, Northern Mariana Islands, Yap, Japan
IBTrACS
Part of the 1951 Pacific typhoon season

Preparations
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Storm warnings were issued for southern Japan on October 13.[3] Planes in Tokyo were grounded and courier service to Korea was suspended.[4]

Impact
USS Badoeng Strait in Typhoon Ruth

Ruth impacted Japan between October 13–15, killing 572 people and injuring another 2,644; 371 people were left unaccounted for.[5] Many of these deaths arose from river flooding triggered by Ruth.[6] The storm damaged 221,118 homes and 9,596 ships, as well as some 3.5 million bushels of rice.[5] Due to Ruth's large size, much of the country was affected by the typhoon's winds and rains. A peak wind gust of 195 km/h (121 mph) and a rainfall total of 639.3 mm (25.17 in) was recorded at Kamiyaku, Kagoshima; both of these values were the highest recorded in Japan from Ruth.[6] Yamaguchi Prefecture was most severely impacted by the typhoon.[5][7] Coastal areas were inundated and communications were disrupted.[8] Winds reaching 150 km/h (95 mph) and waves 13.5 m (44 ft) high struck Sasebo, Nagasaki, sinking ships and damaging others in the harbor; among them were warships deployed for the Korean War.[9] American military installations throughout Japan incurred over US$1 million in damage.[10] Overall property damage in Japan was estimated at US$25 million, affecting an estimated 123,773 people;[11] total damage to property, crops, and forests reached US$55 million.[12]

See also

References
  1. "ルース台風 昭和26年（1951年） 10月10日～10月15日". www.data.jma.go.jp. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  2. "Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 195115 (RUTH) – Disaster Information". agora.ex.nii.ac.jp. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  3. "Typhoon 'Ruth' Swirls Toward Japan's Coast". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Reuters. October 14, 1951. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Winds Send Troopship Onto Jap Island Shoal". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. No. 257. Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. October 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Kitamoto, Asanobu. "Typhoon 195115 (RUTH)". Digital Typhoon. National Institute of Informatics. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. "ルース台風". 災害をもたらした気象事例 (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  7. "Typhoon Damages Rice". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. No. 263. Fort Worth, Texas. Reuters. October 21, 1951. p. 12. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  8. "Typhoon Hits U.S. Troopship Aground Off Japanese Coast". The Scranton Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. United Press. October 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Typhoon Ruth – 14–15 October 1951". Anzac Day Commemoration Committee. ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland) Incorporated. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  10. "Transfer 500 From Wrecked Ship". The Mt. Pleasant News. Vol. 73, no. 243. Mount Pleasant, Iowa. International News Service. October 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Typhoon Blows Out Harmlessly". The Elwood Call-Leader. No. 245. Elwood, Indiana. International News Service. October 16, 1951. p. 6. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Nearly 500 Die in Jap Typhoon". Visalia Times-Delta. No. 174. Visalia, California. Associated Press. October 17, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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