Typhoon Songda (2011)

Typhoon Songda, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Chedeng, was the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2011. It caused moderate damage in the Philippines when it paralleled the country to the east as a Category 5–equivalent super typhoon; it later affected Taiwan and Japan as a weakening system. The fourth tropical depression, second named storm and the first super typhoon of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season, Songda formed from a non-tropical low that was embedded from the Intertropical Convergence Zone on May 17. An area of low-pressure subsequently formed and became organized for the JTWC to issue a TCFA on the system and the JMA to issue advisories, before both agencies declared it a tropical storm, earning the name Songda. Under favorable conditions, Songda slowly intensified as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, with the PAGASA naming it Chedeng on May 23. On the next day, the three agencies declared the system a typhoon before rapidly intensifying to a super typhoon over the Philippine Sea. As it entered an unfavorable environment for further strengthening, Songda slowly weakened as it passed near Taiwan, before becoming extratropical near Japan. The remnants of the system slowly moved to the northeast, before absorbing to another extratropical cyclone to the south of Alaska.

This article is about the 2011 typhoon. For other storms of the same name, see Typhoon Songda.
Typhoon Songda (Chedeng)
Typhoon Songda at its peak intensity, nearing the northeastern Philippines on May 27
Meteorological history
FormedMay 19, 2011
ExtratropicalMay 29, 2011
DissipatedJune 4, 2011
Violent typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds195 km/h (120 mph)
Lowest pressure920 hPa (mbar); 27.17 inHg
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure918 hPa (mbar); 27.11 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities17
Damage$65.2 million
Areas affectedMicronesia, Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Japan
IBTrACS
Part of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season

As Songda skirted the eastern Philippines, the typhoon caused four deaths and caused flash floods and significant landslides across the affected part of the country; however, the total damages in the country are unknown. Despite the storm becoming extratropical as it passed Japan, it caused heavy rains which led to flash floods and there were also reports of landslides. Thirteen individuals were killed due to unknown reasons. In total, Songda was blamed for 17 deaths and caused over ¥7.06 billion ($65.156 million) worth of damages across its path.

Meteorological history
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
Tropical Storm Songda on May 22

On May 17, a weak non-tropical system formed within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), to the east of Palau.[1] Two days later, the system coalesced to an area of low pressure, while located to the southeast of Yap.[2] Under the influence of a subtropical ridge, the small system rapidly became organized, with the JMA issuing its first advisory as a minor tropical depression on the same day.[1] The JTWC followed suit, issuing its first bulletin on the system as Tropical Depression 04W, the next day.[2] At this time, the depression was located in a favorable environment for further development.[3] Later that day, the JTWC announced that the depression became a tropical storm; however, this was underestimated that the agency downgraded the system to a tropical depression, based from the observations from Yap Island.[2] On the morning of May 21, both the JMA and the JTWC reported in their bulletins that the depression finally strengthened to a tropical storm, with the former naming it Songda.[1][2] On May 23, the storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with the PAGASA issuing their first bulletin as Tropical Storm Chedeng, while located, approximately 880 km to the east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.[4] At 12:00 UTC on the next day, the JTWC reported that Songda became a typhoon, which was followed by the JMA, 12 hours later.[2][1] On the same day, the PAGASA stated that Chedeng became a typhoon, to the east of Eastern Samar.[5] Due to the warm waters around the storm, the typhoon underwent rapid intensification, becoming a super typhoon on the next day.[6][2][7]

Super Typhoon Songda near its peak intensity on May 26

It further strengthened, peaking with 1-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) and with a minimum central pressure of 920 hPa (mbar; 27.17 inHg) on the next day, May 27.[2][3][1][8] Afterwards, the violent super typhoon began to weaken, possibly due to the eyewall replacement cycle; however, it continued to weaken as it passed to the east of Taiwan,[9] before exiting the PAR on May 28,[10] shortly before striking the southern tip of Japan on May 29.[11][12] It soon became extratropical, with the JMA and JTWC issuing their final advisories on the same day.[2][1] The extratropical remnants of Songda were last noted on June 4, as it was absorbed by another extratropical cyclone to the south of Alaska.[3]

Preparations and impact

Songda caused 17 deaths across the Philippine archipelago and Japan, and caused ¥7.06 billion ($ 65.156 million) worth of damages.

Philippines
TMPA rainfall totals from May 23 to 31, 2011

As the tropical storm entered the area of responsibility of the country, the NDRRMC issued an advisory for the low-lying areas of the country to be aware of the flash floods and possible landslides as the storm influences the southwest monsoon.[4] As Chedeng nears the country, they raised a Public Storm Warning Signal, early on May 24 over the eastern portion of Visayas, which would later be expanded to Bicol Region, some parts of Calabarzon, eastern Central Luzon and the eastern portion of the Northern Luzon, including Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands.[5][6][8]

As forecasted, Songda brought widespread floods and various landslides across the region, forcing over 313,000 people to flee temporarily.[13][14] A gold mine tunnel was washed away by a landslide, killing three miners.[14] The NDRRMC reported that two more individuals are killed due to drowning.[15][16] However, the total damages in the country are unknown.

Taiwan and eastern China

The country of Taiwan issued a warning for ships for gales due to Songda. They also warned the people, to be ready in case of heavy flooding as the typhoon passes to the east of the island country. However, the data after the typhoon in the country are unknown.[9]

On Thursday, Chinese meteorological authorities issued a warning for the super typhoon, which is moving close to the southern coast of the country, causing powerful winds and waves.[17] The damages and fatalities, if any, are unknown.

Japan

The East Japan Railway Co. stopped the train services on the Tohoku line, causing long queues for taxis outside of the train stations. The 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Okinawa Prefecture was deployed, in case of marine emergencies due to the storm approaching the country. Over 400,000 individuals were also evacuated in safe areas for the extratropical storm.[18][19] The individuals from the Tokyo Electric Power Company, assessing the damages from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident were halted due to the storm.[20][21]

A total of 67 people were injured due to Songda, despite the system being extratropical.[22][23] The extratropical system also caused heavy flooding and some landslides across southern Japan. A person was killed in Ehime Prefecture due to drowning.[24] Strong waves were shown in TV footages in Miyako, and some roads were turned into large rivers.[23] In the areas affected by the recent Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March of the same year, it caused the largest inundation and flooding, before Typhoon Roke in mid-September of the same year.[25][26] The extratropical storm set some records on the country; including the highest maximum instantaneous wind speed, which was recorded at Okinawa Prefecture, and the record heavy rain at the northern part of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture, and the 24-hour precipitation on Yakushima, with 120 mm and 457.7 mm, respectively.[27][28] Some anxieties were also caused by higher radioactive water levels. Tepco said it would carefully track the water levels in reactors to ensure that rainwater does not leak in. Tepco said that water rose by almost 8 inches in 24 hours in the basement of one of the six reactor constructions—almost 20 feet.[23]

References
  1. "平成23年 台風第2号について" (PDF). 沖縄気象台. 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  2. "Annual Tropical Cyclone Report of 2011" (PDF). JTWC. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  3. "台風201102号 (SONGDA) - 詳細経路情報". デジタル台風. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  4. "Severe Weather Bulletin No. 1 re Tropical Storm (TS) "CHEDENG" (SONGDA)" (PDF). NDRRMC. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  5. "Severe Weather Bulletin No. 9 re Typhoon "CHEDENG" (SONGDA)" (PDF). NDRRMC. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  6. "Severe Weather Bulletin No. 15 re Typhoon "CHEDENG" (SONGDA)" (PDF). NDRRMC. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  7. "Typhoon Songda". NASA Earth Observatory. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  8. "Severe Weather Bulletin No. 18 re Typhoon "CHEDENG" (SONGDA)" (PDF). NDRRMC. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  9. "Taiwan issues sea warning for Typhoon Songda". Associated Press. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  10. "Severe Weather Bulletin No. 22 (FINAL) re Typhoon "CHEDENG" (SONGDA)" (PDF). 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  11. "Typhoon Songda hits southern Japan". Aljazeera. 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  12. 北本朝展 (2011-05-29). "台風201102号 (SONGDA)". デジタル台風. 国立情報学研究所. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
  13. "Philippines: Typhoon Songda - May 2011". ReliefWeb. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  14. "Chedeng death toll rises to 3". ABS-CBN NEWS. 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  15. "Sitrep No.15 re:Preparedness Initiatives and Effects of Typhoon "CHEDENG" (SONGDA)" (PDF). 2011-05-31.
  16. "Global Hazards - May 2011". 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  17. "China issues warning for super-typhoon Songda". ReliefWeb. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  18. "台風2号：11管が非常配備体制発令". 沖縄タイムス. 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  19. Unattributed (May 29, 2011). "57 Injured in Okinawa, Tokyo Next". Accuweather. Star Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  20. "台風のため、予定していた一時帰宅を中止". 読売新聞. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  21. "一時帰宅、台風で延期 福島・楢葉など3町". MSN産経ニュース. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  22. "台風2号：温帯低気圧に 愛媛1人死亡、長崎1人不明". 毎日新聞. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  23. "Tropical Storm Songda Hits Japan Region Still Reeling From Earthquake and Tsunami". ABC News. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  24. "台風2号、長崎で1人不明・沖縄で61人けが". 読売新聞. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  25. Japan Meteorological Agency (ed.). "「平成23年（2011年）東北地方太平洋沖地震」について～７年間の地震活動～" [About 2011 Tōhoku earthquake – Seismic activities for 7 years -] (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2018. on 6 March 2018.
  26. Unattributed (May 28, 2011). 【台風1102号】沖縄：久米島灯台 風速55メートル (in Japanese). 吟遊詩人の戯言. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  27. "梅雨前線及び台風第2号による大雨に関する福井県気象速報" (PDF). 福井地方気象台. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  28. "NASA's TRMM Satellite Confirms that Japan Gets Heaviest Rainfall From Songda". NASA. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
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