Typhoon Wanda (1956)

Typhoon Wanda was one of the deadliest typhoons to impact China, and was the strongest typhoon to impact Zhejiang since Typhoon Nina in 1953.

Typhoon Wanda
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS)
FormedJuly 25, 1956
DissipatedAugust 5, 1956
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 295 km/h (185 mph)
Lowest pressure915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg
Fatalities4,935
Areas affectedTaiwan and China
Part of the 1956 Pacific typhoon season

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

A tropical depression developed southwest of Guam on July 25. It moved north-northeastward, passing east of the Northern Marianas. On July 27, it intensified into a tropical storm and was designated Wanda. On the same day, the storm turned more westward, steered by the subtropical ridge to the north. Low wind shear and warm waters allowed Wanda to intensify steadily, developing into an intense typhoon. On July 30, reconnaissance aircraft recorded a minimum pressure of 902 mbar (26.6 inHg), and the peak winds were estimated at 295 km/h (185 mph). After passing through the Miyako Islands, Wanda weakened slightly and traversed the East China Sea. On August 1, the typhoon made landfall in eastern China near Zhoushan, Zhejiang, producing a pressure of 923 mbar (27.3 inHg); this was the lowest pressure recorded in China from a tropical cyclone. Wanda slowly weakened while progressing through China, dissipating on August 5.[1][2]

Impact

Taipei on Taiwan recorded 297.3 mm (11.70 in) of rainfall over three days while the typhoon would pass to the north. Along the coast of Zhejiang, Wanda produced a 5.02 m (16.5 ft) storm surge that destroyed 465 seawalls and 902 boats. The storm also flooded crop fields, destroying 20,380 tons of wheat. Across Zhejiang, 2.2 million houses and 38.5% of the main roads were damaged during the storm. Nationwide, Wanda killed 4,935 people and injured 16,617 others.[2]

Effects of Typhoon Wanda
Damage caused by Wanda
Damage caused by Wanda
Certain air force personnel carry relief supplies onto a plane after the typhoon
Seawall being repaired after the typhoon
Xiangshan Newsletter when Wanda made landfall

See also

References
  1. Japan Meteorological Agency (June 1, 1989). "RSMC Best Track Data – 1951–1959". Archived from the original (TXT) on March 22, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  2. Peijun Shi, ed. (2016). Natural Disasters in China. Nature. pp. 123–126. ISBN 9783662502709.


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