Two Powerful Typhoons Make Landfall

This image, captured from Pacific Disaster Center’s Asia Pacific Natural Hazards and Vulnerabilities Atlas shows the past tracks, then-current positions and forecast tracks of tropical cyclones Mitag (23W) and Hagibis (24W) as of 11 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Wednesday, November 21. The coloration of the land masses here (Philippines, right center; Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, left) is a depiction of population density, with darker and redder areas being more heavily populated.

At 5 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 22, Philippine Standard Time (2100 Wednesday, UTC; 11 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time) tropical cyclone 23W (Hagibis), was crossing the warm waters of the South China Sea, heading towards the southeast coast of Vietnam as a typhoon. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) statement at the hour, warning #13, showed sustained winds of 65 knots (75 mph), with top gusts near 80 knots (92 mph). Ships at sea should be giving a wide berth to Hagibis as it spins west-northwest (285 degrees), at near 9 knots (10 mph). As 23W makes landfall, it will bring high surf to the coastline, along with heavy rain, and strong winds. As the storm moves inland over Vietnam, to the north of highly populated Ho Chi Minh City, flash flooding, land and mudslides will be likely. Residents in this area of Vietnam should prepare for inclement weather conditions, especially considering that this region has been struck by several tropical cyclones recently. In fact, the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” was activated to help provide space-based imagery products to disaster managers already dealing with severe flooding in this area. As 23W moves further inland, the winds will drop down quickly, although the associated heavy rains, with localized flash flooding will work their way well into the interior.

At the same time, 5 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 22, Philippine Standard Time, tropical cyclone 24W (Mitag), was in the Philippine Sea, to the east of the main Philippine Islands taking a path towards the east coast of Luzon Island. The JTWC’s warning #7 for this tropical storm showed it had increased rapidly in strength, and was then categorized as a typhoon, with 65 knot (75 mph) winds around its center and top gusts near 80 knots (92 mph). Mariners in the path of this strengthening tropical cyclone should be giving it a very wide berth as it moves in a more or less westerly direction (275 degrees), at 9 knots (10 mph). As the storm moves closer to the east coast of Luzon, high pounding surf will impact the central islands first. Boaters and coastal residents should be making preparations now. Clouds, loaded with heavy rain will arrive over the central islands before reaching Luzon, although both areas will see increasingly heavy rains, with localized dangerous flooding likely. Winds will be on the increase, reaching strong typhoon proportions, as this potent tropical cyclone reaches coastal areas. Winds and flooding rainfall can be expected across much of the Philippines as this second tropical cyclone brings its own inclement weather circumstances. This latest in a series of typhoons and tropical storms, will move out into the South China Sea, leaving the west coast of the Philippines behind.

GLIDE number assigned for Tropical Cyclone 24W: TC-2007-000211-PHL

This image, captured from Pacific Disaster Center’s Asia Pacific Natural Hazards and Vulnerabilities Atlas shows the same storm tracks as in the map above. The added color “balloons” that range from deep red to yellow for Mitag (23W)and are less extensive and less intense for Hagibis (24W), show the extent of storm damage predicted for lightly built and mobile homes in the affected areas.

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