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2020 Pacific typhoon season

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2020 Pacific typhoon season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedMay 10, 2020
Last system dissipatedSeason ongoing
Strongest storm
NameVongfong
 • Maximum winds155 km/h (100 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure960 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions1
Total storms1
Typhoons1
Total fatalities2 total
Total damage$3.67 million (2020 USD)
Related articles
Pacific typhoon seasons
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022


The 2020 Pacific typhoon season is a late-starting, ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones form in the western Pacific Ocean. The season runs throughout the year, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The season's first tropical cyclone developed on May 10, making it the sixth-latest start in the basin on record, just slightly behind 1973, and the most recent start since 2016.

The season’s first named storm, Vongfong (Ambo), developed east of Mindanao and rapidly intensified to become a Category 3 typhoon, undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle, then restrengthening to struck the Philippines at peak intensity, from San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, Visayas to Ilocos Sur, Luzon, causing widespread damages to the country, while the Philippines was in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator between 100°E and 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, there are two separate agencies that assign names to tropical cyclones which can often result in a cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) will name a tropical cyclone should it be judged to have 10-minute sustained wind speeds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) anywhere in the basin, whilst the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N–25°N regardless of whether or not a tropical cyclone has already been given a name by the JMA. Tropical depressions that are monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a number with a "W" suffix.

Seasonal forecasts

TSR forecasts
Date		 Tropical
storms		 Total
Typhoons		 Intense
TCs		 ACE Ref.
Other forecasts
Date		 Forecast
Center		 Period Systems Ref.
January 22, 2020 PAGASA January–March 0–4 tropical cyclones [1]
January 22, 2020 PAGASA April–June 2–5 tropical cyclones [1]
2020 season Forecast
Center		 Tropical
cyclones		 Tropical
storms		 Typhoons Ref.
Actual activity: JMA 1 1 1
Actual activity: JTWC 1 1 1
Actual activity: PAGASA 1 1 1

During the year several national meteorological services and scientific agencies forecast how many tropical cyclones, tropical storms, and typhoons will form during a season and/or how many tropical cyclones will affect a particular country. These agencies include the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Consortium of University College London, PAGASA and Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. The first forecast for the year was released by PAGASA on January 22 predicting the first half of 2020, within its monthly seasonal climate outlook.[1] The PAGASA predicts that only 0-4 tropical cyclones are expected to form or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility between January and March, while five to eight tropical cyclones are expected to form between April and June. This was due to the fact that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation was seeing neutral conditions across the Pacific, and could persist until midyear.[1]

Season summary

Typhoon Vongfong (2020)

The first few months of 2020 were extremely quiet, with no tropical systems developing between the months of January and April. On May 10, the season saw its first tropical system with the development of Tropical Depression 01W (Ambo), making it the sixth-latest starting season on record, as well as the latest since 2016. Ambo then lingered east of Mindanao for some time. Two days later, the system strengthened to the first officially named tropical storm of the season, Vongfong. Tropical Storm Vongfong then intensified immediately into a significant typhoon and struck multiple places in the Philippines on May 14th, first making it’s landfall in San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, crossing 4 more islands and hit mainland Luzon, where the circulation of Vongfong was destroyed completely, and dissipating west of the Batanes Islands.

Systems

Typhoon Vongfong (Ambo)

Very strong typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)
 
DurationMay 10 – Present
Peak intensity155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min);
965 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Typhoon Vongfong (2020)

After 4 consecutive months of inactivity in the Western Pacific basin, a low-pressure area was first noted on May 9 by the JTWC near Micronesia and was given a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. The following day, the JMA declared that it had developed into a tropical depression to the east of Mindanao, Philippines and was expected to slowly move west. The JTWC then issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for the embryonic system just hours later while convection began to gradually obscure the center. Later that day, the PAGASA followed suit and upgraded the system to a tropical depression, assigning it the name Ambo, as it became the first tropical cyclone to enter their area of responsibility for 2020.[2][3] The system began to slowly drift westwards throughout the proceeding days,[4] gradually intensifying with occasional convective bursts occurring near the slightly elongated circulation. On the next day, the JTWC upgraded Ambo into a tropical depression, designating it as 01W.[5] The storm gradually intensified throughout the day, as signified by a well-defined rain band developing on the northwestern side, and began to turn north. At this time, the JMA upgraded 01W to a tropical storm and assigned it the first name of the year, Vongfong.[6] Shortly after, the JTWC followed and upgraded the system to tropical storm intensity.[7] Utilizing favorable conditions with low wind shear, 29-30°C waters, and excellent outflow, Vongfong began to rapidly intensify by early May 13.[8] Shortly after, the JMA upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm. Soon after, the JTWC upgraded the storm to a Category 1 typhoon with 1-minute sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) as the structure quickly improved. The PAGASA and JMA would then upgrade the system to a typhoon later in the day,[8] with the JTWC quickly upgrading the system to a Category 2 typhoon as the eye became clearer. A few hours later, Vongfong intensified to a category 3-equivalent typhoon.[9] Vongfong made an eyewall replacement cycle and weakened back into a Category 2 typhoon. Typhoon Vongfong quickly finished its eyewall replacement cycle and re-intensified back into a Category 3 typhoon east of Samar Island. At 12:15 pm PST on May 14, Vongfong made its first landfall in San Policarpo, Eastern Samar.[10] Vongfong gradually weakened shortly after, crossing over the Ticao Pass as it moved further inland near Sorsogon.[11] By the succeeding day, PAGASA recorded five more landfalls: hitting the islands of Dalupiri Island, Capul Island, Ticao Island, Burias Island, and San Andres, Quezon in Luzon Island's Bondoc Peninsula.[12] Ambo weakened into a Category 1 storm due to these multiple landfalls. The system further weakened on May 15th and was downgraded by the Japan Meteorological Agency and PAGASA to a severe tropical storm,[13] with the JTWC downgrading it to a tropical storm as well. Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong then brought heavy rains and winds to the capital Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon. Then, Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong made it’s 7th landfall in Real, Quezon, and began to head further inland into Luzon, particularly Bulacan, continuing to deliver very heavy rainfall across the entirety of Central Luzon.[14][15] Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong further weakened and was downgraded by the JMA and the PAGASA into a tropical storm while it was inland Luzon. The weakening trend continued, and by May 16, Vongfong exited the landmass of Luzon into the waters of the West Philippine Sea, west of Ilocos Sur. After hitting many places in the Philippines, Tropical Storm Vongfong weakened into a low end-tropical storm. The JTWC then downgraded Vongfong into a tropical depression, and soon after that, they issued their final warning on the system, despite the JMA keeping it as a tropical storm. The PAGASA also downgraded Vongfong to a tropical depression, as Vongfong became very disorganized, and very damaged by the Luzon landmass. Soon, the Japan Meteorological Agency gave their final warning on Vongfong, as its low-level circulation center (LLCC) became exposed in the Luzon Strait. However, PAGASA still kept Ambo (Vongfong) as a tropical depression.

In preparation for the incoming Typhoon Vongfong, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #3 warnings were issued for Northern Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.[16] According to the NDRRMC, Typhoon Vongfong (Ambo) left ₱79.9 million (US$1.58 million) worth of damages in agriculture, and left 4 dead (3 in Eastern Visayas and 1 in Quezon Province), as of May 17.[17]

Storm names

See also: Tropical cyclone naming and History of tropical cyclone naming

Within the Northwest Pacific Ocean, both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assign names to tropical cyclones that develop in the Western Pacific, which can result in a tropical cyclone having two names.[18] The Japan Meteorological Agency's RSMC Tokyo — Typhoon Center assigns international names to tropical cyclones on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization's Typhoon Committee, should they be judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).[19] PAGASA names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N and 25°N even if the cyclone has had an international name assigned to it.[18] The names of significant tropical cyclones are retired, by both PAGASA and the Typhoon Committee.[19] Should the list of names for the Philippine region be exhausted then names will be taken from an auxiliary list of which the first ten are published each season. Unused names are marked in gray.

International names

Main article: List of retired Pacific typhoon names

A tropical cyclone is named when it is judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).[20] The JMA selected the names from a list of 140 names, that had been developed by the 14 members nations and territories of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee.[21] Retired names, if any, will be announced by the WMO in 2021; replacement names will be announced in 2022. The next 28 names on the naming list are listed here along with their international numeric designation, if they are used.

  • Vongfong (2001) (active)
  • Nuri (unused)
  • Sinlaku (unused)
  • Hagupit (unused)
  • Jangmi (unused)
  • Mekkhala (unused)
  • Higos (unused)
  • Bavi (unused)
  • Maysak (unused)
  • Haishen (unused)
  • Noul (unused)
  • Dolphin (unused)
  • Kujira (unused)
  • Chan-hom (unused)
  • Linfa (unused)
  • Nangka (unused)
  • Saudel (unused)
  • Molave (unused)
  • Goni (unused)
  • Atsani (unused)
  • Etau (unused)
  • Vamco (unused)
  • Krovanh (unused)
  • Dujuan (unused)
  • Surigae (unused)
  • Choi-wan (unused)
  • Koguma (unused)
  • Champi (unused)

Philippines

This season, PAGASA will use its own naming scheme for storms that will either develop within or move into their self-defined area of responsibility.[22] The names are taken from a list of names that were last used during 2016 and are scheduled to be used again during 2024.[22] All of the names are the same except Kristine, Leon, and Nika, which replaced the names Karen, Lawin, and Nina after they were retired.[22]

  • Ambo (2001) (active)
  • Butchoy (unused)
  • Carina (unused)
  • Dindo (unused)
  • Enteng (unused)
  • Ferdie (unused)
  • Gener (unused)
  • Helen (unused)
  • Igme (unused)
  • Julian (unused)
  • Kristine (unused)
  • Leon (unused)
  • Marce (unused)
  • Nika (unused)
  • Ofel (unused)
  • Pepito (unused)
  • Quinta (unused)
  • Rolly (unused)
  • Siony (unused)
  • Tonyo (unused)
  • Ulysses (unused)
  • Vicky (unused)
  • Warren (unused)
  • Yoyong (unused)
  • Zosimo (unused)

Auxiliary list

  • Alakdan (unused)
  • Baldo (unused)
  • Clara (unused)
  • Dencio (unused)
  • Estong (unused)
  • Felipe (unused)
  • Gomer (unused)
  • Heling (unused)
  • Ismael (unused)
  • Julio (unused)

Season effects

This table summarizes all the systems that developed within or moved into the North Pacific Ocean, to the west of the International Date Line during 2020. The tables also provide an overview of a systems intensity, duration, land areas affected and any deaths or damages associated with the system.

Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD) 		Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
Vongfong (Ambo) May 10 – present Typhoon 155 km/h (100 mph) 960 hPa (28.50 inHg) Palau, Philippines $3.67 million 4
Season aggregates
1 system May 10 – Season ongoing 155 km/h (100 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) $3.67 million 4

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d 121st Climate Forum March-August 2020 (PDF) (Seasonal Climate Outlook). Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. January 22, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "First storm this year to hit Mindanao, PAGASA says". CNN Philippines. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #1 for Tropical Depression "Ambo"" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #3 for Tropical Depression "Ambo"" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Retrieved May 12, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Tropical Depression 01W Warning Nr 1". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. April 12, 2020. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 11, 2020 suggested (help)
  6. ^ Shu-fen, Wang; Hsin-Yin, Lee (May 12, 2020). "Tropical Storm Vongfong likely to approach Taiwan over weekend: CWB". Focus Taiwan.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Tropical Storm 01W (Vongfong) Warning Nr 004". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. May 12, 2020. Archived from the original on May 12, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Severe Weather Bulletin #10 - Typhoon "AMBO" (VONGFONG)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
  9. ^ "Typhoon 01W (Vongfong) Warning Nr 009". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. May 13, 2020. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #14 for Typhoon "Ambo" (Vongfong)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. May 14, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #17 - Typhoon "AMBO" (VONGFONG)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  12. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #20 for Typhoon "Ambo" (Vongfong)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #22 for Severe Tropical Storm "Ambo" (Vongfong)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #25 - Severe Tropical Storm "AMBO" (VONGFONG)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong Takes Aim at Philippine Heartland". No. May 15, 2020. The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Severe Weather Bulletin #11 - Typhoon "AMBO" (VONGFONG)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  17. ^ "SitRep No.04 re Preparedness Measures for Tropical Storm AMBO" (PDF). NDRRMC. May 16, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Padgett, Gary. "Monthly Tropical Cyclone Summary December 1999". Australian Severe Weather. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  19. ^ a b The Typhoon Committee (February 21, 2013). "Typhoon Committee Operational Manual 2013". World Meteorological Organization. pp. 37–38. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  20. ^ "1REVIEW OF THE 2015TYPHOON SEASON" (PDF). typhooncommittee.org. 2016. Retrieved 2019-12-11. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ Zhou, Xiao; Lei, Xiaotu (2012). "Summary of retired typhoons within the Western North Pacific Ocean". Tropical Cyclone Research and Review. 1 (1). The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization's Typhoon Committee: 23–32. doi:10.6057/2012TCRR01.03. ISSN 2225-6032. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  22. ^ a b c "Philippine Tropical Cyclone Names". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2015.


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