Tropical Storm Faxai (2007)

This article is about the 2007 tropical storm. For other storms of the same name, see Typhoon Faxai (disambiguation).
Severe Tropical Storm Faxai (Juaning)
Severe tropical storm (JMA scale)
Tropical storm (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Satellite image of tropical storm

Tropical Storm Faxai on October 27
Formed October 25, 2007
Dissipated October 29, 2007
(Extratropical after October 27, 2007)
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 100 km/h (65 mph)
1-minute sustained: 75 km/h (45 mph)
Gusts: 150 km/h (90 mph)
Lowest pressure 975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg
Fatalities 1 direct, 9 injuries
Damage $1.5 million (2007 USD)
Areas affected Japan
Part of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season

Severe Tropical Storm Faxai, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Juaning, was a short-lived tropical storm that had minor effects on land. The twentieth named storm of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season, Faxai originated from a tropical depression over the open waters of the western Pacific Ocean in late October. The storm quickly strengthened, becoming a severe tropical storm on October 26 as it rapidly traveled towards the northeast. The storm became extratropical the following day as it brushed Japan. The remnants dissipated on October 28.

Although Faxai never made landfall, outer bands associated with the storm produced torrential rains, amounting to 458 mm (18 in) on Miyakejima. A Japan Airlines flight to Narita Airport encountered severe turbulence during the afternoon of October 27. One person sustained serious injures, and five others received minor injuries; the plane was damaged during the event. One person was killed near Tokyo as the storm passed by, and three others were injured. Damages from the storm amounted to ¥150 million (US$1.5 million).

Meteorological history

Tracking map of tropical storm
Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

Tropical Storm Faxai began as an area of convection that persisted about 805 kilometers (500 mi) west of Guam on October 24. Satellite imagery indicated broad cyclonic turning in the lower levels of the atmosphere, and a trough was located near the surface. Convection consolidated around the center of the low-level circulation, and the upper-level environment—low wind shear and good divergence—favored development.[1] The following day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression.[2] Shortly after, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert as convection deepened around a partially exposed low. The storm traveled northwest under the influences of a subtropical ridge to the north.[3] At 0000 UTC on October 26, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) designated the system as a tropical depression and gave it the local name Juaning.[4] Around the same time, the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and gave it the name Faxai.[2]

The JTWC issued advisories on Faxai, designating it as 20W; however, they classified it as a tropical depression.[5] Several hours later, the storm began to undergo an extratropical transition, with convection persisting mainly in the northwestern portion of the storm and cold, dry air entering into the southwestern portion.[6] At 1200 UTC, PAGASA issued their final advisory on Tropical Storm Juaning as it moved out of their area of responsibility.[4] The JTWC reported that Tropical Depression 20W (Faxai) had become extratropical around this time as it merged with a baroclinic zone. A cold front developed along the southern portion of Faxai, a feature of extratropical cyclones.[7] Around that time, the JMA upgraded Faxai to a severe tropical storm with winds of 95 km/h (60 mph 10-minute sustained).[2]

The JTWC subsequently upgraded the depression to a tropical storm based on the development of a well-defined central dense overcast. A shortwave trough located over the Korean peninsula provided a favorable upper-level environment for Faxai to intensify.[8] Early the next day, Faxai began accelerating rapidly towards the northeast in the mid-latitude westerlies. An anticyclone located over Japan created a strong pressure gradient between it and the tropical storm, causing the wind field of Faxai to expand significantly to the northeast. As the JTWC issued their final advisory,[9] they assessed the storm to have reached its peak intensity, with winds of 75 km/h (45 mph one-minute sustained).[10] The JMA also assessed Faxai to have reached its peak intensity at that time, with winds of 100 km/h (65 mph 10-minute sustained) and a minimum pressure of 975 hPa (mbar); however, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that Faxai had attained hurricane-force winds by this time, peaking at 130 km/h (80 mph).[11] The storm continued towards the northeast at a rapid pace and became extratropical off the eastern coast of Honshu around 1200 UTC on October 27. The extratropical remnants persisted for more than a day before dissipating over open waters late on October 28.[2] NOAA, on the other hand, continued to monitor the remnants of Faxai, with the system reaching the Aleutian Islands on October 29. The following day, the storm rapidly intensified, with the central pressure dropping to 957 hPa (mbar) by 1800 UTC. On October 31, the system tracked into Alaska and weakened.[11]

The Japan Meteorological Agency uses 10-minute sustained winds, while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center uses one-minute sustained winds.[12] The conversion factor between the two is 1.14.[13] JMA's peak intensity for Faxai was 100 km/h (65 mph) 10-minute sustained, or 120 km/h (75 mph) one-minute sustained.[2][13] The JTWC's peak intensity for Faxai was 75 km/h (45 mph) one-minute sustained, or 65 km/h (40 mph) 10-minute sustained.[13][14]

Preparations and impact

Satellite image of tropical storm
Tropical Storm Faxai on October 26

As Faxai approached Japan, All Nippon Airways canceled day flights between Tokyo and the Izu Islands. Tokai Kisen, which operates ferries between Tokyo, the Izu Islands, and Shizuoka Prefecture, canceled some services due to the storm. Areas around Tokyo were notified of the expected heavy rains, waves up to 6 m (19.6 ft), and high winds.[15] Residents were advised to stay indoors during the storm, especially after sunset, and to avoid possible flying debris.[16]

Although Faxai did not make landfall, the outer bands produced heavy rains, which caused minor damage along the eastern coast of Japan.[17] The highest total rainfall was recorded on Miyakejima at 458 mm (18 in) and in the Ōshima Subprefecture of Tokyo, 192 mm (7.5 in) was recorded.[18] The rainfall in Miyakejima nearly surpassed the record daily rainfall for October 27.[19] Rainfall rates peaked at 95 mm/h (3.7 in/h) on Miyaketsubota,[18] which triggered seven mudslides throughout the country.[17] One woman was killed near Tokyo,[20] and three people were injured. One home, two hectares of farmland, 2 km (1.2 mi) of roads, and one ship were damaged by the storm. At the height of the storm, 9,605 residences were without power throughout Japan. Damages from cyclone totaled ¥150 million (US$1.5 million).[17]

At 5:31 pm Japan Standard Time (0831 UTC) on October 27, a Japan Airlines Boeing 767-300 heading to Narita International Airport, encountered severe turbulence from Faxai about 74 km (46 mi) southeast of Narita. The turbulence caused seven injuries on the flight, as well as some damage to the plane.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 24, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "JMA Annual Tropical Cyclone Report for 2007" (PDF). Japan Meteorological Agency. 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  3. ↑ "TCWC Advisories for October 25, 2007 at 12Z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 25, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (June 13, 2008). "PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Warning Log". Typhoon 2000. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  5. ↑ "TCWC Advisories for October 26, 2007 at 00Z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  6. ↑ "TCWC Advisories for October 26, 2007 at 06Z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  7. ↑ "TCWC Advisories for October 26, 2007 at 12Z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  8. ↑ "TCWC Advisories for October 26, 2007 at 18Z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  9. ↑ "TCWC Advisories for October 27, 2007 at 00Z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 27, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  10. ↑ "JTWC Best Track for Tropical Storm 20W (Faxai)". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  11. 1 2 George P. Bancroft (April 2008). "Mariners Weather Log Volume 58 Number 1". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 "Section 2 Intensity Observation and Forecast Errors". United States Navy. 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  14. ↑ "JTWC Best Track for Tropical Storm 20W (Faxai)". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  15. ↑ Ron Rhodes (October 27, 2007). "Typhoon Faxai Nears Central Japan; Flights Canceled (Update1)". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  16. ↑ 増田雅昭 (October 27, 2007). 韋駄天（いだてん）台風、接近中 (in Japanese). Yahoo Japan Corporation. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 Japan Meteorological Agency (2008). "41st Session Country Report: Japan" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  18. 1 2 "Japan Rainfall for October 25 to 28, 2007". National Institute of Informatics. 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  19. ↑ Staff Writer (November 2, 2007). "Tropical Storm Faxai Drenches Parts of Japan". Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Tropical Storm Faxai Drenches Parts of Japan". Earth Environment Service. November 2, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  21. ↑ Japan Airlines (December 19, 2008). "Aircraft Accident Investigation Report" (PDF). Japan Transport Safety Board. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
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