Typhoon Fitow

Meteorological history

The origins of Typhoon Fitow were from a persistent area of convection, or thunderstorms, about 310 kilometres (195 miles) north-northeast of Palau, an island in the western Pacific Ocean during mid-late September. At the time, wind shear dislocated the convection to the west of a broad and poorly-defined circulation. Although the system was poorly organized, tropical cyclone forecast models noted the potential for development to occur. The convection gradually consolidated and outflow increased to the west, indicative of increased organization. Early on September 29, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) declared that a tropical depression formed about 310 km (195 mi) to the northeast of Palau. Around the same time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also began issuing warnings on the depression, giving it the local name Quedan. Early on September 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 22W, noting that the circulation had become increasingly well-defined amid decreasing wind shear.

With a ridge to the east, the system tracked to the north-northwest through an area of warm water temperatures. At 1200 UTC on September 30, the JMA upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Fitow. Although outflow and convection increased in general, the thunderstorm activity diminished over the center due to sinking air. By late on October 1, however, convection increased over Fitow's center, and the next day the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm. On October 2, an eye began developing on satellite imagery, although the rainbands wrapping into the eye were fragmented. It took until midday on October 3 for the JTWC to upgrade Fitow to typhoon status, with 1–minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph). By that time, the convection had increased in coverage and intensity, with outflow increased by a trough to the north. The JMA did not follow suit until 1200 UTC on October 4, by which time the eye had become better defined.

After officially becoming a typhoon, Fitow turned more to the northwest due to the ridge building to the east. Despite increasing wind shear, the typhoon continued to intensify due to amplified outflow. Late on October 4, the JMA upgraded Fitow to peak 10–minute winds of 140 km/h (85 mph). Early the next day, the JTWC estimated peak 1–minute winds of 165 mph (105 km/h), and shortly thereafter the typhoon passed about 225 km (140 mph) south of Okinawa. By that time, the eye had expanded to 75 km (45 mi), which initially remained unaffected by the increased wind shear. Also on October 5, PAGASA issued the final advisory as the storm exited the agency's area of responsibility. Around 1500 UTC on October 5, Fitow passed about 40 km (65 mi) north of Miyako-jima, by which time the eye began deteriorating. As the typhoon passed northeast of Taiwan, the ragged eye became cloud-filled and the convection weakened. Late on October 6, Fitow made landfall just south of Wenzhou in eastern China, at Fuding in Fujian province. Fitow became the strongest China typhoon landfall for the month since 1949 according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), with a landfall pressure of 955 mbar (28.2 inHg) and sustained winds of 151 km/h (94 mph). While continuing northwestward near the border of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, Fitow rapidly weakened, dissipating on October 7.

Preparations

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, 288 flights at Naha Airport were canceled, affecting 28,000 people. Officials also canceled bus, monorail, and ferry services. In South Korea, workers involved with the 2013 Formula One season issued a typhoon alert and began planning contingencies in the event Fitow affected the Korean Grand Prix. Officials in Taiwan issued a storm warning before Fitow passed north of the island. The Taiwan military activated 20,000 troops to protect and be on standby. Seventeen ferry services between Taiwan and the offshore islands were terminated, and over 200 flights were canceled. Schools and government offices closed in portions of Taiwan due to the storm.

Ahead of the storm, officials in China issued warnings for Zhejiang and Fujian for the potential of high winds and flooding, which was later credited for reducing casualties. The Chinese army was utilized to assist in mitigating against potential flooding. Officials told boat owners to put their property in shelter, totaling 65,000 vessels ordered to return to report. Coastal facilities such as seaside bathing centers were closed. Before Fitow struck China, 177,000 people evacuated in Fujian and a further 574,000 evacuated their houses in Zhejiang, totaling 751,000 people. In Shanghai, 42 train or bus rides were canceled, along with 40 canceled flights. Two airports in Zhejiang had 49 canceled flights, with another 20 canceled in Fujian.

Impact

In Japan, Fitow produced peak wind gusts of 133 km/h (83 mph) on Miyako-jima, where about 6,800 homes lost power. Winds gusted to 193 km/h (120 mph) on Yoronjima to the north of Okinawa, while 167 km/h (104 mph) gusts were recorded at Kunigami on the northern tip of Okinawa. In Okinawa, the typhoon caused power outages, disrupted transportation, and damaged farms. In Japan, Fitow damaged 1,464 homes and injured five people.

While passing north of Taiwan, Fitow dropped heavy rainfall reaching 536 mm (21.1 in) at a station in Hsinchu County. In the county, the rains forced 224 people to evacuate their houses. Mudslides and the threat for flooding spurred officials to close portions of two provincial highways. The typhoon also produced strong winds that caused power outages for 6,900 people.

China

Throughout eastern China, the high winds and rains knocked down trees and ruined local shrimp and seaweed farms, and overall 75,000 hectares (185,000 acres) of crops were flooded, including 46,800 ha (116,000 acres) in Wenzhou. Widespread areas were flooded, forcing residents to travel by boats. Fitow damaged or destroyed about 95,000 houses. The typhoon killed 12 people in the country, and left ¥63.1 billion in damage (2013 RMB, $10.3 billion USD). Insured losses from Fitow totaled ¥6 billion (RMB, $1 billion USD), the second costliest event on record for China.

As Fitow made landfall in mainland China, it produced wind gusts of 274 km/h (170 mph) in the Shiping Mountains of Zhejiang, setting a record for the province. The typhoon spread heavy rainfall across eastern China in the Jiangnan region, in conjunction with a plume of cold air. An area 175,000 km² (68,000 sq mi) wide received 50 mm (2.0 in) of precipitation, while an area of 38,000 km² (15,000 sq mi) wide received over 250 mm (9.8 in) of rainfall. Yuyao in Zhejiang reported a peak rainfall total of 803 millimetres (31.6 in), a record for the city, while Ningbo reported a daily average of 390 mm (15 in) over three days, setting a record. A station in Shanghai reported 152.9 mm (6.02 in), the highest daily rainfall total since 1961. The rains increased levels along 17 rivers, rising from 0.09 to 2.79 m (0.30 to 9.15 ft), and Lake Tai rose by 3.60 m (11.8 ft). The Yaojiang River, a tributary of the Yongjiang river, reached its highest levels on record, reaching a height of 5.33 m (17.5 ft) in Yuyao.

Across eastern China, Fitow left heavy damage due to strong winds, heavy rainfall, and a powerful storm surge. Floodwaters covered about 70% of the metropolis of Yuyao, reaching 3 m (9.8 ft) in some areas, which cut off power and water supply. The floods were the worst in a century for the city, covering most roadways, and forcing most schools, health facilities, and factories to close. In the city, about 100,000 people were forced to evacuate, with 289 temporary shelters opened. Damage in the city alone totaled about ¥20 billion (RMB, $3.25 billion USD). In Ningbo in eastern Zhejiang, Fitow wrecked 26,180 houses and damaged local fish farms, killing 51,000 tons of fish. The storm forced 18,134 factories to shut down, and there were also power and telecommunication outages.

In Shanghai, high waters along the Huangpu River damaged a portion of a flood prevention wall. Rainfall caused several matches to be canceled at the 2013 Shanghai Masters. Flooding closed the city zoo and 60 parks, and entered 600 houses. In Cangnan County in Wenzhou, Fitow wrecked 1,200 houses, and throughout Wenzhou, two people died – one after being blown off a hill, and the other trapped under collapsed rubble. High winds left 254,746 people in Zhejiang without power, and eight people died in the province from electrocutions. Another two people died after driving into a flooded river. Throughout China, Fitow damaged or destroyed 95,000 houses.

Aftermath

In Zhejiang, about 10,000 utility men worked to restore the widespread power outages. In the days following the storm, about 1.24 million people were forced to stay in shelters due to damage. A total of 11,732 soldiers or militia members assisted in helping in the storm's aftermath. Many cleared mudslides from roads, repaired dams, and helped people leave flooded homes. In Tongxiang in Zhejiang province, thousands of people blocked a highway in protest for not receiving aid, prompting the riot police to break up the gathering. The town did not receive supplies other than water tanks, due to it being designated a "self-rescuing area" according to a local official. Ping An Insurance received insurance claims for 11,348 flooded cars in the days after the storm. The storm caused slight delays to shipping in Ningbo and Shanghai. The Chinese Ministry of Finance and Civil Affairs allocated ¥118 million ($19 million USD) in funding for Zhejiang and Fujian provinces after the storm.

In general, local governments assisted the affected storm victims by providing food, water, and clothing, even traveling by canoe to distribute aid. However, residents in Yuyao complained about insufficient assistance, as many people were without food or clean water for several days, due to ongoing flooding making distribution difficult. This sparked thousands of people to protest the government, although they dispersed after increased numbers of policemen. Residents were initially required to show food coupons to receive meals, but later anyone with a residence permit could receive the meals; however, the food distribution was disorganized, and there were reports of people looting for food. By October 18, the flooding in Yuyao had subsided and roadways had reopened, and power service was gradually restored. Due to the extended disruptions to the city, garbage service was halted. Two people in Yuyao were arrested after spreading false rumors online that reservoir collapsed during the storm, killing 40 people.

Retirement

During their 2014 annual session, the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee announced that the name Fitow would be retired from the naming lists. The name Mun was chosen to replace Fitow.