1977 Pacific typhoon season


The 1977 Pacific typhoon season was one of the least active Pacific typhoon seasons on record, with only 21 tropical storms forming. It was also the second of three known typhoon seasons during the satellite era to not produce a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon, sandwiched between the 1974 and 2017 seasons. The season's first storm, Severe Tropical Storm Patsy, formed on March 23 and the last, Typhoon Mary, dissipated on January 2, 1978. With Mary spanning two calendar years, it became the fourth typhoon to do so since 1945. Since then, two other typhoons have achieved this feat.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1977 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

Season summary



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from:01/01/1978 till:31/01/1978 text:January

Systems

A total of 54 tropical depressions were recognized by the various warning agencies this year in the Western Pacific, of which 20 became tropical storms. Eleven storms reached typhoon intensity, of which three reached super typhoon strength.

Tropical Depression Atring

Tropical Depression Atring formed in the western Pacific Ocean in 1977. It did not intensify into a tropical storm and dissipated shortly after formation. The storm had minimal impact on land and did not cause significant damage or loss of life.

Severe Tropical Storm Patsy

Severe Tropical Storm Patsy formed in the western Pacific Ocean in 1977. It reached peak intensity with 60 mph winds and a minimum pressure of 990 hPa. While relatively weak, Patsy brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the Philippines and Taiwan, causing localized flooding and property damage. The storm weakened rapidly after making landfall in Taiwan and dissipated over the island.

Tropical Depression 02W (Bining)

Tropical Depression 02W in 1977 was a weak tropical depression that formed in the western Pacific Ocean. It did not intensify into a tropical storm and dissipated shortly after formation. The storm had minimal impact on land and did not cause significant damage or loss of life.

Severe Tropical Storm Ruth (Kuring)

Severe Tropical Storm Ruth battered the Philippines in 1977, primarily affecting Luzon. The storm caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure, displacing thousands of people and resulting in fatalities. Its impact underscores the destructive power of tropical cyclones in the region.

Tropical Depression 04W (Daling)

Tropical Depression 04W formed in the western Pacific Ocean in 1977. It was a short-lived system that did not intensify into a tropical storm and dissipated shortly after formation. The storm had minimal impact on land and did not cause significant damage or loss of life.

Typhoon Sarah (Elang)

Typhoon Sarah formed in the western Pacific Ocean in 1977. It made landfall in the Philippines, Hainan, and Vietnam, causing damage and loss of life in these regions. The typhoon's impact highlighted the destructive potential of tropical cyclones in the area.
The lowest atmospheric pressure recorded on July 21 at a weather station in Phù Liễn, Haiphong was. Typhoon Sarah caused 101 deaths, 9 people were missing and 390 injuries in Vietnam. In Haiphong alone, 48 people were reported dead and 228 were injured.

Typhoon Thelma (Goring)

A tropical disturbance east of the Philippines organized into a tropical depression on July 21. It moved to the northwest, strengthening into a tropical storm later that day and into a typhoon on the 22nd. After passing northern Luzon and dropping heavy rains, Thelma turned to the north, where it reached a peak intensity of 95 mph winds. The typhoon hit southern Taiwan on the 25th, crossed the island, and dissipated over southeastern China on the 26th. Though not a particularly strong storm, Thelma brought strong wind gusts and heavy rain, claiming more than 30 lives and bringing damage and destruction not seen to the island for over 80 years.

Typhoon Vera (Huling)

Just 6 days after Thelma hit Taiwan, another typhoon was brewing to its east. Typhoon Vera, which developed on July 28, hit eastern Taiwan on the 31st as a 125 mph typhoon. It continued westward, and dissipated over southeastern China. The storm caused 25 additional fatalities to the island, with vast amounts of crop and property damage occurring.

Tropical Storm Wanda

Tropical Storm Wanda formed in the western Pacific Ocean in 1977.

Severe Tropical Storm Amy (Ibiang)

Severe Tropical Storm Amy was a tropical cyclone that formed in the western Pacific Ocean during the 1977 Pacific typhoon season. It developed on August 20 and reached its peak intensity on August 21 with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and a minimum barometric pressure of 985 hPa. Amy made landfall in Taiwan, causing damage and flooding.