Typhoon Chaba (2022)
Typhoon Chaba, known in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Caloy, was a strong tropical cyclone that impacted China in early July 2022. The third named storm and the second typhoon of the 2022 Pacific [typhoon season|annual typhoon season], Chaba developed as a low-pressure area in the South [China Sea] on June 28, and soon became a tropical depression while moving northwestward. The system intensified to Tropical Storm Chaba on June 30 and continued its northwest movement. Chaba continued to intensity under favourable condition. Early on July 2, Chaba attained typhoon status and made landfall in Guangdong a few hours later. Chaba dropped below typhoon status shortly after landfall, and weakened to a tropical depression on the next day and turned to the northeast. Chaba became extratropical on July 5 while over Anhui. The extratropical remnants of Chaba continued to move northeastward, emerged into Bohai Sea on July 6 and dissipated just off the Korean Peninsula on the next day.
In its early stage, Chaba enhanced the southwest monsoon and brought some rainfall to the Philippines. Chaba later sank a crane vessel Fu Jing 001 offshore Yangjiang, and caused 25 dead with 1 missing. After Chaba made landfall in Guangdong, its slow movement brought heavy rains and caused flooding in portions of China, with many places recorded heavy rainfall. 2 people were killed in Hainan, another person was missing in Guangxi, and the total damage amounted to ¥3.12 billion.
Meteorological history
On June 28, the Japan Meteorological Agency began monitoring a low-pressure area over the South China Sea. The agency soon upgraded the system to a tropical depression. The same day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration followed suit and assigned the local name Caloy. The following day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert to the system. The depression move slowly to the northwest, and exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression later that day, as convection was developing over the southern part of the depression, and scatterometer revealed a well-defined center. At 00:00 UTC June 30, the JMA upgraded it to a tropical storm and assigned the name Chaba. Three hours later, the JTWC also upgraded it to a tropical storm. Chaba gradually intensified while moving north-northwestward under warm sea surface temperature of and low to moderate wind shear. Chaba intensified further to a severe tropical storm later that day while located to the northeast of the Paracel Islands. On July 1, Chaba steered by a subtropical ridge over the northern Philippines and turned northwestward while continued to intensity under favourable condition. At 21:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded Chaba to a typhoon. The JMA followed suit three hours later.According to the JTWC, Chaba attained peak 1-minute sustained winds of 85 mph at 03:00 UTC July 2, equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Three hours later, the JMA reported that Chaba attained peak intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of 80 mph and a barometric pressure of. Maintaining its peak intensity, Chaba made landfall in Maoming, Guangdong at 15:00 CST. Weakening took place immediately after landfall due to land interaction, the JMA soon downgraded Chaba to a severe tropical storm. The JTWC downgraded Chaba to a tropical storm and issued its final warning at 15:00 UTC. Three hours later, the JMA downgraded Chaba to a tropical storm. The following day, Chaba further weakened to a tropical depression while located over Guangxi. Chaba turned northward and then northeastward across China. The system became extratropica on July 5 while over Anhui. The extratropical remnants of Chaba continued to move northeastward, emerged into the Bohai Sea on the following day, and dissipated on July 7 while located just off the coast of North Korea.
Preparations and impact
Philippines
Although Chaba did not directly impacted the country, it enhanced the southwest monsoon and brought rainfall to Luzon and Western Visayas. Many places recorded a cumulative rainfall of over on June 28 and 29. Baler recorded, the highest cumulative rainfall across the country. Tayabas and Casiguran recorded and respectively.China
The National Meteorological Center issued an Orange typhoon alert on July 1, and its parent agency China Meteorological Administration issued a Level III emergency response to floods and typhoon.In Hainan, the provincial meteorological service issued a Level III emergency response to floods and typhoon on July 1, and warned that heavy rains could slash the island. Later that day, the emergency level was raised to level II. Railway services were suspended, and more than 400 flights were cancelled due to the typhoon. Haikou Xiuying Port, Haikou Port New Seaport and South Port in Haikou were closed. Despite remaining offshore, Chaba still brought heavy rains to the island. Many places recorded rainfall. The highest rainfall in the province reached, recorded in Wangxia, Changjiang County. Sanya recorded rainfall within 24 hours, which broke the record of highest rainfall in 24 hours, though it was broken again a year later by Talim. The entire Hainan island recorded winds of at least gale-force. The highest gust was, recorded in. Chaba killed 2 people in the province, and the economic loss was ¥183 million.
In Guangdong, the provincial meteorological service issued a Level IV emergency response to floods and typhoon on June 30. The emergency level subsequently raised to level III and then level II as Chaba approached. 77,900 people were moved to safe places in advance of the typhoon. Train services were suspended. Heavy rains were hitting the province, and the rainfall of the northern region were expected to reached. The insurance company received 13,336 claims after the typhoon stroke the province, and the damage was calculated at ¥556 million.
In Yulin, Guangxi, the heavy rainfall from Chaba triggered flooding. Being just recovered from the heavy rains in June, which posed a great threat to the city. In Beiliu, a house was damaged by landslides, but no casualties were reported. In Rong County, one person went missing after a landslide hit the county. About of crops were destroyed, and the direct economic loss was ¥77.5 million.
Despite weakened significantly before moving into Hunan, Chaba still brought heavy rainfall and caused flooding to the province. Floodwaters reached the first floor of a school in Yiyang and 10 teachers were trapped. They were rescued and transferred into safe places. The floodwaters broke down many vehicles, people on the vehicles needed firefighters to rescue them. In Yueyang County, floodwaters trapped 12 people and they were rescued by firefighters later.
Chaba also brought heavy rainfall in Jiangxi. Longnan recorded the highest average rainfall across the province, reached. Dingnan County and Quannan County recorded the average rainfall of and respectively. About of crops were destroyed. A house were severely damaged, and the direct economic loss was ¥12.5 million. In all, 1.86 million people were affected by the typhoon. More than 670 houses were destroyed, and 1,400 others were damaged. About of crops were destroyed, and the total damage across the country amounted to ¥3.12 billion.