Typhoon Herb


Typhoon Herb, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Huaning, was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that became the strongest and largest typhoon of that year’s Pacific typhoon season. Herb struck the Ryūkyū Islands, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China, causing major damage. The name Herb was used in the Western Pacific naming list for the first time after the list had been revised earlier in 1996. Despite the damages and number of casualties, the name “Herb” was not retired following the season.

Meteorological history

The active monsoon trough that spawned Typhoons Frankie and Gloria (09W) consolidated into a third area well east of the other two to develop Tropical Depression 10W near Saipan on July 23. It moved northward at first, then westward in response to the subtropical ridge to its north. Tropical Depression 10W intensified into a tropical storm and was named Herb on July 24. Tropical Storm Herb moved west, growing in size and strengthening to typhoon status on July 25 before rapidly intensifying into a Category 4 48 hours later. Herb slightly weakened while it underwent a Fujiwhara interaction with Typhoon Gloria. Shortly afterward Herb began to intensify again, and became a Category 5 super typhoon on July 30, reaching its peak intensity with a barometric pressure of and 10-minute sustained winds of. Herb also became the largest typhoon in July and one of the largest typhoons since 1977.
Herb made its first landfall on the island of Taketomi, in the Ryūkyū Islands, before its second landfall in northern Taiwan as a Category 4 on July 31. The eye of the storm passed directly over the capital, Taipei. Herb weakened as it crossed Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, to make landfall in China as a strong Category 2. Herb rapidly weakened over the country and dissipated on August 3.

Impact

Ryūkyū Islands

Prior to the typhoon's arrival in the southern Ryūkyū Islands, officials issued storm warnings for most islands and canceled 76 flights. On July 31, the eye of Typhoon Herb passed roughly southwest of Iriomote Island. On the island, a barometric pressure of 927.1 mbar was measured. On Yonaguni, a maximum wind gust of was also measured. Widespread damage took place across the southern Ryūkyū Islands, with losses reaching ¥667 million. On Ishigaki Island, one home was destroyed and eighteen others were damaged. Extensive losses to agriculture, fisheries, and forestry took place across the region as well. Losses on Ishigaki alone reached ¥630 million. In Okinawa, large swells up to flooded low-lying areas, leaving minor damage.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, heavy rain from Herb caused flooding and major damage. In Taiwan, at least 51 people were killed and 22 went missing. Herb is the fourth wettest known tropical cyclone to impact the country.

Mainland China

In China, the code name of the typhoon was "9608", and over 13,000 people were injured or killed, including 779 deaths. Total damage to agriculture and property totaled US$5 billion.