Tropical Storm Harriet
Severe cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Track of Harriet over Thailand
FormedOctober 19, 1962
DissipatedOctober 31, 1962
Highest winds3-minute sustained: 100 km/h (65 mph)
1-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure990 hPa (mbar); 29.23 inHg
Fatalities≥50,935 deaths
Areas affectedThailand, East Pakistan
Part of the 1962 Pacific typhoon season and 1962 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Tropical Storm Harriet was a tropical cyclone that hit Thailand and East Pakistan in October 1962. It formed in the South China Sea before making landfall in Southern Thailand and crossing the Malay Peninsula into the Bay of Bengal. It caused extensive damage in Thailand, especially in the area of Laem Talumphuk, where it wiped out entire villages, caused over 900 fatalities and left over 10,000 people homeless, making it the deadliest storm in the history of Thailand.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The system that would become Tropical Storm Harriet formed off the western coast of the Philippines on the morning on the afternoon of October 19. The system proceeded northwest, then darted southwest off the coast, crossing through the South China Sea. The storm spent several days through the open ocean, unable to strengthen into a tropical depression. On October 23, the storm turned northward towards South Vietnam, but soon returned westward, slowly strengthening as it crossed the South China Sea.[1] On the afternoon of October 25, the system finally strengthened into a tropical storm, receiving the name of Harriet. Winds peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h) for Harriet,[2] which soon made landfall in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in Thailand on October 25. After crossing the country, Harriet weakened into a low on October 26 in the open waters of the Indian Ocean.[1] The system continued westward, then curved to the northeast. It attained peak 1 minute winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) on October 30 while approaching the northeastern Bay of Bengal. Soon after, the cyclone made landfall near Chittagong, East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) before dissipating over Burma (present-day Myanmar) on October 31.[3][4]

Impact

Harriet caused extensive damage in the area of Laem Talumphuk in Pak Phanang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, where it wiped out entire villages. Initial reports noted at least 769 fatalities, with 142 missing as of November 4, and over 252 severe injuries. Damage at the time was estimated to be over $34.5 million (1962 USD) to government buildings, agriculture, homes and fishing fleets.[5][6] The disaster left 16,170 people homeless and destroyed 22,296 buildings across the province.[7] Final figures by the Thai Meteorological Department record 935 deaths, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in the country's history.[8]

The cyclone killed 50,000 people in what is now Bangladesh.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "RSMC Best Track Data (Graphics) in 1962". Tokyo, Japan: Japan Meteorological Agency. 1962. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Best Track – Tropical Storm Harriet". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ India Meteorological Department (1962). "Annual Summary — Storms & Depressions: Severe Cyclonic Storm in the Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Weather Review. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 13–14. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ "IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship".
  5. ↑ "Thai Storm Toll Put at 769". The New York Times. November 4, 1962. p. 17.
  6. ↑ "Harriet's Terrible Toll". The Miami News. November 2, 1962. p. 28. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ "วาตภัยที่แหลมตะลุมพุก". www.tungsong.com (in Thai). Thung Song Town Municipality. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Climatological Center, Meteorological Development Bureau, Thai Meteorological Department, Thai Meteorological Department (2011). Tropical cyclones in Thailand: Historical data 1951–2010 (PDF) (Report). Thai Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Damen, Michiel. "Cyclone Hazard in Bangladesh".
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