Typhoon Bolaven
Bolaven at peak intensity while over the open Pacific Ocean on October 11
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)
ExtratropicalOctober 14, 2023 (2023-10-14)
Violent typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds215 km/h (130 mph)
Lowest pressure905 hPa (mbar); 26.72 inHg
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds285 km/h (180 mph)
Lowest pressure903 hPa (mbar); 26.67 inHg
Overall effects
CasualtiesNone
DamageMinimal
Areas affected
Part of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Bolaven was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Northern Mariana Islands in mid-October 2023. The fifteenth named storm of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season, Bolaven originated on October 6 near the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and moved to the northwest.

Bolaven impacted Micronesia and the Northern Mariana Islands, bringing scattered floods and downing trees as it passed through. It also brought impacts to Alaska and Western Canada,[1] however no injuries or deaths were reported.

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

On October 6, an area of convection, or thunderstorms, was associated with a circulation near the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Located in an area of warm sea surface temperatures of around 86 °F (30 °C), the weather system experienced favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development, with low wind shear, spiraling rainbands, and outflow in two directions. At 06:00 UTC, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated the system a tropical depression, and shortly thereafter, the American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert.[2][3] With weak steering currents from a subtropical ridge to the northwest, the nascent tropical depression drifted as it slowly organized. Early on October 7, the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Depression 15W.[4][5] Later that day, the JMA upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Bolaven.[6]

At first, the circulation of Bolaven was elongated and ill-defined, with a general movement to the northwest.[7] Despite the presence of dry air near the center, the storm slowly intensified as the convection deepened, and the outflow was amplified by a tropical upper tropospheric trough to its northeast.[8][9] Hot towers developed into tightly wound rainbands, a sign of a maturing tropical storm.[10] Late on October 8, the JMA upgraded Bolaven to a severe tropical storm.[11] Some wind shear prevented quicker intensification, although there were signs of a developing eyewall as early as October 9.[12] On October 10, the JMA and the JTWC both upgraded Bolaven to typhoon status while the storm was approaching the Marianas Islands.[13][14] That day, the typhoon passed just south of Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands (NMI).[15] As it moved away from the NMI, Bolaven underwent rapid intensification, developing a well-defined eye in the center of the convection. The JTWC described the environmental conditions as "near ideal", citing the low wind shear, high water temperature, and well-established outflow.[16]

Early on October 11, the JTWC upgraded Bolaven to a super typhoon, estimating sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph). By that time, the storm had a well-defined 28 km (17 mi) wide eye exhibiting the stadium effect.[17]

Preparations and impact

From October 7 to October 14, reports of flooding was reported on Chuuk in Micronesia, with the island being battered with winds of 106 km/h.[18] On October 10, Bolaven moved through the Northern Marianas Islands,[15][19] while the archipelago was still recovering from the damaging passage of Typhoon Mawar five months earlier.[20] Saipan International Airport recorded sustained winds of 89 km/h (55 mph), along with typhoon-force gusts of 126 km/h (78 mph).[15] The high winds knocked down trees and cut electricity for the islands of Tinian and Rota, while parts of Saipan also lost power.[21]

Guam, located south of Saipan, reported wind gusts of 80 km/h (49 mph) at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.[15] Over 7 in (180 mm) of rain were reported shortly after the storm passed through, and all citizens were asked to stay off roads due to dangerous conditions caused by the typhoon.[22]

In Alaska, Ketchika was put under a high wind warning as the remnants of the storm approached. Rainfall in Ketchikan was 6.69 in (170 mm) on October 17, a daily record.[23] Areas from Kaktovik to Point Thompson were expected to see snow and potentially dangerous hail.[24] Waves pounded the Alaskan coast, with both Anchorage and Juneau being put under flood warnings.[25] Western Canada faced some impacts from the storms remnants as it moved towards Alaska, but no damage was reported in the area.[26] Rain in Effingham Point reached 276.4 mm (10.88 in).[27]

Following the system's passage and impact to the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Coast Guard vessel Myrtle Hazard arrived with thousands of packages of pet food, and they assessed the other needs of people on the islands.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Berman, Annie (October 14, 2023). "What remains of Typhoon Bolaven is headed for Southeast Alaska this week, bringing rain and winds". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.06-161815/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/RJTD/Alphanumeric/Warning/Warnings_and_weather_summary/20231006/060000/A_WWJP27RJTD060600_C_RJTD_20231006082115_5.txt#selection-9.1251-9.1277
  3. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.06-161842/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpn21.pgtw..txt#selection-9.900-9.977
  4. ↑ TROPICAL CYCLONE PROGNOSTIC REASONING REASONING NO. 1 FOR TD LOCATED AT 9.6N 155.0E (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TROPICAL DEPRESSION 15W (FIFTEEN) WARNING NR 001 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  6. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.07-152113/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/RJTD/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231007/060000/A_WTPQ31RJTD070600_C_RJTD_20231007075117_18.txt
  7. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.08-103939/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231007/210000/A_WDPN32PGTW072100_C_RJTD_20231007214116_1.txt
  8. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.08-095013/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq31.rjtd..txt
  9. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.09-094001/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231008/210000/A_WDPN32PGTW082100_C_RJTD_20231008212317_83.txt#selection-9.633-9.637
  10. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.09-094053/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231009/030000/A_WDPN32PGTW090300_C_RJTD_20231009030617_18.txt
  11. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.09-093541/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/RJTD/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231008/180000/A_WTPQ31RJTD081800_C_RJTD_20231008200017_13.txt
  12. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.10-100451/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231009/210000/A_WDPN32PGTW092100_C_RJTD_20231009204516_15.txt
  13. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.10-100337/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/RJTD/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231010/000000/A_WTPQ31RJTD100000_C_RJTD_20231010013117_27.txt
  14. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.10-100519/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231010/030000/A_WDPN32PGTW100300AMD_C_RJTD_20231010030630_25.txt
  15. 1 2 3 4 PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TYPHOON 15W (BOLAVEN) WARNING NR 015 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.11-093535/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231010/210000/A_WDPN32PGTW102100_C_RJTD_20231010204517_78.txt
  17. ↑ https://archive.today/2023.10.11-093539/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20231011/030000/A_WDPN32PGTW110300_C_RJTD_20231011024702_1.txt
  18. ↑ "Recent typhoons in the Federated States of Micronesia". Worlddata.info. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "FEMA Urges Residents of Guam, Mariana Islands to Prepare Ahead of Tropical Storm Bolaven | FEMA.gov". www.fema.gov. October 8, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ Alex Wilson (October 10, 2023). "Guam dodges Typhoon Bolaven but still faces strong winds, heavy flooding". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  21. ↑ Thomas Manglona (October 11, 2023). "CNMI begins to assess damage of Typhoon Bolaven". KUAM. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  22. ↑ Andrews, Hillary (October 9, 2023). "Typhoon Bolaven lashes US territories as ferocious winds, torrential tropical rains hit Guam". FOX Weather. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  23. ↑ Ketchikan breaks a daily record with nearly 7 inches of rain, KRBD, October 18, 2023
  24. ↑ Campbell, Christina (October 16, 2023). "Remnants of Typhoon Bolaven taking aim on Southeast Alaska". www.alaskasnewssource.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  25. ↑ Deger, Bill. "Bolaven will impact Alaska and have downstream impacts on US". www.accuweather.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  26. ↑ Corp, Pelmorex (October 11, 2023). "How a super typhoon will alter Canada's late-October weather". The Weather Network. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  27. ↑ West Van records highest rainfall totals in Metro Vancouver this week, North Shore News, October 18, 2023
  28. ↑ Staff, Seapower (November 17, 2023). "USCGC Myrtle Hazard completes successful patrol emphasizing community commitment in CNMI". Seapower. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
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