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Tropical Cyclone Utor
Status: Closed
| Type of posting | Posting date(EST): | Summary | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Landfall 1 | 8/12/2013 1:30:00 PM |
|
Pre-Landfall 1 | Summary
Posting Date: August 12, 2013, 1:30:00 PM
Event Summary
Typhoon Utor slammed into the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Monday, August 12, at around 3:00 p.m. local time (7:00 a.m. UTC) with 10-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (109 mph, JMA), gusts of up to 210 km/h (130 mph, JMA), and waves up to 2.5 meters high. Utor made landfall as a Category 4 Super Typhoon (as measured by central pressure), but it weakened to a Category 2 as it moved over the island. Once again over warm open waters of the South China Sea (with temperatures of 30°C, about 0.5–1.0°C higher than normal) and amid low wind shear conditions (5-10 knots), the storm is expected to intensify as it moves toward the southeast coast of China, according to the JMA.
Reported Impacts
Utor, the strongest tropical cyclone of 2013 thus far, toppled power lines and dumped heavy rain across mountains, cities, and food-growing plains. The storm killed at least two and left 44 fishermen missing. Nearly 2,000 families and 673 houses were affected by the storm. The typhoon destroyed nearly 80% of the infrastructure in the town of Casiguran (population 24,000). According to NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, precipitation in the wake of the storm is on the order of 150-250 mm across northern Luzon. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, experienced moderate rain, but no flooding was reported. Twelve domestic flights were canceled.
An average of six tropical cyclones make landfall in the Philippines annually with another three passing close enough to cause loss. The Philippines experience tropical cyclone activity in every month, with peaks in July and November. Super typhoon landfalls occur, on average, twice every three years. Weak steering currents slowly move storms over the islands, resulting in heavy precipitation and flooding. Damage to property in the Philippines is dominated by flood through all but the highest return periods. Since the eastern coast is relatively unpopulated, insured wind losses tend to be low.
Forecast Track and Intensity
Utor is currently off the northwestern coast of Luzon and is moving west-northwest at about 22 km/h across the central part of the South China Sea, in the general direction of Guangdong province in China. The storm is gathering strength and is expected to strike Wednesday afternoon, local time, southwest of Hong Kong, according to the JMA.
Exposure at Risk
In the Philippines, lighter materials, such as wood frame with galvanized iron or aluminum roofs, are often used for residential buildings in rural areas. In contrast, urban residential structures are generally made of concrete block with metal roofs, although hollow concrete is also used. Masonry residences can also be found in the cities, which also have many high-rise apartments made of steel construction. Masonry is often used for smaller commercial establishments although the majority of all commercial and industrial buildings are reinforced concrete or steel. Building codes are not strictly enforced. In the Luzon area one to two story buildings of mixed construction (concrete and wood) are common. Houses in coastal regions of Guangdong are commonly masonry or reinforced concrete with clay tile roofs, which perform reasonably well in the face of typhoon winds. As is often the case with China typhoons, however, flooding is a major concern; with much of the population located near waterways and along the coast, many homes and businesses are at risk.
Insurance Impact
The northern area of Luzon, where Utor hit, is not heavily insured due to low commercial and industrial activity. Cyclone coverage typically excludes loss or damage from flood, tidal wave, high water, or overflow, regardless of whether it is caused by high winds. AIR does not expect significant insurance losses in the Philippines from this event.
AIR’s tropical cyclone team will continue to monitor Utor as it approaches China’s Guangdong province and will provide additional information as events warrant.
