The 1994 Pacific typhoon season was the seventh and final consecutive to have above average tropical cyclone activity. It was an extremely active season, becoming the second most active season ever recorded in the basin, only behind 1964. With a total of 36 tropical storms, where 20 of them reached typhoon strength and 6 further strengthening into super typhoons, during the course of the season, much like the Pacific hurricane season. The season had no official bounds and it ran year-round in 1994, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and October. Tropical storms that formed west of the date line were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The World Meteorological Organization-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for tropical cyclones for the region is the Japan Meteorological Agency. Tropical depressions that entered or formed in the Philippine area of responsibility were assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can result in some storms having two names.
The season started on January 4 with the formation of Tropical Depression 01W to the west of Yap, with the first tropical storm developing a few months later on April 1, and ended near the end of the year when Tropical Storm Bobbie dissipated in the open Pacific on December 25. During the season, 25 systems either threatened land or made landfall, killing over 2,400 people. The strongest storm of the season was Super Typhoon Doug, which affected Taiwan, South Korea and mainland China, while the deadliest storm was Super Typhoon Fred, which killed over 1,000 people in China. Earlier in the season, the combined effects of two tropical storms —Russ and Sharon —caused flooding in China that killed over 1,400. The season also saw two storms, Li and John, cross into the Western North Pacific from the east, while one storm, Tropical Storm Yuri, formed from a precursor low that had similarly crossed the International Date Line. This season, PAGASA named 25 systems and had to use an auxiliary list to name some of them after running out of names from their standard list. Of the 25, three systems were not tracked by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Season summary
Most storms in a singular Pacific typhoon season (1955–present)YearTropical stormsTyphoonsTyphoonsSuper typhoons 1964 39 26 (record high) 7 1994 36 20 6 1971 35 24 6 1965 35 21 11 (record high; tied with 1997) 1961 35 20 8 1967 35 20 5 1989 32 20 5 1974 32 16 0 (record low) 1992 31 16 5 1955 31 20 4 2013 31 13 5 Note: Data begins at the year 1955 due to earlier data being increasingly unreliable. Totals for tropical storms and typhoons are from the Japan Meteorological Agency, and totals for the unofficial super typhoon category are from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.There were 41 tropical cyclones during 1994 in the Western North Pacific; 39 formed within the area while two, Tropical Storm Li and Typhoon John, formed in the Eastern North Pacific (east of longitude 140°W) and crossed the date line to enter this basin. Of the 39, 34 became tropical storms and were named, of which 17 became typhoons. The season started on January 4 with the formation of Tropical Depression One-W to the west of Yap, with the first tropical storm developing a few months later on April 1. The season ended late in the year after Tropical Storm Bobbie dissipated in the open Pacific on December 25.
During the season, 25 systems either threatened land or made landfall, with eight striking the Philippines, eight moving into China, six moving into Vietnam, and three striking Taiwan and China. A total of over 2,400 people perished during the season. The strongest storm of the season was Super Typhoon Doug, which affected Taiwan, South Korea and mainland China, while the deadliest storm was Super Typhoon Fred, which killed over 1,000 people in China. Earlier in the season, the combined effects of two tropical storms — Russ and Sharon — caused flooding in China that killed over 1,400. The season also saw two storms, Li and John, cross into the Western North Pacific from the east, while one storm, Tropical Storm Yuri, formed from a precursor low that had similarly crossed the International Date Line. Hong Kong received 28 percent of its annual rainfall from tropical cyclones this season, which was slightly above normal.
Systems
Tropical Depression 01W (Akang)
The first tropical depression of the year was first observed as a poorly organized area of clouds, within a trough of low pressure near the Caroline Islands during January 1. The system subsequently moved towards the north-northwest, while atmospheric convection surrounding the system organized further. As a result of this organization and a weather station on Chuuk island reporting wind speeds of , the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system during January 2. However the system did not become a significant tropical cyclone during January 3, as it was not able to sustain its convective organization. The system was subsequently classified as a tropical depression on January 4 while the system was about , west of Yap.
Tropical Depression 01W made landfall on Samar Island in the Philippines on the evening of January 5, following which the depression started to weaken. The final warning was issued early on January 6 after the system lost all its deep convection. A total of 35 to 45 deaths were reported, with over 69 million Philippine pesos (1994 pesos) or $2.4 million (1994 USD) in damage reported. It caused a major flood event in the Philippines. A total of at least 16,000 people had to take refuge in government-run shelters during and after the storm.
Typhoon Owen (Bising)
Typhoon Owen formed from a tropical disturbance which was originally identified within a near-equatorial trough over Micronesia. The disturbance was first mentioned by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on March 29. By March 31, a distinct area within the trough showing signs of cyclonic spin appeared, and the JTWC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 02W soon afterwards. Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency classified the system as a tropical storm, Tropical Storm 9401. It was located about west-northwest of Yap.
Owen continued to strengthen, with the JMA classifying it a severe tropical storm on April 3. According to the JTWC, Owen reached typhoon intensity at the same time the JMA classified it a severe tropical storm. The storm tracked southwest to west-southwestward, and reached its peak intensity of from the JTWC ( from the JMA) on April 4, shortly before landfall between Leyte and Mindanao. A reading taken late on April 3 at Guiuan on Samar reported sustained winds of . It weakened to a tropical storm overland, before it restrengthened slightly after emerging into the South China Sea. A drilling rig reported sustained winds. Soon afterwards, the cyclone dissipated over water northwest of Luzon on April 9.
Owen's west-southwestward track shortly before landfall was rare. Owen was one of just two April typhoons in the previous 36 years — the other being Typhoon Wanda of the 1971 season – to make landfall while moving west-southwestward. Owen's later recurvature in the South China Sea was also unusual; it recurved at a latitude of only about 13°N, about 3° south of the average latitude for recurvature in the South China Sea in April.
Owen's impact on the Philippines was widespread, with nine provinces being declared under a "state of calamity" by President of the Philippines Fidel Ramos. At least 10 people were killed with 5 others missing, and a further 14 fishermen feared drowned. A total of 33 were reported wounded. Over 9000 families were affected by Owen.
In Okinawa, heavy rains were reported on Yonaguni, with a total reported precipitation amount of . The peak winds measured at Yonaguni in association with Typhoon Owen were .
Typhoon Page (Klaring)
On May 8, a large increase in deep convection associated with near-equatorial troughs was noted in the eastern Caroline Islands. By the next morning, visible satellite imagery showed an increase in organization of the deep convection associated with the system, and synoptic reports from buoys confirmed that a low-level circulation centre was present near . Slow development ensued, and the system was upgraded to a tropical depression on May 12. At the same time, the Japan Meteorological Agency began tracking the system, about west-southwest of Guam.
Page moved on a northwestward track for the next couple days while slowly strengthening. Page was upgraded to a tropical storm by the JTWC late on May 12, when it was located north of Yap, while the JMA first considered the system a tropical storm on May 13. Late on May 13, Page suddenly slowed in forward speed and began turning to the northeast. On May 14, Page became a typhoon. However, the JMA did not follow suit until 30 hours later. Page reached its maximum intensity of and minimum pressure of thirty hours after passing the point of recurvature. Final warnings were issued by both the JTWC and the JMA early on May 18, as it began extratropical transition around east-southeast of Tokyo.
Page had the largest average track forecast errors of all the typhoons in 1994, mainly due to failures in expecting its recurvature. Furthermore, Page's late attainment of maximum intensity, at 30 hours after point of recurvature, is not common. Between 1978 and 1993, only seven of 77 typhoons attained peak intensity more than 24 hours after recurving.
Large waves and high tides generated by Page affected the western Mariana Islands. A few tourists had to be rescued from high surf and strong currents on Guam. Minimal rainfall was recorded in Japan, the highest recorded total was in Kumagaya, Saitama. At Mount Tsukuba, a maximum sustained wind speed of was recorded.
Tropical Depression 04W (Deling)
On May 14, an area of deep convection associated with a weak cyclonic circulation near Kosrae was mentioned in the JTWC's 0600 UTC Significant Tropical Weather Advisory. For the next five days, this weak circulation tracked west-northwestward in the direction of Guam, before turning to the west-southwest, but convection failed to consolidate near the centre during this time. After passing close to Palau on May 21, it turned northwest and entered the Philippine Sea, and was named Deling by PAGASA early on May 23 local time. Shortly after, SSM/I imagery indicated the presence of a well-defined low-level circulation centre, and visible and infrared satellite images indicated an increase in organisation of the system and a consolidation of deep convection near the centre. Based on this, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued by the JTWC at 0600 UTC.
The first warning was issued a day later when the amount of deep convection near the centre increased as the depression neared the Philippines. While over the Philippine islands, a large mesoscale convective system (MCS) developed near the centre of the tropical depression, something that would occur again later while the system was west of Luzon. Soon after the second MCS weakened, the system made landfall in central Vietnam on May 26, and quickly dissipated when inland. The Hong Kong Observatory tracked this system as a weak tropical depression from May 25 UTC when it was about southeast of Xisha for about 24 hours before it dissipated.
According to press reports, over 2,000 people were forced to evacuate from Davao City, despite no reports of significantly high winds or low pressures, as the system caused heavy rainfall that produced heavy flooding that killed five people and left at least one person missing.
Tropical Storm Russ (Emang)