:Typhoon Thad

{{storm path|Thad 1981 track.png}}

Typhoon Thad originated from an active monsoon trough several hundred miles east of the Philippines in mid-August 1981. On August 10, a weak surface circulation was first noted on satellite imagery. At that time, the center was embedded within the monsoon trough. Within five days, the system developed outflow.{{cite report|title=Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1981|access-date=March 3, 2014|year=1982|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=United States Navy, United States Air Force|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1981atcr.pdf|author2=Naval Western Oceanography Center|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053159/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1981atcr.pdf|url-status=dead}} Midday on August 15, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) first classified the system.{{cite report|author=Japan Meteorological Agency|date=October 10, 1992|title=RSMC Best Track Data – 1980–1989|access-date=March 3, 2014|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst8089.txt|format=.TXT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205202709/http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst8089.txt|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{#tag:ref|The Japan Meteorological Agency is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.{{cite web|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|title=Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000|date=February 2001|access-date=March 3, 2014|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/AnnualReport/2000/Text/Text2000.pdf|page=3}}|group="nb"}} Based on data from Hurricane Hunters, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) at 1800 UTC on August 15. Situated south of a subtropical ridge, the cyclone was located within a favorable environment for further development. Early on August 16, the JMA upgraded the system into a tropical storm.{{cite report|author1=Kenneth R. Knapp |author2=Michael C. Kruk |author3=David H. Levinson |author4=Howard J. Diamond |author5=Charles J. Neumann |year=2010|work=The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data|title=1981 Thad (1981227N18129)|publisher=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|access-date=March 3, 2014|url=http://atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v03r04/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r04-1981227N18129}}{{#tag:ref|Wind estimates from the JMA and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10 minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1 minute. 10 minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1 minute winds.{{cite book|author=Christopher W Landsea|author2=Hurricane Research Division|title=Frequently Asked Questions|chapter=Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?|access-date=November 29, 2013|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E7.html|date=April 26, 2004}}|group="nb"}} Following an increase in organization, the JTWC upgraded the system into Tropical Depression 15 that day.

Initially, the depression was expected by the JTWC to move north before accelerating towards the northwest. On August 17, the JTWC upgraded the depression into a tropical storm. At this time, the agency anticipated Thad to re-curve well east of Japan. By 0000 UTC on August 18, the JTWC upgraded Thad to typhoon status as the cyclone developed a ragged eye. Six hours later, the JMA followed suit. During the evening of August 18, the agency estimated that Thad reached its peak intensity of {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} and a minimum barometric pressure of {{convert|955|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}. Early the next day, the JTWC estimated peak winds of {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. According to the JMA, Thad would maintain its peak wind speed until August 21, when the storm weakened slightly. However, the JTWC suggested that Thad began to deteriorate on August 20. The next day, forecasts from the JTWC indicated that the typhoon was expected to re-curve and accelerate due to a trough located south of Japan. However, since the trough moved into the Sea of Japan instead, a subtropical ridge developed east of Typhoon Thad. On August 22, however, Thad accelerated northward in the general direction of Japan. At 0000 UTC on August 23, the JTWC downgraded Thad into a tropical storm while moving onshore in central Japan. Several hours later, the JMA followed suit, even though Thad had moved well inland by that time. By this time, cooler air had taken toll on the storm, and that afternoon, data from both agencies indicated that Thad finished its transition into an extratropical cyclone. By that time, Thad merged with a trough over the Tatar Strait. However, the JMA continued monitoring the system until the morning of August 25.

While moving across northern Japan, Thad affected 21 of Japan's 47 provinces{{cite news|title=14 are dead as typhoon lashes Japan|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=August 24, 1981}} while becoming the first storm to directly strike Kanto in 16 years.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Slashes Through Northern Japan, 14 Dead|date=August 23, 1981|agency=Associated Press}} A peak rainfall total of {{convert|590|mm|in|abbr=on}} was recorded in Oku-Nikko in Tochigi, including {{convert|571|mm|in|abbr=on}} in a day. A peak hourly storm total of {{convert|571|mm|in|abbr=on}} was measured at Kamisatomi in Gunma. Thad was responsible for strong winds, including a {{convert|76|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} wind speed at Hidakamombetsu on Hokkaido.{{cite report|title=Typhoon 198115 (THAD)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=198115&basin=wnp&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Detailed Track Information|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|access-date=March 4, 2014|author=Digital Typhoon|date=March 13, 2013}}

In all, 43 people perished and 173 were injured. Damage totalled JP¥227.2 billion (US$1.03 billion).{{#tag:ref|All currencies are converted from Japanese yen to United States Dollars using [https://www.measuringworth.com/datasets/exchangeglobal/result.php?year_source=1981&year_result=1981&countryE%5B%5D=Japan this] with an exchange rate of the year 1981.|group=nb}} Overall, the typhoon flooded 31,082 houses and demolished 4,401 dwellings. Furthermore, the storm also blocked roads in 850 spots, destroyed 449 others, collapsed 80 bridges,{{cite news|title=International News|date=August 24, 1981|agency=Associated Press}} broke dikes at 173 places, and generated 499 landslides.{{cite news|title=International News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 25, 1981}} Approximately 27,000 people were left homeless because of Thad.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Thad leaves 31 dead in Japan|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19810825&id=i0xTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X4MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5440,6656738|access-date=March 3, 2014|newspaper=The Deseret News|date=August 25, 1981}} About 115,000 households were left without electricity.{{cite news|title=International News|date=August 23, 1981|author=P.Y. Chen|agency=United Press International}} Furthermore, Thad inundated {{convert|417400|acres|ha|abbr=on|round=5}} of farm land.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Thad leaves 31 dead, 12 missing|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19810825&id=Sb4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z-4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5129,2310849|access-date=March 3, 2014|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|date=August 25, 1981}} Train service was interrupted in 22 lines, including 18 "bullet" trains. Four flights were also cancelled; however, by August 24, air traffic had returned to normal.{{cite news|title=International News|date=August 24, 1981|author=D. W. Brackett|agency=United Press International}}

Along the Kanto Plain near Tokyo, Thad wrecked 22 houses, damaged 31 bridges, damaged roads in 145 places, and flooded 27 rivers. According to police reports, five individuals drowned and six others were initially reported missing in Suzaka, because of flooding from the nearby Ayu River that crushed houses along the bank. In Akita, a fishing boat with nine people aboard was capsized by strong winds; all nine were rendered as missing by police. Elsewhere, one person was killed by a falling tree and a fisherman drowned when his boat overturned. In the Ibaraki Province, just north of Tokyo, officials ordered the evacuation of 5,000 dwellings in the city of Ryugasaki, 2,500 of which were flooded. After the nearby Kogai River threatened to overflow their banks, over 1,000 families were evacuated. Another 4,000 families were evacuated in Fujishiro,{{cite news|title=Thad toll 20 killed, 23 missing|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19810825&id=AKlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5224,10462417|access-date=March 3, 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=August 25, 1981}} though by August 25, the majority of the evacuated had returned to their homes. In the island of Hokkaido, air service was suspended; damage was severe in the area.{{cite news|title=Japanese storm leaves 24 dead, 18,000 homeless|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19810825&id=AKlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5224,10462417|access-date=March 3, 2014|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|date=August 24, 1981}} However, the capital city of Tokyo avoided the worst of the storm. In all, Thad was considered the worst storm to strike the nation in two years.{{cite news|title=At least 24 Japanese dead in wake of Typhoon Thad|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=August 25, 1981}}

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Category:1981 Pacific typhoon season

Category:Typhoons in Japan

Category:1981 in Japan

Thad