Tropical Storm Higos (2020)
{{short description|Pacific severe tropical storm in 2020}}
{{About|the 2020 tropical storm|other storms of the same name|List of storms named Higos|and|List of storms named Helen}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Severe Tropical Storm Higos (Helen)
| image = Higos 2020-08-19 Suomi NPP.jpg
| caption = Severe Tropical Storm Higos at peak intensity on August 19.
| formed = August 16, 2020
| dissipated = August 20, 2020
}}{{Infobox weather event/JMA
| winds = 55
| pressure = 992
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 60
| pressure = 988
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 2020
| fatalities = 7
| damage-prefix = ≥
| damage = 142000000
| areas = Mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 2020 Pacific typhoon season
}}
Severe Tropical Storm Higos, known in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Helen, was a tropical storm that affected China and Vietnam around the same area as Nuri two months prior. Higos formed from a tropical disturbance north of Luzon, the Philippines, on August 16. The storm tracked northeast and quickly intensified, becoming a tropical storm on August 17. The storm made landfall in Zhuhai, Guangdong at peak intensity on August 19, and quickly weakened soon after. Higos killed 7 people and caused 45 billion đồng (US$2 million) in damages in Vietnam. Higos also caused more than US$140 million in damages, but no fatalities in China.{{cite web|title=Global Catastrophe Recap September 2020|url=http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com//Documents/20200810_analytics-if-september-global-recap.pdf|publisher=Aon|date=October 8, 2020|accessdate=October 17, 2020}}
Meteorological history
{{storm path|Higos 2020 track.png}}
A new tropical depression formed from the Intertropical Convergence Zone east of Luzon on August 16. At 15:00 UTC, the PAGASA named the system Helen and began issuing severe weather bulletins for the tropical depression, but dropped the alerts as Helen left the Philippine area of responsibility after 4 hours.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-08-17|title=Severe Weather Bulletin #1 for Tropical Depression "Helen"|url=http://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tamss/weather/bulletin/SWB%231.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817231203/http://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tamss/weather/bulletin/SWB%231.pdf|archive-date=2020-08-17|access-date=2020-08-17|publisher=PAGASA}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-17|title=Severe Weather Bulletin #2-FINAL for Tropical Depression "Helen"|url=http://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tamss/weather/bulletin/SWB%232.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817231618/http://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tamss/weather/bulletin/SWB%232.pdf|archive-date=2020-08-17|access-date=2020-08-17|publisher=PAGASA}} Around 21:00 UTC, JTWC issued the first Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing tropical depression. Early on the next day, JTWC followed suit from JMA and PAGASA by upgrading the system into Tropical Depression 08W. Shortly after, Helen intensified into a tropical storm and were given the name Higos by the JMA. Later in the day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center also upgraded Higos into a tropical storm. JMA eventually upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm by evening that day. The Hong Kong Observatory and Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau upgraded Higos into a marginal typhoon prior to landfall, with sustained hurricane-force winds in Macau indicating such an intensity. Higos made landfall over Zhuhai, Guangdong at peak intensity at around 06:00 CST on August 19 (22:00 UTC on August 18).{{cite web |author1=Xiang Xin |title=台风"海高斯"登陆广东珠海 广东等地遭强风雨冲击 |url=http://www.nmc.cn/publish/weatherperday/index.htm |publisher=National Meteorological Center of CMA |accessdate=19 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200819032130/http://www.nmc.cn/publish/weatherperday/index.htm |archivedate=19 August 2020 |location=Beijing, China |language=Chinese |date=19 August 2020}} After landfall, Higos quickly weakened soon after and would dissipate in Guizhou, China on August 20.
Preparations and impact
In preparation for Higos, the Hong Kong Observatory raised the number 9 tropical cyclone warning signal in Hong Kong to warn of the possibility of hurricane-force winds. Winds generally reached gale to storm force over the southern part of Hong Kong under the influence of Higos' small circulation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/wxinfo/climat/warndb/warndb1.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals|website=www.hko.gov.hk}} The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau issued the number 10 signal, the highest signal, at 05:00 am local time.{{cite web|url=https://www.macaubusiness.com/typhoon-signal-no-10-hoisted/|title=Typhoon signal No.10 hoisted|publisher=Macau Business|date=August 19, 2020|accessdate=August 19, 2020}} Over 65,000 people evacuated and schools were closed across these areas. Power was knocked out in Meizhou, after trees knocked down power lines.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/typhoon-higos-hits-china-weakens-tropical-storm-72462400|title=Typhoon adds to southern China's rain and flooding woes|author=The Associated Press|publisher=ABC News|date=August 19, 2020|accessdate=August 20, 2020}} Two campers who were unaware of the approaching storm had to be rescued from Tap Mun Island after arriving on August 14.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3097995/camper-and-70-year-old-mum-rescued-after-being|title=Camper and 70-year-old mum rescued after being trapped on remote island while Typhoon Higos lashes Hong Kong|publisher=South China Morning Post|author1=Clifford Lo|author2=Ng Kang-chung|date=August 19, 2020|accessdate=August 20, 2020}}
The storm also left 7 deaths and 45 billion đồng (US$2 million) in damages in Vietnam.{{Cite web|url=https://tuoitre.vn/mua-lu-phia-bac-lam-7-nguoi-chet-thiet-hai-hon-45-ti-dong-20200820104741839.htm|title=Tropical Storm number 4 caused 7 deaths and more than 45 billion dong in damages|publisher=Tuổi Trẻ News|author=Danh Trong|date=August 20, 2020|accessdate=August 25, 2020}}
See also
{{portal|Tropical cyclones}}
References
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External links
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{{2020 Pacific typhoon season buttons}}
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