Tropical Storm Sam (1999)
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{{Short description|Pacific severe tropical storm in 1999}}
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{{Infobox weather event
| name = Severe Tropical Storm Sam (Luding)
| image = Sam 1999-08-22 0600Z.png
| caption = Sam at peak intensity over China on August 22
| formed = August 17, 1999
| extratropical = August 22, 1999
| dissipated = August 27, 1999
}}{{Infobox weather event/JMA
| winds = 55
| pressure = 980
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 75
| pressure =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| fatalities = 28 total
| damage = 35000000
| areas = Philippines, South China
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 1999 Pacific typhoon season
}}
Severe Tropical Storm Sam, also known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Luding, was a relatively strong storm that formed in August 1999. It brought severe impacts to the Philippines and southeastern China, causing 20 deaths.
Meteorological history
{{Storm path|Sam 1999 track.png}}
On August 17, an area of circulation within the monsoon trough located in the Philippine Sea became more organized and the JTWC issued a TCFA. The developing cyclone slowly moved to the northwest, becoming Tropical Depression 16W nine hours after the TCFA was first issued. As the cyclone continued to intensify, it was named Sam on August 19. Around this time, the subtropical ridge to Sam's north shifted its track in a westwards direction towards Luzon. The storm passed over the north of the island on August 20 and entered the South China Sea, reaching typhoon strength the next day. Sam gradually intensified further as it approached the Chinese coast and it made landfall about {{convert|19|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the northeast of Hong Kong at its peak with 140 km/h (85 mph) winds on August 22. Sam continued to move to the northwest over China dissipating about 24 hours later.{{cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|title=Typhoon Sam (16W)|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1999atcr.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182509/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1999atcr.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2015|accessdate=August 19, 2013|work=1999 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|pages=76}} PAGASA named the developing storm Luding shortly before the JTWC began to issue advisories.{{cite web|author=Padgett, Gary|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: August 1999|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2000/summ9908.htm|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323055952/http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2000/summ9908.htm|archivedate=March 23, 2007|accessdate=February 17, 2007}}
Impact
Typhoon Sam was responsible for seven deaths in the Philippines.{{cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|title=Typhoon Sam (16W)|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1999atcr.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182509/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1999atcr.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2015|accessdate=August 19, 2013|work=1999 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|pages=76}} In addition, flooding from its rainfall displaced over 4000 people, and many major roads were closed due to landslides near Baguio.{{cite web|author=Padgett, Gary|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: August 1999|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2000/summ9908.htm|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323055952/http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2000/summ9908.htm|archivedate=March 23, 2007|accessdate=February 17, 2007}} Sam became the wettest tropical cyclone to affect Hong Kong since records began in 1884, dropping over 616 mm (24.2 inches) of rain, exceeding the previous record set in 1926. Peak sustained winds of 96 km/h (60 mph) were recorded on Waglan Island as the typhoon passed over the territory. The heavy rain led to many instances of flooding and over 150 landslides throughout Hong Kong, killing 1 person and forcing the evacuation of about 1,000. A total of 328 people were injured in various incidents relating to the storm, and total losses in Hong Kong totaled to approximately $17 million.{{cite web|author=Hong Kong Observatory|date=April 2000|title=Typhoon Sam (9910)|url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1999.pdf#page=56|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524170555/http://www.weather.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1999.pdf#page=56|archive-date=May 24, 2011|accessdate=February 17, 2007|work=Tropical cyclones in 1999|pages=56–66|format=PDF}} In addition to the direct casualties from the storm, China Airlines Flight 642, using an MD-11 aircraft, crashed while attempting to land at Hong Kong International Airport, killing three on board and injuring 219. At the time of the crash wind gusts in excess of 65 km/h (40 mph) were recorded at the airport.{{cite web|author=Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong|date=December 2004|title=Aircraft Accident Report 1/2004|url=http://www.cad.gov.hk/reports/main1.pdf|accessdate=February 17, 2007}} After moving into China, Sam killed at least 17 and injured 100 people in Guangdong. Direct economic losses in the province were about $18 million.
See also
- Other storms with the same name
- China Airlines Flight 642 – which crashed partly due to high winds produced by the storm
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1999 Pacific typhoon season buttons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sam (1999)}}