Tropical Storm Toraji (2007)

{{Infobox weather event

| name = Tropical Storm Toraji

| image = Toraji 2007-07-05 0329Z.jpg

| caption = Tropical Storm Toraji at peak intensity on July 5

| formed = {{start-date|July 4, 2007}}

| dissipated = {{end-date|July 5, 2007}}

}}{{Infobox weather event/JMA

| winds = 35

| pressure = 994

}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC

| winds = 35

| pressure = 996

}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects

| year = 2007

| damage = 9700000

| fatalities = None reported

| areas = {{flatlist|

}}

}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer

| season = 2007 Pacific typhoon season

}}

Tropical Storm Toraji ({{IPA|ko|to.ɾa.dʑi|pron}}) was a short-lived and minimal tropical cyclone that brought inundating rainfall to areas of Southeast Asia in early July 2007. The name Toraji was contributed to the western Pacific typhoon naming list by North Korea and stands for a broad bell flower (Playtycodon gradniflorus).{{cite web|title=List of names for tropical cyclones adopted by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee for the western North Pacific and the South China Sea|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/tyname.html|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|access-date=31 August 2013|author=RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401065200/http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/tyname.html|archive-date=1 April 2015|location=Tokyo, Japan|url-status=dead}} The third named storm of the annual typhoon season, Toraji developed from an area of disturbed weather within the South China Sea on July 4. As a result of its northwesterly track, the tropical depression moved over Hainan shortly after tropical cyclogenesis. Upon its emergence into the Gulf of Tonkin on July 5, Toraji quickly intensified into a tropical storm with winds of 65 km/h (40 mph);{{#tag:ref|All maximum sustained wind values are sustained for ten minutes and rounded to the nearest five unless otherwise noted, following the standard set by the World Meteorological Organization.|group=nb}}{{#tag:ref|All currencies are converted to United States Dollars using [http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates/ Oanda] with an exchange rate on July 5, 2007.|group=nb}} this would be the tropical cyclone's peak intensity for its entire duration. However, the JMA indicated that tropical storm intensity had been reached a day earlier. On the evening of July 5, Toraji made its final landfall on Dongxing, Guangxi before rapidly deteriorating inland and degenerating into a remnant low-pressure area by the following day.

During its two-day duration, Toraji brought heavy rainfall to areas of southeastern China and Vietnam. Prior to impacting China, 147,000 people were evacuated from potentially affected regions. In that country, the storm's effects were spread out over a {{convert|800000|–|1200000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} area. The torrential rainfall produced by the tropical storm damaged agricultural land and destroyed several hundred homes, while damaging many more. Total damage in China was estimated at CN¥73 million ($9.6 million).{{#tag:ref|All damage totals are in United States dollars unless otherwise noted.|group=nb}} Despite making landfall near the border of Vietnam and China, effects in the former were generally minimal. However, several fishing boats capsized offshore; these sinkings did not result in any deaths.

Meteorological history

In early July 2007, an area of disturbed weather began to persist in the South China Sea roughly 155 mi (250 km) southeast of Hainan.{{cite web|title=Tropical Storm Toraji (TC-03W / TS 0703)|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0707.htm|work=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary – July 2007|publisher=Australiasevereweather.com|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Padgett, Gary|author2=Boyle, Kevin }} The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on July 3 after the storm had organized sufficiently,{{cite report|title=Annual Report on the Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center, 2007|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/AnnualReport/2007/Text/Text2007.pdf|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|access-date=31 August 2013|location=Tokyo, Japan|pages=7, 23}} however, other tracking agencies did not indicate that tropical cyclogenesis had occurred at the time.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclones In 2007|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc2007.pdf|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Hong Kong Observatory|location=Kowloon, Hong Kong|pages=30, 64, 81|date=July 2008}}{{cite report|title=2007 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2007atcr.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915171116/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2007atcr.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2012|work=Joint Typhoon Warning Center Annual Tropical Cyclone Reports|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|access-date=31 August 2013|author=O'Hara, J.F.|author2=Falvey, Robert J.|author3=United States Naval Maritime Forecast Center|editor1=Vancas, Michael|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii|page=18|year=2007}} However, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began to monitor the disturbance for potential signs of tropical cyclogenesis at 0100 UTC later that day, At the time, the storm system was situated in an area of weak to moderate wind shear, exposing the disturbance's low-level circulation center. Despite the prevailing conditions and proximity to land, the storm continued to organize, and as such the JTWC issued a tropical cyclone formation alert for the system at 0130 UTC the following day.{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert – 04/0121z|url=http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/archive/07070400|publisher=Unisys, Inc.|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii|date=July 4, 2007}}

As it tracked in a general northwesterly direction, intensification continued, and both the JMA and JTWC consequently upgraded the disturbance to tropical storm intensity at 0600 UTC on July 4, giving the storm the name Toraji.{{cite web|title=Tropical Storm 03W Warning 001|url=http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/archive/07070406|publisher=Unisys, Inc.|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii|date=July 4, 2007}} Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) upgraded the same system to tropical depression status. At the same time, Toraji made its first landfall on Hainan Island. According to the JMA, the tropical storm had winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 996 mbar (hPa; 29.42 inHg).{{cite web|title=Japan Meteorological Agency Best Track Data 2000–2009|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst0009.txt|work=RSMC Best Track Data|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|access-date=31 August 2013|location=Tokyo, Japan|format=TXT|archive-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514075643/http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst0009.txt|url-status=dead}} As the cyclone passed over the island, Toraji weakened marginally, and whilst the HKO and JMA maintained their prior intensities for the system, the JTWC downgraded Toraji to tropical depression status at 1800 UTC before a subsequent re-upgrade as the cyclone emerged into the Gulf of Tonkin early the following day.{{cite web|title=Tropical Depression 03W Warning 002|url=http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/archive/07070412|publisher=Unisys, Inc.|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii|date=July 4, 2007}}{{cite web|title=Tropical Storm 03W Warning 003|url=http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/archive/07070418|publisher=Unisys, Inc.|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii|date=July 4, 2007}} Once over open water, modest intensification ensued, with the storm reaching peak intensity at 1800 UTC on July 4 with winds still at 65 km/h (40 mph) and a pressure of 994 mbar (hPa; 29.36 inHg). Six hours later on the following day, the HKO upgraded Toraji to tropical storm intensity. After having tracked north-northwestward along the western periphery of a subtropical ridge, Toraji made its final landfall near Cẩm Phả, Vietnam at approximately 1200 UTC on July 5 at the same intensity. Six hours later, all three agencies downgraded Toraji to tropical depression intensity.{{cite web|title=Tropical Depression 03W Warning 007|url=http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/archive/07070518|publisher=Unisys, Inc.|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii|date=July 5, 2007}} By that time, the JTWC had ceased the issuance of tropical cyclone products on the storm. However, the JMA and HKO continued to monitor the system until 0000 UTC on July 5.

Preparations and impact

Due to the impending threat of Toraji, Chinese officials evacuated over 147,000 people from areas potentially affected by the cyclone.{{cite news|title=Tropical storm Toraji affects million people in S. China|date=July 5, 2007|agency=Xinhua|location=Nanning, China}} Upon making its first landfall in China, Toraji became the first of six tropical cyclones to move ashore the country in the first three quarters of 2007. The system's effects were spread out over a region approximately {{convert|800000|–|1200000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} in area.{{cite web|title=County Report (2007)|url=http://severe.worldweather.org/tcc/document/creport/Report%20for%20Typhoon%20Committee%2040th%20session%20from%20China.pdf|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|access-date=31 August 2013|author=Severe Weather Information Centre|location=Macao, CHina|date=November 21–26, 2007}} In Guangxi, Toraji caused extensive impacts. In Dongxing, a weather station clocked gusts peaking at 120 km/h (75 mph).{{cite news|title=Tropical storm Toraji slams into S China|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-07/05/content_6334514.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101194535/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-07/05/content_6334514.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2014|access-date=31 August 2013|date=July 5, 2007|author=Hongjiang, Wang|agency=Xinhua News Agency|location=Nanning, China}} Associated rains destroyed approximately 16,600 acres (6,700 ha) of farm and agricultural land, and the resulting flooding caused the collapse of 376 homes. An additional 946 residences sustained at least partial damage. In China, the total economic loss resulting from Toraji was estimated at approximately CN¥73 million ($9.6 million).

In preparation for the tropical storm, the Government of Vietnam redirected all boats back to port in Ha Long Bay. A hundred people were evacuated from low-lying areas prone to landslides.{{cite news|title=Vietnam calls in tourist, fishing boats ahead of tropical storm|date=July 5, 2007|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|location=Hanoi, Vietnam}} Off of Vietnam, late reports indicated that several small fishing vessels were sunk by Toraji in Quảng Ninh Province, located in the northern part of the country.{{cite web|title=Tropical Storm Toraji Strikes South China|url=http://www.earthweek.com/online/ew070706/ew070706c.html|publisher=Earth Environment Service|access-date=31 August 2013|author=EarthWeek|date=July 6, 2007|archive-date=2 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002014735/http://www.earthweek.com/online/ew070706/ew070706c.html|url-status=dead}} However, no deaths resulted in these sinkings. On Bach Long Vi, a station recorded 152 mm (5.98 in) of rain.{{cite web|title=Bão số 1 đổ bộ vào Quảng Ninh|url=http://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/bao-so-1-do-bo-vao-quang-ninh-186403.htm|publisher=Dân Trí|access-date=31 August 2013|language=Vietnamese|date=July 5, 2007}} Further inland, damage from Toraji in Vietnam remained generally minimal.{{cite news|title=Tropical storm sinks boats but spares most of northern Vietnam|date=July 6, 2007|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|location=Hanoi, Vietnam}} Throughout northern areas of the country, an average of {{convert|155|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain fell, leading to flooding and landslides. At least 27 homes were damaged and 13 others were destroyed by the storm, leaving millions of Vietnamese đồng in losses. A power station at a nearby military base was also damaged during the storm, causing roughly ₫40 million (US$2,240) in damage.{{cite web|language=vi|author=RẦN QUANG — TUẤN PHÙNG|work=Vietnamese Newspaper|date=July 6, 2007|access-date=September 8, 2013|title=Bão Toraji quét qua Quảng Ninh — Hải Phòng|url=http://vietbao.vn/Xa-hoi/Bao-Toraji-quet-qua-Quang-Ninh-Hai-Phong/40209060/157/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011080702/http://vietbao.vn/Xa-hoi/Bao-Toraji-quet-qua-Quang-Ninh-Hai-Phong/40209060/157/| archive-date= 11 October 2009}}

Notes

References

External links

[http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/200703.html.en JMA General Information] of Tropical Storm Toraji (0703) from Digital Typhoon
[http://www.data.jma.go.jp/fcd/yoho/data/typhoon/T0703.pdf JMA Best Track Data] of Tropical Storm Toraji (0703) {{in lang|ja}}
[http://www.data.jma.go.jp/fcd/yoho/data/typhoon/T0703.png JMA Best Track Data (Graphics)] of Tropical Storm Toraji (0703)
[http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/besttrack.html JMA Best Track Data (Text)]
[http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/2007/2007s-bwp/bwp032007.txt JTWC Best Track Data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060531/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/2007/2007s-bwp/bwp032007.txt |date=2016-03-04 }} of Tropical Storm 03W (Toraji)
[https://archive.today/20140812041920/http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tcdat/tc07/WPAC/03W.TORAJI/ 03W.TORAJI] from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Category:2007 Pacific typhoon season

Category:Typhoons in China

Category:Typhoons in Vietnam

Category:Western Pacific tropical storms

Toraji