Typhoon Opal (1964)

{{Storm path|Opal 1964 track.png}}

Opal formed from a tropical wave moving through the Caroline Islands in early December, with an initial wind circulation developing by December 8.{{cite report |url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/1964atcr.pdf |title=Annual Typhoon Report, 1964 |date=February 15, 1964 |publisher=Fleet Weather Central/Joint Typhoon Warning Center |location=Guam, Mariana Islands |access-date=June 12, 2020 |editor1-last=Cassidy |editor1-first=Richard M. |series=Annual Typhoon Report}}{{rp|239}} The newly formed system organized quickly; by the time a reconnaissance aircraft encountered the system {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Chuuk Lagoon on December 9, Opal was already a typhoon with an eye spanning {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} across.{{cite journal |date=1965 |title=Climatological Data: National Summary (Annual 1964) |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-35536A67-8545-4734-9F7E-A3AD8A5DB47B.pdf |journal=Climatological Data |location=Asheville, North Carolina |publisher=United States Weather Bureau |volume=15 |issue=13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613165815/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-35536A67-8545-4734-9F7E-A3AD8A5DB47B.pdf |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2020 |via=National Centers for Environmental Information}}{{rp|78}}{{rp|47}} Between December 10–12, Opal moved between Yap and Palau, passing {{convert|65|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Kayangel with one-minute sustained winds of {{convert|260|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{rp|78}}{{cite web |date=December 2014 |title=A Summary of Palau's Typhoon History |url=https://coralreefpalau.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CRRF-Palau-Typhoon-History-2014-1.pdf |publisher=Coral Reef Research Foundation |location=Palau}} On December 12, Opal reached its peak intensity with one-minute sustained winds of {{convert|315|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a central pressure of 895 hPa (26.43 inHg).{{cite web |date=2018 |title=1964 Super Typhoon OPAL (1964344N06153) |url=http://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v04r00/index.php?name=v04r00-1964344N06153 |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=University of North Carolina–Asheville |location=Asheville, North Carolina}} On December 14, Opal passed north of Catanduanes and Polillo Island and its winds began to lessen. Later that day, Opal made landfall on central Luzon with one-minute sustained winds of {{convert|140|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The typhoon weakened further as it moved over Luzon. Its center then executed a small counterclockwise loop over western Luzon before curving north and briefly emerging into Lingayen Gulf as a tropical storm. Opal crossed northwestern Luzon and the Babuyan Islands on December 16 and later became extratropical near Okinawa on December 17; this phase of Opal's development dissipated the next day.{{rp|78}}

Opal inflicted minor damage to a few homes in Palau, where winds reached an estimated {{convert|140|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Tent homes in Angaur and Peleliu were inundated by storm surge.{{cite news |date=December 15, 1964 |title=Light Storms Damage In 2 TT Isles |volume=19 |page=1 |work=Guam Daily News |issue=294 |location=Hagåtña, Guam |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64117088/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Philippine Weather Bureau initially issued storm warnings for the eastern Visayas and Mindanao on December 13 in anticipation of Opal;{{cite news |date=December 13, 1964 |title=Typhoon Heading For Philippines |page=1 |work=Sunday Times-Democrat |agency=United Press International |location=Davenport, Iowa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64110025/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} these warnings were later extended to southern and central Luzon.{{cite news |date=December 14, 1964 |title=Typhoon Opal's High Winds Head For Philippines |volume=69 |page=2 |work=Daily Press |agency=United Press International |issue=340 |location=Newport News, Virginia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64110399/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Philippine Airlines cancelled all flights scheduled for the afternoon of December 14 and the U.S. military moved its Luzon-based aircraft to safety.{{cite news |date=December 14, 1964 |title=175-M.P.H. Winds Hit Island In Philippines |volume=84 |page=19 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=United Press International |location=Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64112724/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Manila International Airport closed and railways were brought to a standstill.{{cite news |date=December 16, 1964 |title=Typhoon Limps Out of Luzon |page=2-A |work=The Miami Herald |agency=United Press International |issue=16 |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64119740/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=December 16, 1964 |title=Typhoon Batters Luzon |page=4 |work=The Age |issue=34198 |location=Melbourne, Australia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64119988/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Some schools and offices in Manila were forced to close due to Opal's rains.{{cite news |date=December 15, 1964 |title=Typhoon Opal Batters Luzon |page=3 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |agency=Australian Associated Press |issue=39623 |location=Sydney, Australia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64118404/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} The total cost of damage caused by Opal in the Philippines was estimated at US$25 million.{{cite news |date=December 19, 1964 |title=Opal rakes islands |volume=166 |page=3 |work=Wilmington Morning News |agency=United Press International |issue=148 |location=Wilmington, Delaware |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64120759/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Two people were killed and another three were injured in Virac, Catanduanes, after their house was razed by a landslide caused by torrential rainfall.{{cite news |date=December 14, 1964 |title=Typhoon Opal Rips Luzon Isle |volume=92 |page=37 |work=Tucson Daily Citizen |agency=United Press International |issue=299 |location=Tucson, Arizona |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64110828/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=December 15, 1964 |title=Typhoon Damage Set at Millions |page=1 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |agency=United Press International |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64118724/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Opal caused significant property damage in Luzon and disrupted communications.{{rp|78}}{{cite news |date=December 15, 1964 |title=Luzon Island Is Swept By Typhoon Opal |volume=37 |page=5 |work=Tyler Morning Telegraph |agency=United Press International |issue=32 |location=Tyler, Texas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64117295/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Rice crops were damaged by heavy rainfall, and together with coconut crops, sustained losses estimated in the millions of U.S. dollars.{{rp|78}}{{cite news |date=December 15, 1964 |title=Typhoon Opal Cuts Over S. China Sea |volume=32 |page=5 |work=Evening Journal |agency=United Press International |issue=295 |location=Wilmington, Delaware |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64118173/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} These crop losses were most severe in central and southeast Luzon.{{cite news |date=December 16, 1964 |title=Thousands Homeless After P.I. Homeless |page=A-4 |work=Honolulu Advertiser |agency=United Press International |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64119330/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} A washout led to the derailing of eight coaches on passenger train carrying 1,500 passengers in Quezon.{{cite news |date=December 15, 1964 |title=Typhoon Opal Rips Into Luzon |page=A-5 |work=Honolulu Advertiser |agency=United Press International |issue=54606 |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64117714/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Another train with 400–500 passengers collided with a goods wagon blown onto the tracks by Opal's winds, though no injuries were reported. A freighter was driven ashore by the typhoon at Jose Panganiban.{{rp|78}} In total, 26 people were killed and thousands of others were left homeless in the wake of Opal in the Philippines. The Philippine government designated 54 provinces and cities disaster areas. Rough seas from Opal off Okinawa swept two people off a ship stranded on a reef during a rescue operation, leading to their deaths.{{cite news |date=December 18, 1964 |title=Sea Captain, Wife Swept to Deaths |volume=87 |page=2A |work=The Minneapolis Star |agency=Associated Press |issue=20 |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64120549/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}

• Typhoon Irma (Klaring; 1966) – a typhoon that took an identical track; sunk the Pioneer Cebu and Banca Alex.
• Typhoon Ivan (Narsing; 1997) – a very strong typhoon that took a similar track.
• Typhoon Zeb (Iliang; 1998) – a category 5-equivalent typhoon that took a comparable track.
• Typhoon Nanmadol (Yayang; 2004) – an intense typhoon that affected similar areas.
• Tropical Storm Choi-wan (Dante; 2021) – a tropical storm that also brought impacts in the Philippines.

{{reflist}}

• [http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/196434.html.en Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 196434 (OPAL)] – National Institute of Informatics

Category:1964 Pacific typhoon season

Category:December 1964 in Asia

Category:Typhoons in the Philippines