Typhoon Roy

{{storm path|Roy 1988 track.png}}

Typhoon Roy originated from an area of disturbed weather in early January 1988 in the central Pacific. Above average sea surface temperatures in the area allowed for gradual development as convection increased. By January 6, the JTWC began monitoring the disturbance for the possibility of it developing into a tropical cyclone; a mirror system was present in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time. The system south of the equator eventually developed into Tropical Cyclone Anne.{{cite report|author1=Reese, Kenneth W|author2=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|author3=Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center|access-date=April 21, 2013|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1988atcr.pdf|pages=28–34|title=Chapter III – Summary of Western North Pacific Ocean and North Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones: Typhoon Roy (01W)|type=1988 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=United States Navy, United States Air Force|archive-date=February 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221110137/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1988atcr.pdf|url-status=dead}} By January 7, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression;{{cite web|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|date=October 21, 1992|access-date=April 21, 2013|title=JMA Best Tracks 1980-1990: Typhoon Roy|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}} shortly thereafter, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the depression. Early on January 8, the JTWC issued their first advisory on Tropical Depression 01W, at which time the system was located near the Marshall Islands.

Tracking nearly due west, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Roy six hours after the first advisory based on satellite data. By this time, the JMA had already classified Roy as a tropical storm. Continued deepening took place as the storm moved through the Marshall Islands; weather radar data from Kwajalein Atoll indicated the formation of an eye several hours after Roy was named; this was later supported by satellite information on January 9, at which time the storm was upgraded to a typhoon. Embedded within a moderate east-southeasterly flow along the south side of a subtropical ridge, the typhoon accelerated, obtaining a forward speed of {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.

During the afternoon of January 10, Roy reached its peak intensity as a low-range Category 4-equivalent typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale, attaining peak winds of {{convert|215|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}. At the same time, the JMA estimated that the storm attained peak winds of {{convert|155|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} along with a barometric pressure of 940 mbar (hPa; {{convert|940|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}). Upon reaching this strength, the storm was situated roughly {{convert|945|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-southeast of Guam. Over the following few days, Roy gradually slowed and weakened as it neared the Mariana Islands. The storm made its closest approach to the islands early on January 12, passing within {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Rota. As the storm passed through the region, a new ridge built east of the typhoon, causing Roy to temporarily track southwestward before resuming a westward movement.

Moving along the southern edge of the ridge, Roy accelerated again as it headed towards the Philippines. On January 14, the storm crossed 135°E, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to issue advisories on Roy, assigning it with the local name Asiang. As it neared the country, wind shear began to increase, resulting in further weakening. On January 16, Roy made landfall in the Bicol Region as a minimal typhoon before weakening to shear and increased friction with the mountains of the Philippines. Later that day, the system weakened to a tropical storm before entering the South China Sea. The JTWC downgraded Roy to a tropical depression during the afternoon of January 17 and ceased issuing advisories early the next day. However, the JMA continued to monitor Roy as a tropical storm until the morning of January 18 and declared the system dissipated early on January 19, at which time the depression was situated roughly {{convert|700|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

On January 8, Roy passed near the Majuro island chain in the Marshall Islands as a minimal tropical storm. Sustained winds of {{convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and gusts up to {{convert|85|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} affected the area, resulting in minor structural damage. Later that day, the intensifying storm passed close to Kwajalein Atoll, bringing strong winds and large swells. Moderate structural damage took place on Kwajalein Island where winds gusted up to {{convert|105|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Just to the north, more severe damage was recorded on Ebeye Island where low-lying areas were inundated by waves between {{convert|6.1|and|6.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Approximately one third of the homes on Ebeye were destroyed by the storm.{{cite news|work=Courier Mail|date=January 11, 1988|title=Storm Blasts Islands}} One person was killed and damage was estimated at $5 million (1988 USD). An estimated 3,500 people were left homeless as a result of Roy in the Marshall Islands.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=The Palm Beach Post|date=January 11, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Typhoon Roy nears Guam|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZPklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zvMFAAAAIBAJ&dq=typhoon%20roy&pg=3255%2C2766008|page=2A}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Ahead of Roy's arrival in the Mariana Islands and Guam, the public was given sufficient warning by the local disaster preparedness team. An estimated 1,200 people evacuated to shelters across Guam and all flights to and from the island were canceled for January 12.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=The Lewiston Journal|date=January 12, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Typhoon whips Western Pacific|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0YkgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RGYFAAAAIBAJ&dq=typhoon%20roy%20rota&pg=2210%2C1121260|page=3B}}

On January 12, Typhoon Roy passed through the Mariana Islands and Guam, causing moderate structural damage and extensive crop losses. On Guam alone, agricultural losses reached $23.5 million (1988 USD; ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|23500000|1988}}}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} USD). Most structural damage was limited to broken windows on the island. Located within {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} of Roy's eye during its passage of the Mariana Islands, Rota received the worst damage from the cyclone. Winds on the island gusted up to {{convert|193|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, wreaking havoc to structures and vegetation. At least 200 of the 450 of homes on Rota were destroyed and the remainder were damaged;{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=San Jose Mercury News|date=January 13, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Guam Declared a Disaster Area|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB72CEAF6A0E208&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|page=10A}} 95% of the power poles fell across the island, resulting in severe disruption to daily life. Roughly 80% of the concrete homes had their windows blown out.{{cite news|author=Wire Reports|work=Herald-Journal|date=January 13, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Typhoon hits Guam, causes widespread damage|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oqceAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U84EAAAAIBAJ&dq=typhoon%20roy%20rota&pg=6707%2C3893840|page=A2}} Four people were injured after the roof of one building was blown into another where people had sought shelter. One person died after suffering a heart attack induced by the storm.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=Boca Raton News|date=January 13, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Typhoon Roy Slams Guam|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A9kPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vY0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=typhoon%20roy%20rota&pg=5875%2C3581937|page=6A}} In the wake of the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency for Guam.{{cite web|publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency|date=January 20, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Guam: Typhoon Roy|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=2011}}

The last area affected by Typhoon Roy was the Philippines, which was struck by the storm on January 16. Prior to the storm's arrival, typhoon warnings were raised for 29 provinces in the country, including the capital city of Manila.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=Reading Eagle|date=January 15, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Typhoon headed towards Philippines|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QD4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ceUFAAAAIBAJ&dq=typhoon%20roy%20philippines&pg=6158%2C2372300|page=22A}} In the Bicol Region, winds likely reached typhoon intensity; however, no known damage took place in the area. Continuing westward, the Roy brought gale-force winds to parts of southern Luzon before moving into the South China Sea.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=The Spokesman-Review|date=January 18, 1988|title=Typhoon is weaker in South China Sea}} Low-lying areas in the storm's path were flooded by heavy rains and strong winds downed power lines in Sorsogon.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=The Telegraph|date=January 17, 1988|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=Typhoon Roy weakens as it hits land|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C-slAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZfwFAAAAIBAJ&dq=typhoon%20roy%20philippines&pg=3619%2C4372280|page=B4}}

Since the JMA kept reliable records in 1951, Roy became the ninth known typhoon to develop during the month of January as well as the second most intense during the month, attaining a minimum pressure of 940 mbar (hPa; {{convert|940|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}). It also attained the second-highest sustained winds during January, estimated at {{convert|150|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}.{{in lang|ja}} {{cite web|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|date={{CURRENTYEAR}}|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=台風リスト|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/search_name2.pl?&sort=minp&order=asc&stype=number&month=1&mtype=se&gid=f1b28c3a3ba1ffb391fae40d7dcb7968&basin=wnp}} According to the JTWC, Roy was the third-most intense typhoon during the month, attaining peak winds of {{convert|215|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and an estimated pressure of 927 mbar (hPa; {{convert|927|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}).{{cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|date={{CURRENTYEAR}}|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=JTWC Best Tracks|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/wpindex.html|archive-date=August 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830121436/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/wpindex.html|url-status=dead}} In addition to intensity records, Typhoon Roy also was an unusually long-lived storm, spanning 12 days from formation to dissipation. This ranks it as the second-longest lived storm during January, just 12 hours short of Typhoon Alice in 1979.{{in lang|ja}} {{cite web|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|date={{CURRENTYEAR}}|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=台風リスト|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/search_name2.pl?&sort=lifetime&order=dec&stype=number&mtype=se&lowp=1008&upp=870&sy=1906&sy=1906&gid=f956a732998a96ac0815c9753c07855b&basin=wnp}}

Due to the severity of damage wrought by Typhoon Roy, the name was retired following its usage and replaced with Ryan.{{cite web|author=Michael V. Padua|publisher=Typhoon 2000|date=June 11, 2008|access-date=August 20, 2010|title=1945–1997 JTWC names for the Western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea|url=http://www.typhoon2000.ph/stormstats/1945-1997names.txt|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207054411/http://typhoon2000.ph/stormstats/1945-1997names.txt|url-status=dead}} Since minimal damage took place in the Philippines, the name Asiang was not retired and was used again in 1992, 1996 and 2000 seasons, respectively.

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Other storms named Roy
• Other storms named Asiang
• Tropical Storm Mekkhala (2015)
• Typhoon Hagupit (2014)

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• [http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1988atcr.pdf The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's Report on Typhoon Roy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221110137/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1988atcr.pdf |date=February 21, 2013 }}

{{Retired Pacific typhoon names}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roy (1988)}}

Category:Retired Pacific typhoons

Category:Typhoons in Guam

Category:1988 Pacific typhoon season

Category:1988 disasters in the Philippines

Category:Typhoons in the Philippines

Category:Tropical cyclones in 1988