Typhoon Sally (1996)

{{storm path|Sally 1996 track.png}}

In early September 1996, the monsoonal wind flow pattern shifted to a zone extending from the Philippines to Micronesia, in contrast to an anomalous pattern the month prior. On 2 September, an area of deep atmospheric convection within this zone began to consolidate into a tropical disturbance near Guam. At this time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began to monitor the system. Tracking northwestward, the disturbance steadily organized. Early on 4 September, analysis showed that the system had developed a well-defined low-level circulation center. At 0000 UTC the following day, the JTWC upgraded the low-pressure area to tropical depression intensity,{{cite report|title=1996 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1996atcr.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907200224/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1996atcr.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2012|work=Joint Typhoon Warning Center Annual Tropical Cyclone Reports|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|access-date=12 September 2013|author=Dillon, C.P.|author2=Andrews, Mark J.|location=Hagåtña, Guam|pages=138–141|format=PDF|year=1996|type=JTWC Annual Tropical Cyclone Report}} while the storm system was situated roughly {{convert|1,300|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Manila in the Philippines.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclones in 1996|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1996.pdf|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|access-date=12 September 2013|author=Hong Kong Observatory|location=Kowloon, Hong Kong|pages=38–43|format=PDF|date=March 1996|type=JMA Annual Tropical Cyclone Report}} The rate of intensification quickened during the day, and at 1800 UTC the depression intensified into tropical storm strength, earning it the name Sally.

Tracking north-northwestward, Sally attained typhoon intensity by 0600 UTC on 6 September. At the time, the typhoon had a minimum barometric pressure of 990 mbar (hPa; 29.24 inHg) according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Rapid intensification followed shortly afterwards, with the typhoon reaching the equivalent of Category 3 intensity by 0600 UTC on 7 September.{{cite web|title=1996 Sally (1996246N08148)|url=http://atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v03r04/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r04-1996246N08148|work=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|publisher=University of North Carolina at Asheville|access-date=13 September 2013|location=Asheville, North Carolina}} Ten hours later, the JTWC upgraded Sally to super typhoon status.{{#tag:ref|A super typhoon is an unofficial classification used by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center to classify tropical cyclones in the Northwestern Pacific with 1-minute sustained winds in excess of {{convert|240|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{cite book|author=Goldenburg, Stan|chapter=A3) What is a super-typhoon? What is a major hurricane? What is an intense hurricane?|type=FAQ|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/weather_sub/faq.html|chapter-url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A3.html|date=1 June 2012|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory|access-date=12 September 2013|version=4.5}}|group=nb}} At 1800 UTC, the JTWC assessed Sally to have peaked in strength with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|260|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, equivalent to that of a Category 5 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. The JMA estimated the storm's minimum pressure at the time to be at {{convert|950|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}. The following morning, Sally accelerated into the South China Sea under the influence of a strong subtropical ridge to the north. Despite its movement over waters, the typhoon steadily weakened as it tracked westward. On 9 September, Sally made landfall on China's Leizhou Peninsula with winds of {{convert|185|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The typhoon briefly tracked over the Gulf of Tonkin before making a second and final landfall just north of the border between China and Vietnam. Upon moving inland, Sally quickly weakened before dissipating over southwestern China on 9 September.

{{clear}}

File:Sally 1996-09-09 0646Z.png on 9 September]]

As Typhoon Sally approached Hong Kong on 8 September, precautionary measures were initiated in the then-British colony.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Sally Headed Toward Hong Kong|newspaper=AM Cycle Newswire|date=8 September 1996|agency=Associated Press|location=Hong Kong, China}} Ferry service to Hong Kong's outlying islands were suspended, while active fishing vessels sought shelter in the local harbor.{{cite news|title=Hong Kong Battens Down as Typhoon Approaches|date=8 September 1996|agency=Associated Press|location=Hong Kong, China|at=International news}} The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) began issuing warning systems for Hong Kong and adjacent areas beginning with a Standby Signal No. 1 early that day, while Sally was located roughly {{convert|770|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the east-southeast. As the typhoon strengthened and rapidly approached the Chinese coast, the HKO issued the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 that evening. In the early morning hours of 9 September, Sally made its closest pass to Hong Kong as it moved {{convert|180|km|mi|abbr=on}} off to the south. As such, warnings were raised to the Southeast Gale or Storm Signal No. 8. The signal warning was raised a few hours late and continued to be held for just over 3 hours, the shortest period of time for which that warning was held since Tropical Storm Wynne in 1984. As effects from Sally subsided, the warning signals were downgraded until all warnings were discontinued shortly before noon on 9 September. Though the warnings for Hong Kong were lifted early, schools in the colony were suspended throughout 9 September.{{cite news|title=Vietnam gears for arrival of typhoon Sally|date=9 September 1996|agency=Agence France-Presse|location=Hanoi, Vietnam|at=International news}}

As the typhoon approached the Chinese coast, two men became stranded on a cliff in Sok Kwu Wan as a result of the storm. Though they required aerial rescue via helicopter, both men only sustained minor injuries.{{cite news|title=Morning Warning on Sally|date=9 September 1996|location=Hong Kong, China|newspaper=South China Morning News|page=1}} Passing south of Hong Kong throughout 8–9 September, Sally remained sufficiently south of the province to not cause considerable damage. However, trees, scaffolding, and signboards were toppled by strong winds. A peak gust of {{convert|158|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} was measured at a station in Tai Mo Shan. Precipitation remained light, though some localized flooding events were reported. The highest measured rainfall total in Hong Kong was {{convert|59|mm|in|abbr=on}}, though amounts greater than {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on}} were estimated in some areas of the province. Two people were killed – one in Luk Chau village and another in Ma On Shan. In nearby Macau, trees were also uprooted, and low-lying areas were inundated by flooding conditions exacerbated by the high tides caused by Sally.

Overall in China, the effects of Sally were catastrophic, particularly in the provinces of Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi. There, at least 140 people were known to have been killed by the typhoon, with an addition 130 unaccounted for and another 2,000 injured. An estimated 300,000 homes collapsed and 500,000 hectares (1.24 million acres) of farmland were damaged. Offshore, 60 vessels capsized in high winds. Overall economic losses from Sally were estimated at over ¥12 billion (US$1.5 billion), the largest loss for the region since 1954.

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Typhoon Hagupit
• Typhoon Koryn
• Typhoon Yagi

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/199616.html.en JMA General Information] of Typhoon Sally (9616) from Digital Typhoon
• [http://www.data.jma.go.jp/fcd/yoho/data/typhoon/T9616.png JMA Best Track Data (Graphics)] of Typhoon Sally (9616)
• [http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/besttrack.html JMA Best Track Data (Text)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100310224358/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1996/1996s-bwp/bwp231996.txt JTWC Best Track Data] of Super Typhoon 23W (Sally)

{{1996 Pacific typhoon season buttons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sally (1996)}}

Category:1996 Pacific typhoon season

Category:1996 disasters in the Philippines

Category:Typhoons in the Philippines

Category:Typhoons in China

Category:Typhoons in Vietnam

Category:1996 disasters in China

Category:1996 in Vietnam

Category:1996 disasters in Vietnam