Typhoon Songda (2016)

{{Storm path|Songda 2016 track.png}}

On October 2, the United States Central Pacific Hurricane Center started to monitor a weak trough of low pressure that had developed about {{convert|1000|mi|km|round=5|abbr=on}} to the southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii.{{cite report|author1=Gibbs, Alex|title=Tropical Weather Outlook October 2, 2016 12z|publisher=Central Pacific Hurricane Center|date=October 2, 2016}} Over the next day as the system moved towards the northwest, showers and thunderstorms gradually developed along the trough, but were showing little to no signs of organisation.{{cite report|author1=Evans, Tom|title=Tropical Weather Outlook October 3, 2016 18z|publisher=Central Pacific Hurricane Center|date=October 3, 2016}} The system was subsequently classified as a tropical depression by the Japan Meteorological Agency during October 3, as it crossed the International Dateline and moved into the western Pacific Ocean.{{cite report |title=Typhoon Songda |url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/cms/warning/2016/11/22/typhoon-best-track-2016-11-22t060000z/ |accessdate=December 10, 2016 |type=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Best Track |publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency |date=November 22, 2016}}

Often presenting an exposed low-level circulation center (LLCC), the tropical depression drifted westward without further development for days owing to a marginal environment within the subsident region of a tropical upper tropospheric trough (TUTT) cell to the northwest, with moderate vertical wind shear.{{cite web|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans Reissued 040230Z-040600Z Cct 2016|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/ab/abpw10.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131537/https://www.webcitation.org/6l0las91y?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/ABPW10-PGTW_201610040230.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 4, 2016|url-status=live}} Late on October 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) eventually issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system, when the TUTT cell was beginning to move to the west-southwest, allowing convection to develop over the consolidating LLCC.{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert|url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20161007/220000/A_WTPN21PGTW072200_C_RJTD_20161007214747_49.txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132517/https://www.webcitation.org/6lFpVNPv7?url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20161007/220000/A_WTPN21PGTW072200_C_RJTD_20161007214747_49.txt|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 7, 2016|url-status=live}}

Shortly after the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression early on October 8, the JMA upgraded it to a tropical storm and named it Songda ({{langx|vi|sông Đà}}, meaning “Dark Brown River”) at noon, about {{convert|500|km|abbr=on|round=5}} south of Minamitorishima.{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 23W (Twentythree) Warning Nr 01|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131634/https://www.webcitation.org/6l6vveHn3?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610080900.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 8, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory 081200|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq20.rjtd..txt|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131553/https://www.webcitation.org/6l6vNUacy?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPQ20-RJTD_201610081200.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 8, 2016|url-status=live}} It was also upgraded to a tropical storm by the JTWC several hours later.{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 03|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131715/https://www.webcitation.org/6l887vMxX?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610082100.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 8, 2016|url-status=live}} The JMA upgraded Songda to a severe tropical storm late on October 9, when it was moving along the southwest periphery of the deep-layered subtropical ridge positioned to the northeast.{{cite web|title=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory 091800|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq20.rjtd..txt|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131834/https://www.webcitation.org/6lA44SRY5?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPQ20-RJTD_201610091800.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 9, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Storm 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 07|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132035/https://www.webcitation.org/6lA4lMpO2?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610092100.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 9, 2016|url-status=live}} Later, both of the JMA and JTWC reported that Songda had developed into a typhoon at 00:00 UTC on October 10.{{cite web|title=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory 100000|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq20.rjtd..txt|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131754/https://www.webcitation.org/6lA43i7Ao?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPQ20-RJTD_201610100000.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 10, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 08|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131956/https://www.webcitation.org/6lA4l1yn3?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610100300.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 10, 2016|url-status=live}} Turning northward, the typhoon rapidly intensified and formed a well-defined eye embedded in deep central convection, due to near radial outflow being limited on the southern portion, with a very strong poleward tap into the Westerlies, very low vertical wind shear, and sea surface temperature of 28 °C.{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 10|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523131914/https://www.webcitation.org/6lA4kIkkR?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610101500.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 10, 2016|url-status=live}} However, the eye became cloud-filled and ragged early on the next day, when Songda began to accelerate northeastward along the poleward side of the subtropical ridge.{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 13|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132236/https://www.webcitation.org/6lBdkVuNB?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610110900.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 11, 2016|url-status=live}}

Typhoon Songda reintensified in the afternoon on October 11. Moving in-phase with such strong southwesterly vertical wind shear effectively reduced its overall impacts to the system, allowing a rapid intensification again. Therefore, Songda developed a larger and sharp eye with a very symmetric core structure. It reached its peak intensity about {{convert|650|mi|abbr=on|order=flip}} southeast of Tokyo, Japan at 18:00 UTC, with ten-minute maximum sustained winds at {{convert|185|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and the central pressure at {{convert|925|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}} reported by the JMA, at an unusually high latitude (30.3ºN) for such powerful intensity.{{cite web|title=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory 111800|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq20.rjtd..txt|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132202/https://www.webcitation.org/6lBdK9mYy?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPQ20-RJTD_201610111800.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 11, 2016|url-status=live}} With one-minute maximum sustained winds at {{convert|240|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} reported by the JTWC, equivalent to a Category 4 of the SSHWS, Songda was also an unusually northern super typhoon.{{cite web|title=Prognostic Reasoning for Typhoon 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 15|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132119/https://www.webcitation.org/6lBdjn2og?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WDPN32-PGTW_201610112100.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 11, 2016|url-status=live}} Early on October 12, embedded deeper in the westerlies, the overall structure became more asymmetric with severe elongation and dispersion along the northern peripheries, leading to a weakening trend and prompting the JTWC issuing the final warning to Songda, although the eye remained well-defined until the afternoon.{{cite web|title=Typhoon 23W (Songda) Warning Nr 017|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpn32.pgtw..txt|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132316/https://www.webcitation.org/6lCvtGhUA?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPN32-PGTW_201610120900.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 13, 2016|url-status=live}}

File:Songda 2016-10-15 2030Z.jpg on October 15]]

Moving eastward at {{convert|95|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, shortly after the JMA downgraded Songda to a severe tropical storm early on October 13, the system completed an extratropical transition south of the Aleutian Islands.{{cite web|title=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory 130300|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq20.rjtd..txt|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132438/https://www.webcitation.org/6lEVdSbas?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPQ20-RJTD_201610130300.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 13, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory 130600|url=http://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq20.rjtd..txt|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132359/https://www.webcitation.org/6lEVd883T?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPQ20-RJTD_201610130600.htm|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 13, 2016|url-status=live}} After the system weakened into a gale-force low and crossed the 180th meridian again in the afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Portland dubbed it the Ides of October storm on the next day.{{cite web|title=High Seas Forecast for METAREA XII 2345 UTC THU OCT 13 2016|url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/KWBC/Alphanumeric/Forecast/Shipping_area/20161013/232500/A_FZPN02KWBC132325_C_RJTD_20161013233047_48.txt|publisher=Ocean Prediction Center|accessdate=October 14, 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240523132601/https://www.webcitation.org/6lFz8r4eW?url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/KWBC/Alphanumeric/Forecast/Shipping_area/20161013/232500/A_FZPN02KWBC132325_C_RJTD_20161013233047_48.txt|archivedate=2024-05-23|date=October 13, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Area Forecast Discussion 357 AM PDT Fri Oct 14 2016|url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=AFDPQR&e=201610141057|publisher=National Weather Service Portland Oregon|accessdate=October 16, 2016|date=October 14, 2016}} On October 15, the system turned northeastward and underwent an explosive intensification.{{cite web|title=High Seas Forecast for METAREA XII 0545 UTC SAT OCT 15 2016|url=http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/NFDHSFEPI.txt|publisher=Ocean Prediction Center|accessdate=October 15, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015111809/http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/NFDHSFEPI.txt|archivedate=October 15, 2016|date=October 15, 2016}} The Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) reported that Post-Tropical Cyclone Songda developed into a hurricane-force low approximately {{convert|165|mi|abbr=on}} west of Astoria, Oregon at 11:00 PDT (18:00 UTC), 6 hours before with the central pressure decreasing to {{convert|969|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|title=High Seas Forecast for METAREA XII 2345 UTC SAT OCT 15 2016|url=http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/NFDHSFEPI.txt|publisher=Ocean Prediction Center|accessdate=October 16, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016040200/http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/NFDHSFEPI.txt|archivedate=October 16, 2016|date=October 15, 2016}}{{cite web|title=WPC weather chart for Oct. 16, 2016 00Z|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/archives/sfc/2016/lrgnamsfc2016101600.gif|publisher=Weather Prediction Center|accessdate=October 16, 2016|date=October 16, 2016}}

Shortly after reaching hurricane-force, the extra-tropical cyclone weakened to storm-force and arrived at the coastline of Vancouver Island. The low continued to track northward and quickly became attached to a weakening stationary front, associated with a complex low-pressure system to the west, late on October 16; Songda's remnants were subsequently absorbed into the neighboring system.{{cite web|title=WPC weather chart for Oct. 16, 2016 18Z|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/archives/sfc/2016/lrgnamsfc2016101618.gif|publisher=Weather Prediction Center|accessdate=October 17, 2016|date=October 16, 2016}}

Typhoon Songda stayed over open ocean as a typhoon and had little to no impacts while in the Western Pacific Ocean.

The extratropical remnant of Songda was the last in a line of three strong low-pressure systems to affect the western coast of Canada and the United States from October 12 through October 16. The storm was predicted to be the strongest and potentially most devastating of the three. In preparation of the low pressure's arrival the cities of Victoria and Vancouver closed public parks to prevent injuries from falling trees. The City of Vancouver added 150 additional homeless spaces while the City of Victoria opened up 325 emergency shelters.{{cite news|author=Jon Azpiri and Alia Dharssi|agency=Global News|title=Third B.C. storm hits south coast|date=2016-10-16|publisher=Corus Entertainment|accessdate=2016-10-17|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3005364/b-c-south-coast-braces-for-third-storm-to-hit-saturday/}} A number of ferries to Vancouver Island were also cancelled during the evening of October 15 in advance of the storm. Utility providers had requested assistance from interior Canada to provide quick support in case of power outages.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|agency=The Canadian Press|title=Third storm fuelled by typhoon Songda hits B.C.'s south coast|date=2016-10-15|publisher=Toronto Star & Partners|accessdate=2016-10-17|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/10/15/third-storm-fuelled-by-typhoon-songda-to-hit-bcs-south-coast.html}} Environment Canada issued high wind and rain warnings for the west coast as winds of over {{convert|90|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} were anticipated.

As the system neared the coast, wind gusts of {{convert|63|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} were recorded at Vancouver International Airport, {{convert|69|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at Victoria Airport, and {{convert|59|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at Abbotsford Airport.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|agency=CTV Vancouver|title=Typhoon remnants mostly don't live up to hype|date=2016-10-16|publisher=Bell Media|accessdate=2016-10-17|url=http://bc.ctvnews.ca/typhoon-remnants-mostly-don-t-live-up-to-hype-1.3117510}} The highest wind gust recorded during this event was {{convert|111|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at Race Rocks on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The winds were weaker than predicted because of the compact nature of the storm.{{cite news|author=Simon Little|agency=AM730|title=Metro Vancouver largely spared as third storm packs weaker punch|date=2016-10-16|publisher=Corus|accessdate=2016-10-17|url=http://www.am730.ca/syn/112/232331/metro-vancouver-largely-spared-as-third-storm-packs-weaker-punch}}

The storm left a large number of trees knocked over. This rendered some roads impassable and resulted in structural damage to homes, cars, and power lines. At the height of the event as many as 34,000 residents were left without power.

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Weather of 2016
• Tropical cyclones in 2016
• Other storms of the same name
• Columbus Day storm of 1962
• Typhoon Nuri (2014)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/Pac_tab.shtml Pacific Analysis] of Post-Tropical Cyclone Songda from the Ocean Prediction Center
• [http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/201620.html.en JMA General Information] of Typhoon Songda (1620) from Digital Typhoon
• [http://www.data.jma.go.jp/fcd/yoho/data/typhoon/T1620.png JMA Best Track Data (Graphics)] of Typhoon Songda (1620)
• [https://www.data.jma.go.jp/yoho/data/typhoon/T1620.pdf JMA Best Track Data ] (PDF) of Typhoon Songda (1620) (in Japanese)
• [http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tcdat/tc16/WPAC/23W.SONGDA/ 23W.SONGDA]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

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Category:2016 Pacific typhoon season

Category:Pacific Northwest storms

Category:October 2016 in Asia

Category:Hurricanes in Canada

Category:October 2016 in North America

Songda