Typhoon Yancy (1993)

{{storm path|Yancy 1993 track.png}}

In late August, an area of convection began to persist in the open northwestern Pacific, well removed from any landmasses. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started to monitor the disturbance at 1200 UTC on August 27.{{cite web|title=1993 YANCY (1993240N17142)|url=http://atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v03r04/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r04-1993240N17142|work=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|publisher=University of North Carolina Asheville|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=National Climatic Data Center|location=Asheville, North Carolina}} Aided by a southwesterly monsoonal wind flow and in an area of favorable conditions, the system organized, and at 0600 UTC on August 28, the JTWC issued a Significant Tropical Weather Advisory on the disturbance.{{cite web|title=1993 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1993atcr.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915171035/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1993atcr.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2012|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=Etro, James F.|author2=Morse, Peter A. |location=Hagatna, Guam|year=1993}} Organization continued throughout the day's course, and the system was classified by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on August 29.{{cite web|title=JMA Best Track (1990–1999)|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst9099.txt|publisher=Government of Japan|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=Japan Meteorological Agency}} Shower activity at that time began to coalesce more closely around the system's center of circulation, prompting the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert an hour later. Based on satellite intensity estimates, the agency also reclassified the system as a tropical depression at 0600 UTC that day. At the time, the depression was positioned roughly {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on|round=5}} northwest of Guam.{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclones in 1993|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1993.pdf|publisher=Royal Observatory Hong Kong|accessdate=23 November 2013|location=Kowloon, Hong Kong|format=PDF|date=January 1995}} Through tropical cyclogenesis, the primitive depression tracked westward, in the direction of Taiwan. At 0000 UTC on August 30, the JMA upgraded the system to tropical storm intensity, followed by the JTWC six hours later based on a ship report in the vicinity of the cyclone.

File:Typhoon Yancy 3 Sep 1993 0650z.png

Yancy continued to gradually intensify, and according to the JMA the storm reached severe tropical storm intensity at 1200 UTC on August 31. By this time, Yancy started to curve towards the northwest. Later that day, the tropical storm began developing a banding eye feature. This was reflected in satellite intensity estimates, prompting the JTWC to upgrade Yancy to typhoon status. The JMA maintained the storm's severe tropical storm status through this period, though on September 1 the agency initiated 3-hour position fixes in contrast to their usual 6-hour fix procedure; at 0300 UTC that day the JMA upgraded Yancy to typhoon intensity. Upon upgrade, Yancy was estimated to have a minimum barometric pressure of 965 mbar (hPa; 28.50 inHg). At the time the typhoon was positioned approximately {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on|round=5}} south-southwest of Okinawa. Rapid intensification ensued, and just nine hours later the JTWC estimated Yancy's winds to have equated to that of a Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The JTWC upgraded the typhoon to super typhoon status at 0600 UTC on September 3 as one-minute sustained winds were estimated to have reached the threshold of {{convert|130|kn|km/h mph}}. Three hours later the JMA estimated Yancy to have peaked in strength with ten-minute sustained winds of {{convert|175|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a minimum barometric pressure of {{convert|925|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}; this intensity would be held for the following 18 hours.

Only minimal weakening occurred in the immediate hours following peak intensity, and at around 0600 UTC on September 3, Yancy passed directly over Iōjima. Tracking rapidly northeastward at around {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, Yancy made a second landfall on Kagoshima Prefecture within an hour later at the same intensity; at the time this made Yancy the strongest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall on Japan since Typhoon Shirley in 1965, 28 years prior.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: List of Typhoon Landfalls and Passages (Japan)

|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/lfjp.pl?lang=en&sort=pres&order=asc&stype=number|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Land interaction with Kyushu further weakened Yancy, but the system remained at typhoon intensity upon its landfall on western Ehime Prefecture at around 1400 UTC that day. The JTWC estimated that the typhoon was still maintaining Category 3 intensity upon landfall on Ehime. This particular landfall greatly weakened Yancy, and despite the storm briefly emerging over intra-insular waters, was only a minimal typhoon by the time of its final landfall on Hiroshima Prefecture at 1600 UTC that day. Shortly following the tropical cyclone's final landfall, Yancy weakened below typhoon intensity to severe tropical storm classification. Continuing to track northeast, the weakening cyclone underwent extratropical transition and was assessed to have fully transitioned into an extratropical storm by 1200 UTC on September 4 while located in the northeastern Sea of Japan. Yancy's extratropical remnants persisted for several days as they meandered within the Sea of Japan before dissipating by 1200 UTC on September 7.

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In preparation for Typhoon Yancy, bus and rail services in potentially affected areas were halted. Some schools were also closed. Though no initial evacuation orders were made, caution was advised to people living in Kyushu.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Yancy Bears Down on Pacific Rim|date=September 3, 1993|author=O'Connor, Eileen|agency=Cable News Network}} Forecasts prior to Yancy's landfalls on Japan raised fears that the storm would be one of the strongest in the past 50 years to strike the country. In Okinawa, 15,000 passengers were stranded after most flights arriving and departing from the island were cancelled by airlines.{{cite news|title=Powerful typhoon threatens Japan after bypassing Taiwan|date=September 2, 1993|agency=Agence France Presse|location=Tokyo, Japan}} An additional 330 domestic flights were cancelled across western Japan, stranding 5,600 persons.{{cite news|title=Yancy Weakens After Lashing Southern Japan|date=September 3, 1993|agency=Associated Press|location=Tokyo, Japan}} As Yancy neared the country, approximately 4,600 people were forced to evacuate from flood and landslide-prone areas of Kagoshima.{{cite news|title=Powerful Typhoon Yancy Hits Southwestern Japan|date=September 3, 1993|author=Hong, K.P.|agency=Associated Press|location=Tokyo, Japan}} Pop star Michael Jackson postponed a scheduled performance in Taiwan, potentially as a result of Typhoon Yancy. However, these claims were denied by his tour promoters and associated staff.{{cite news|title=Jackson postpones premier Taipei concert|date=September 1, 1993|agency=United Press International|location=Taipei, Taiwan}}

File:Yancy (2003) track near Japan.png

Upon Yancy's first landfall on Japan, the tropical cyclone became the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the country in over three decades. Across Japan, a total of 10,447 homes were inundated, with 1,892 other homes suffering complete destruction. Yancy killed 48 people and injured 266 others. Most of the deaths were the result of widespread flooding and landslides.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Yancy kills 35 in Japan, injures 511|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h5IiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9a4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5074,1037286&dq=typhoon&hl=en|accessdate=29 November 2013|newspaper=The Item|date=September 5, 1993|agency=Associated Press|location=Sumter, South Carolina|page=10A|volume=98|issue=330}} Overall, damage costs in Japan as a result of Yancy reached ¥175.5 billion (US$1.67 billion). Unadjusted for inflation, this would have at the time made Yancy the third costliest tropical cyclone in Japanese history, only behind Typhoon Bess in 1982 and Typhoon Mireille in 1991.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Typhoon Damage List

|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/disaster.pl?lang=en&basin=wnp&sort=damage&order=dec&stype=number|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Insured losses from Yancy in Japan reached ¥97.7 billion (US$928 million). As a result of precautionary measures taken during the course of Yancy's trek through the country, at least 245,000 rail passengers and 15,000 airline passengers became stranded. Yancy's potential impacts were exacerbated by the impacts of Typhoon Robyn in mid-August and significant rainstorms a week prior to Yancy's landfall.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Weakens To Tropical Storm After Lashing Southern Japan|date=September 4, 1993|agency=Associated Press|location=Tokyo, Japan}} In the direct aftermath of Typhoon Yancy, personnel from the Japan Self-Defense Forces were dispatched to rescue victims of the typhoon and recover dead bodies.{{cite news|title=42 Die in Japan Storm|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_QdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HggEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2740,4173527&dq=typhoon&hl=en|accessdate=29 November 2013|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=September 5, 1993|location=Ocala, Florida|page=13A|volume=51|issue=6}}

Passing within {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=on}} of Okinawa Island on September 2, Yancy brought gusty winds to the island. At Kadena Air Base, sustained winds reached as high as {{convert|88|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, with gusts peaking at {{convert|142|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Rainfall on the island peaked at {{convert|397|mm|in|abbr=on}} in Gusuku. The same station observed {{convert|360|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain over a 24-hour period.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 199313 (YANCY) - Disaster Information|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=199313&basin=wnp&lang=en|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu}} Of all islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Kume Island sustained the worst impacts from Yancy. The eye of the typhoon passed directly over the island, resulting in a station observing a record low barometric pressure of {{convert|928|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}. The same station also clocked a wind gust at {{convert|194|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Large swaths of sugarcane crops were damaged. On the coast, strong waves damaged fishing boats and ports. One person who went missing on the coast was later found dead.{{cite news|title=Bodies of typhoon victims found|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D6spAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3vADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4122,4256121&dq=typhoon&hl=en|accessdate=29 November 2013|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|date=September 6, 1993|location=Spokane, Washington|page=A3|volume=111|issue=90}} Strong winds inland unroofed buildings and toppled power lines. Twenty-two buildings were completely destroyed, with an additional 516 sustaining at least partial damage. Total damage costs on Kume and Naha islands amounted to ¥1.8 billion (US$17.3 million), and two people were killed.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-936-06)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-936-06&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}}

Heavy agricultural damage also occurred on Ishigaki Island. Sugarcane crops were severely impacted, with losses reaching ¥35 million (US$330,000) and accounting for approximately 80.5% of all sugarcane crops on the island. Significant damage was also inflicted on other fruit and vegetable crops. Total agricultural losses on Ishigaki reached ¥43.6 million (US$410,000). On nearby Taketomi Island, similar agricultural damage ensued.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-918-04)

|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-918-04&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} To the east, the Miyako Islands also suffered extensive damage. Heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding, which took a toll on infrastructure and agriculture. Ten buildings sustained at least partial damage, with one completely demolished. In addition, three dikes were breached by floodwater. Roughly 4,478 ha (11,065 ac) of farmland were damaged. Agricultural damage there amounted to ¥309 million (US$2.9 million).{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-927-02)

|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-927-02&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}}

{{Costliest Japan typhoons}}

Kyushu was the first of Japan's four main islands to be impacted by Yancy and suffered the worst effects as a result. Floods and power outages were widespread, with about 700,000 homes on the island without power at one point.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Yancy hammers Japan|newspaper=The Herald|date=September 4, 1993|agency=Caledonian Newspapers|location=Glasgow, Scotland|page=4}} Kagoshima Prefecture was the location of the typhoon's first and second landfalls and as such major damage occurred there.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-827-15)

|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-827-15&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Rainfall in the prefecture peaked at {{convert|375|mm|in|abbr=on}} in Takatoge. However, higher hourly rainfall rates were reported at stations in Mizobe and Makurazaki. Off the coast, strong storm surge was reported, resulting in damage along the coast. In Sata, waves were estimated to be {{convert|11.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} high. Widespread flash floods and landslides were commonplace across Kagoshima. Nine people were killed in a single landslide incident. Another landslide in Kinpo, Kagoshima trapped 20 people.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Yancy Kills 11|date=September 4, 1993|agency=Press Association}} In Kawanabe, a single mudslide killed nine persons and destroyed 20 homes.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Yancy dwindles, 46 dead or missing in its wake|date=September 4, 1993|agency=Agence France-Pesse|location=Tokyo, Japan}} A total of 31 landslides occurred throughout Kaghsima. Widespread power outages also took place, which affected 384,000 houses. Prefecture-wide, 209 homes were demolished and 626 sustained partial damage. Overall, damage costs in Kagoshima amounted to ¥43.9 billion (US$420 million), and 33 lives were lost. An additional 163 persons were injured.

Despite not being a point of landfall, Miyazaki Prefecture was the most severely affected region of Japan.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-830-14)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-830-14&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=23 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Many of the highest rainfall totals recorded in Japan took place in Miyazaki Prefecture. A weather station in Mitate, located in the town of Hinokage, observed {{convert|577|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain, far more than any other station in the country. The same station reported {{convert|543|mm|in|abbr=on}} of its rainfall total in a 24-hour period, which still exceeded the storm totals of any other Japanese weather station. High storm surge generated by Yancy caused coastal inundation in Hyūga, which flooded the first floors of many buildings. Several fishing boats in a harbor off of Nobeaka capsized due to wave action. River swelling caused by heavy precipitation and flooding washed away four bridges prefecture-wide. Further inland many homes were unroofed as a result of strong winds. A total of 347 homes were damaged, and of those 38 were destroyed. Overall damage totaled ¥88.8 billion (US$840 million), primarily as a result of agricultural loss, and two people were killed.

Damage in Kumamoto Prefecture was considerably less in comparison with Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures but nonetheless remained significant. Winds gusting as high as {{convert|94|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} resulted in the destruction of several homes. The strong winds also toppled and uprooted numerous trees, including a patch of trees {{convert|1,670|ha|acre|abbr=off}} in area in the southern portion of the prefecture. Landslides were also commonplace, blocking homes and destroying additional buildings. Damage in the prefecture reached ¥30.5 billion (US$290 million), primarily to forestry, where damage in that sector alone totaled ¥21 billion ($200 million). One person in Kumamoto Prefecture was killed after a falling incident while five others were injured.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-819-16)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-819-16&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=27 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}}

Ōita Prefecture was primarily impacted by heavy rainfall from Yancy, resulting in widespread flooding.

>{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-815-15)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-815-15&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=29 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Precipitation peaked at {{convert|422|mm|in|abbr=on}} in Ōita, the second highest rainfall amount in Japan. Four people were killed after two buildings collapsed as a result of an overflowing river. Another person was killed due to a flood-triggered landslide. The floods destroyed 28 homes and inundated another 302 across Ōita. In addition to residential damage, the floods inundated large swaths of agricultural land, leading to soil erosion. Crops, in particularly pears, were greatly affected. Approximately {{convert|1,074|ha|acre|abbr=off}} of arable land was eroded. Across the prefecture, agricultural damage amounted to ¥26.8 billion (US$250 million). The floods also caused widespread clean water shortages, particularly in Kusu District. Overall, damage caused by Yancy in Ōita Prefecture was estimated at ¥42.4 billion (US$402 million), and seven people were killed.

Nagasaki, Saga, and Fukuoka prefectures were less affected by Yancy relative to other regions in Kyushu. Nagasaki Prefecture was primarily impacted by the typhoon's storm surge. Wave heights peaked at {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} off of Miiraki. The wave action caused some coastal damage. Further inland, damage lessened, and limited to a single landslide. Damage in Nagasaki totaled ¥1.7 billion (US$16 million).{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-817-26)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-817-26&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=29 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} In Saga, excessive rainfall caused widespread crop damage and suspended various transportation services. Damage estimates in Saga were slightly less than in Nagasaki, totaling ¥1.6 billion (US$15 million).{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-813-11)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-813-11&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=29 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Flooding in Fukuoka Prefecture resulted in two landslides and destroyed four buildings. Eighty-nine other buildings were inundated by floodwater. Damage there totaled ¥2.4 billion (US$23 million), and one person was killed.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-807-13)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-807-13&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=29 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}}

Shikoku was the second of Japan's four main islands that Yancy made landfall on. Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku was the site of Yancy's third landfall. A high storm surge swamped coastal regions, damaging fishing boats and other shoreline structures. A total of 33 boats were reportedly damaged. Heavy rainfall blocked roads, flooded buildings, and triggered landslides. Inundation was reported in 1,237 buildings prefecture wide. Twelve landslides occurred, and dikes were breached in 13 locations. Power outage also occurred in earnest in Ehime Prefecture, with as many as 37,300 households losing electricity at one point. Two people were killed, and five others were injured. Damage in Ehime as a result of Yancy totaled ¥4.7 billion (US$44 million).{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (1993-887-24)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1993-887-24&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|accessdate=29 November 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}} Damage was much more considerable in Kōchi Prefecture, where damage totaled ¥5 billion (US$48 million). Rainfall peaked at {{convert|384|mm|in|abbr=on}} in Funato; this was the highest rainfall total on Shikoku Island.

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{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Typhoon Bart (1999)
• Typhoon Wynne (1980)
• Typhoon Robyn (1993)
• Typhoon Jebi (2018)

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• {{Digital Typhoon|199313|YANCY}}

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Category:1993 Pacific typhoon season

Category:Typhoons in Japan

Category:August 1993 in Asia

Category:September 1993 in Asia