Typhoon Mangkhut, known in the
Philippines as Super Typhoon Ompong, was a powerful and catastrophic Category 5
tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage in
Guam, the
Philippines and
South China in September 2018. It was the strongest typhoon to strike
Luzon since
Megi in 2010, and the strongest to make landfall anywhere in the Philippines since
Meranti in 2016.[1] Mangkhut was also the strongest typhoon to affect Hong Kong since
Ellen in 1983.[2]
Over the course of its existence, Mangkhut left behind a trail of severe destruction in its wake. The storm caused a total of $3.77 billion (2018 US) in damage across multiple nations, along with at least 134 fatalities: 127 in the Philippines,[4][5] six in mainland China,[6] and one in Taiwan.[7]
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
On September 5, 2018, the
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring a tropical disturbance near the
International Date Line.[8] Steady development ensued over the following days, and the system organized into a tropical depression on September 6, though operationally, the
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) did not classify the system as a tropical depression until September 7.[9] The depression soon intensified into a tropical storm, upon which it
received the nameMangkhut.[10][9] Throughout the next two days, the system underwent
rapid intensification. Tight
banding features wrapped around a developing
eye feature. Favorable environmental conditions hastened Mangkhut's development, including low
wind shear, ample
outflow aloft, high
sea surface temperatures, and high
ocean heat content.[11] Mangkhut achieved typhoon strength on September 9.[12][9] A well-defined 18 km (11 mi) eye became evident on satellite imagery as the typhoon approached the
Northern Mariana Islands and
Guam. The JTWC analyzed Mangkhut as a Category 2-equivalent typhoon with one-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h (103 mph) as it tracked near
Rota, around 12:00 UTC on September 10.[13] The JMA assessed the storm's ten-minute sustained winds to be 155 km/h (96 mph) at this time.[14][9]
Typhoon Mangkhut approaching
Luzon, Philippines on September 14
Substantial intensification ensued on September 11, as Mangkhut traversed the
Philippine Sea. A second bout of rapid intensification took place as the storm consolidated significantly; a well-defined 39 km (24 mi) eye became established during this time.[15] The JTWC analyzed Mangkhut to have reached Category 5-equivalent intensity by 06:00 UTC, an intensity it would maintain for nearly four days.[16] The JMA assessed that the typhoon's central pressure bottomed out at 18:00 UTC, with 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) and a central minimum pressure of 905 hPa (mbar; 26.73 inHg).[17][9] The JTWC noted additional strengthening on September 12, and assessed Mangkhut to have reached its peak intensity at 18:00 UTC, with one-minute sustained winds of 285 km/h (175 mph).[18] The typhoon made landfall in
Baggao, Cagayan at 2:00 a.m.
PST on September 15 (18:00 UTC on September 14), as a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon, with 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) and 1-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph).[1] This made Mangkhut the strongest storm to strike the island of
Luzon since
Typhoon Megi in 2010, and the strongest nationwide since
Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.[19]
Traversing the mountains of Luzon weakened Mangkhut before it emerged over the
South China Sea on September 15. The typhoon subsequently made landfall again on the Taishan coast of
Jiangmen,
Guangdong,
China, at 5 p.m.
Beijing Time (09:00 UTC) on September 16, with two-minute sustained winds of 45 m/s (160 km/h) according to
China Meteorological Administration.[20][21][22][23] Following landfall, Mangkhut quickly weakened while moving westward. Late on September 17, Mangkhut dissipated over Guangxi, China.[24]
Tropical cyclone warning signals were hoisted by the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as early as September 13. Preemptive and forced evacuations were implemented, especially in the
Ilocos,
Cagayan Valley and
Cordillera administrative regions, the three regions widely expected to be severely affected by Mangkhut (Ompong). School class suspensions were announced as early as September 12 in preparation for the approaching typhoon.[25][26][27][28] Medical and emergency response teams were placed on standby, and ₱1,700,000,000 worth of relief goods were prepared by September 13.[29]
Highest Public Storm Warning Signal
PSWS#
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
4
Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Northern Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Babuyan Group of Islands
None
None
3
Batanes, Southern Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Northern Aurora
None
None
2
Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Southern Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Northern Quezon, Polillo Island
None
None
1
Bataan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rest of Quezon, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island
None
None
Hong Kong
On September 12, as Mangkhut was forecast to severely threaten Hong Kong, the
Hong Kong Government convened an inter-departmental meeting to discuss possible responses to the storm.[30]
On September 14, the Hong Kong Government held a rare cross-department press conference over the preparation for Mangkhut, reminding Hong Kong citizens to "prepare for the worst". That night, the
Hong Kong Observatory issued the Standby Signal No. 1 when Mangkhut was 1,110 kilometres (600 nmi) away from Hong Kong, the farthest distance on record.[31]
On September 15, citizens living in Tai O and Lei Yue Mun were evacuated from these low-lying areas that have historically been very prone to storm surge.[32] The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 in the afternoon.[33]
On September 16, as Mangkhut maintained its course towards the Pearl River Estuary, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 during midnight.[34] After dawn, as local winds rapidly strengthened, Hong Kong Observatory issued the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9.[35] At 9:40 a.m., the Hong Kong Observatory issued the Hurricane Signal No. 10, the highest level of
tropical cyclone warning signals in
Hong Kong.[36] This marked only the third time that this warning has been issued for the region since
1999, the others being with
Typhoon Hato in
2017 and
Typhoon Vicente in
2012.[37] The signal was held for ten hours, the second longest duration ever, only behind the eleven hours during
Typhoon York in 1999.[38] The typhoon passed 100 kilometers south of Hong Kong at its closest, the joint farthest for a Hurricane Signal No. 10, with Typhoon Vicente.[39]
Mainland China
On September 15, the meteorological bureaus of most cities in
Guangdong issued red alerts for Typhoon Mangkhut, which is the highest level of alerts in Guangdong.[40][41] The Guangxi Meteorological Bureau also issued a red alert for the typhoon at 5:00 p.m. Beijing Time.[42] On the next day, the Meteorological Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality issued a red alert for rainstorm, which is the highest level of alerts in
Shenzhen.[43][44]
The Fujian Meteorological Bureau issued an orange alert for the typhoon, the second-highest alert level, on September 15.[45]
On September 16,
National Meteorological Center of CMA renewed a red alert for Typhoon Mangkhut, which is the highest level of alerts in China.[46] On the same day, the Hainan Meteorological Bureau issued an orange alert for the typhoon.[47] In Guangdong's provincial capital
Guangzhou, schools, public transportation, and businesses were closed across the entire city for the first time since 1978.[48][49]
Impact
Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
Sailors remove debris in Guam following Typhoon Mangkhut
After the center of Mangkhut passed near Guam, about 80% of the island lost electricity.[50] The typhoon caused $4.3 million in infrastructural damage in Guam.[51]
Philippines
Mangkhut making landfall over Baggao, Cagayan in Luzon on September 14
After sweeping through Luzon, it left a trail of destruction. Almost all buildings in
Tuguegarao,
Cagayan's provincial capital experienced some sort of damage due to the typhoon.[52] The typhoon blew away roofs, uprooted trees, destroyed buildings, and blocked roads with debris. Shards of glass was blown through the corridors in a hotel in Santa Ana. In
Manila, extreme rains caused widespread
flooding in urban areas.[53] A
tornado was reported in
Marikina, eastern
Metro Manila, at around 5:30 p.m.
Philippine Standard Time on September 14, injuring two people.[54] Over 105,000 families evacuated from their homes,[55] and several airports in northern Luzon closed and airlines cancelled their flights until September 16.[56]
On September 22, police confirmed that the typhoon had caused at least 127 fatalities;[4][5] eighty deaths occurred in the collapse of a small mine in the town of
Itogon, Benguet, where dozens of landslides buried homes.[57] Philippine police also stated that another 111 people remained missing, as of September 22.[4]
Francis Tolentino, a political adviser of President
Rodrigo Duterte, announced that an estimated 5.7 million people nationwide had been affected by the storm.[67] Luzon suffered extensive losses which more than doubled the expected worst-case scenario outlined by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.
As of October 5, the NDRRMC estimated that Mangkhut caused
PHP33.9 billion (US$626.8 million) in damages in the Philippines, with assessments continuing.[68]
Malaysia
The tail winds from Mangkhut also affected some parts of
Malaysia (as well as state of
Sabah).
Taiwan
A thirty-year-old female teacher visiting Fenniaolin Beach in
Yilan County was swept out to sea by a wave. Her body was recovered two days later.[69][70]
Hong Kong
Shattered windows at Two Harbourfront in
Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Mangkhut was the most intense typhoon to strike Hong Kong since
Typhoon Ellen in
1983; the highest
typhoon warning signal No. 10 remained in place for ten hours.[2][71] An hourly mean wind of 81 km/h (50 mph) and gusts up to 169 km/h (105 mph) were recorded at the
Hong Kong Observatory in
Tsim Sha Tsui, while on
Cheung Chau island these figures reached 157 (98) and 212 km/h (132 mph) respectively. The strongest winds in Hong Kong near sea level were recorded at the remote
Waglan Island, with ten-minute sustained winds of 180 km/h (110 mph) gusting up to 220 km/h (137 mph).[71] These winds caused the territory's many skyscrapers to sway and shattered glass windows; notably, the curtain walls of the Harbour Grand Kowloon were blown out by the winds. A construction elevator shaft on a high-rise under construction in
Tai Kok Tsui collapsed onto an adjacent building, which had to be evacuated by police.[72] Many roads were blocked by fallen trees and other debris, including major arteries such as
Lockhart Road in Wan Chai and
Kam Sheung Road, and service on the
Mass Transit Railway (MTR) was halted on all above-ground sections of track.[73][74]
People climb over trees to go to work the morning after Typhoon Mangkhut near
Immigration Tower in
Wan Chai
Serious flooding was reported in many seaside residential areas, including
Heng Fa Chuen,
Tseung Kwan O South,
Shek O,
Lei Yue Mun, villages in
Tuen Mun, and the fishing village of
Tai O,[75] due to a powerful storm surge of up to 3.38 metres (11.1 ft).[2] About 1,219 people sought refuge in emergency shelters opened by the
Home Affairs Department.[76] The
Hong Kong International Airport cancelled and delayed a total of 889 international flights. More than 200 people were injured, but no fatalities were reported.[77][78] Due to the substantial damage and disruption caused by the typhoon, the
Education Bureau announced that all schools would be closed on September 17 and 18.[73] Insurance claims in Hong Kong amounted to
HK$7.3 billion (US$930 million).[79]
The day after the storm, massive crowds filled the territory's MTR system, which operated at a reduced level of service on some lines as some sections of the tracks had been blocked by debris.[80] Most of the city's 600 bus routes also went out of service due to blocked roads.[81]
Macau
The ceiling of the Oriental Pearl Terminal Station waiting area was blown away by strong winds.
A storm surge of up to 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) affected Macau. About 21,000 homes lost power and 7,000 homes lost internet access,[82] and forty people were injured. For the first time in history, all
casinos in Macau were closed.[83] The
Macau International Airport cancelled 191 flights on Saturday and Sunday (September 15 and 16).[82] Total damage in Macau was estimated to be 1.74 billion
patacas (US$215.3 million).[84]
Typhoon Mangkhut caused the evacuation of over 2.45 million people.[22][23] In
Shenzhen, the storm caused power failures in thirteen locations, flooded the Seafood Street, and caused 248 tree falls.[85] Transport was shut down in Southern China,[86][87] and at least four people in Guangdong were killed in the typhoon.[88][89] In
Guangzhou, markets, schools and public transport were closed or limited in the wake of the storm on Monday, September 17, and residents were requested to minimize non-essential travel. Ferry services from Zhuhai's Jiuzhougang Port to Shenzhen and Hong Kong were suspended indefinitely. The Civil Air Defense Office of Guangzhou Municipality (Municipal Civil Air Defense Office) cancelled the annual air-raid drills scheduled for September 15 to avoid causing panic as Typhoon Mangkhut approached.[90] Schools in
Beihai,
Qinzhou,
Fangchenggang, and
Nanning were closed on September 17.[91][92] The trains to Guangxi were also closed on September 17.[93]
In total, the storm killed six people and caused CN¥13.68 billion (US$1.99 billion) in damage.[94]
Due to its catastrophic damage and high death toll in
Luzon, the
PAGASA retired the name Ompong from their tropical cyclone naming lists and will never be used again as a typhoon name within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It was replaced with Obet in 2019 and it was first used in
2022 season.
The name Mangkhut was also officially retired during the 51st annual session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee from rotating typhoon lists in February 2019. In July 2020, the Typhoon Committee subsequently chose Krathon as its replacement name.[95]
Typhoon Ellen (Herming; 1983) – A powerful typhoon that took a similar track through the Philippines in September 1983, and one of the strongest typhoon in Hong Kong.
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