Typhoon Ampil (2024) Explained

Typhoon Ampil
Formed:August 3, 2024
Extratropical:August 19, 2024
Dissipated:Currently active
Winds:85
Pressure:950
Winds:115
Pressure:947
Basin:WPac
Year:2024
Injuries:Several
Damage:Minimal
Areas:Japan, Alaska
Season:2024 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Ampil was a powerful tropical cyclone that brushed Japan in early August 2024. The seventh named storm and third typhoon of the annual typhoon season. Ampil emerged from an atmospheric convection east of Kadena Air Base and was later classified as a tropical storm on August 12 and named Ampil by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Ampil gradually intensified as it turned northward, reaching its peak intensity with ten-minute sustained winds of 85kn and a central pressure of 950abbr=onNaNabbr=on before peaking at Category 4-equivalent intensity on the Saffir–Simpson scale on August 16, with one-minute sustained winds of 115kn before making its closest approach to Japan. It then rapidly weakened as it began to undergo an extratropical transition on August 19. The remnants of Ampil accelerated east-northeastward and eventually entering the Bering Sea and crossing the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

Typhoon Ampil affected Japan during the Obon holiday week, shortly after Tropical Storm Maria caused unprecedented rainfall to northern Japan. As the storm neared the coast, hundreds of thousands in Tokyo and nearby regions were urged to evacuate. Numerous modes of transportation, such as flights and trains, were canceled due to the approaching typhoon. The NHK reported that Tokyo suffered minimal damage, while several people were injured in Kanagawa Prefecture. Later, the extratropical remnants of Ampil led to a high surf advisory, a high wind watch, and a coastal flood advisory in Alaska.

Meteorological history

Typhoon Ampil emerged from an area of convection 527abbr=onNaNabbr=on east of Kadena Air Base on August 3.[1] At 18:00 UTC the same day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated the system as a low-pressure area.[2] However, just six hours later, they upgraded the system as a tropical depression.[3] The depression weakened and was last noted by the JMA on August 7.[4] The disturbance later meandered south of the Ryukyu Islands for a few days before it was re-designated by the JMA as a tropical depression on August 11.[5] Soon after, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began to re-monitoring it, noting that it was in a marginal favorable environment for development.[6] At 07:00 UTC on August 12, the agency issued a tropical cyclone formation alert on the disturbance.[7] A few hours later, they recognized the system as a tropical depression, designating it as 08W.[8] Soon after, the JMA noted that it had intensified into a tropical storm, with convective bands wrapping around a well-defined low-level circulation center, and named it Ampil.[9] [10]

Ampil then turned north-northeastward as the increasing influence of the low-level flow became the primary steering mechanism. A central dense overcast was obscuring the low-level circulation center;[11] however, Ampil became distinctly better defined, featuring a well-defined center and spiral banding.[12] The JMA upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm on August 13.[13] Around 15:00 UTC on August 14, the JTWC reported that Ampil had intensified into a minimal typhoon, as animated infrared imagery indicated the development of a pinhole eye feature, which exhibited excellent equatorward outflow and good poleward outflow.[14] The JMA then reported that Ampil had intensified into a typhoon due to warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear on August 15.[15] The JMA reported that Ampil reached its peak intensity at 12:00 UTC that day with 10-minute sustained winds of 85kn and a central pressure of 950abbr=onNaNabbr=on.[16] Ampil then turned northward, along the western periphery of a mid-level subtropical ridge.[17] Ampil eventually peaked at Category 4-equivalent intensity on the Saffir-Simpson scale at 03:00 UTC on August 16,[18] with 1-minute sustained winds of 115kn and a large eye measuring 400NaN0 in diameter before making its closest approach to Japan.[19] This makes Ampil the first storm in the 21st century to reach the 34th parallel north or above in the Western Pacific basin, with only two others having been recorded—Typhoon Carmen in 1965 and Typhoon Oscar in 1995.[20] Ampil degraded due to internal fluctuations and a symmetric central dense overcast, while convection was confined to the southern semicircle.[21] Satellite imagery depicted a well-defined 90NaN0 wide eye surrounded by deep convection,[22] though the banding diminished after encountering cold, dry air.[23] Ampil was beginning to undergo an extratropical transition, as its convective structures had dissipated by August 17.[24] The JTWC then ceased issuing advisories on the system the next day as it turned east-northeastward and merged with the mid-latitude westerlies.[25] The JMA reported that Ampil had transitioned into an extratropical low on August 19.[26] The extratropical storm entered the Bering Sea on August 20 and crossed the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.[27]

Preparations and impact

Typhoon Ampil arrived during Japan’s Obon holiday week—just days after Tropical Storm Maria caused record-breaking rainfall in parts of northern Japan.[28] As the strong storm brushed the coast of Japan, hundreds of thousands in Tokyo and surrounding areas were advised to evacuate. A total of around 178,000 households, over 404,000 people, were given an evacuation order. Similar notices were issued in Yokohama. Many modes of transportation like flights and trains were cancelled on August 16 as the typhoon approached.[29] Japan Airways and All Nippon Airways cancelled around 600 flights to Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport.[30] [31] East of Tokyo in the Chiba Prefecture, trees were downed and many road were flooded. In Tokyo and in multiple bordering regions, heavy rainfall effected areas, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. High waves warnings were issued, mainly in the Izu Islands. The Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness (TCCOR) was raised from TCCOR 3 to TCCOR 2 for Yokosuka Naval Base on August 15, indicating that winds of 57abbr=onNaNabbr=on or higher were possible within 24 hours.[32] A barrier obstructing Japan's Mount Fuji from a nearby convenience store was recently taken down to avoid damage.[33]

A Level 4 evacuation order was issued for Mobara and Asahi in Chiba Prefecture, along with Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture. All buslines in the city of Mobara were cancelled. Tokyo Disneyland closed around six hours before normal closing time, and it was closed all together on August 17. The cancellation of flights and railway transportation was expected to impact over 120,000 people.[34] The NHK reported that Tokyo suffered minimal damage, while several people were injured in Kanagawa Prefecture.[35] Over 5,000 homes were left without power, though only 250 in both Ibaraki and Tochigi. Signboards were damaged, as well as bicyles and poles getting knocked over by strong winds. After the storm passed by, some flights were still delayed by Yamato Transport,[36] while energy company officials confirmed that electricity was restored to most areas.[37]

The remnants of Ampil were driving a frontal boundary across Alaska, prompting a high surf advisory and a high wind watch for the Seward Peninsula, Gambell, St. Lawrence Island,[38] while a coastal flood advisory was in effect for the Bering Strait Coast, the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta Coast, the eastern Norton Sound, and the Nulato Hills.[39]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. August 3, 2024. abpw. 91W. 06Z. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt. https://archive.is/pBwbA. 0. August 3, 2024.
  2. Warning and Summary 031800 . August 3, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 3, 2024 . https://archive.is/IW63G . August 3, 2024.
  3. Warning and Summary 040000 . August 4, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 4, 2024 . https://archive.is/yUXbI . August 4, 2024.
  4. Warning and Summary 071800 . August 10, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 7, 2024 . https://archive.is/2024.08.08-085703/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/RJTD/Alphanumeric/Warning/Warnings_and_weather_summary/20240807/180000/A_WWJP27RJTD071800_C_RJTD_20240807203044_8.txt . August 7, 2024.
  5. Warning and Summary 110600 . August 11, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 11, 2024 . https://archive.ph/06UU8 . August 11, 2024.
  6. August 11, 2024. abpw. 91W. 1930Z. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt. https://archive.is/FWI2l. 1. August 11, 2024.
  7. August 12, 2024. tcfa. 91W. 07Z. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp9124web.txt. https://archive.is/2024.08.12-083759/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp9124web.txt. August 12, 2024. August 12, 2024.
  8. August 12, 2024. prog. TD. 08W. 1. Six. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.is/2024.08.12-151822/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn33.pgtw..txt. August 12, 2024.
  9. Prognostic Reasoning No. 4 for TS Ampil (2407) . August 8, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 12, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812195943/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq32.rjtd..txt. August 12, 2024.
  10. August 12, 2024. prog. TS. 08W. 5. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.is/2024.08.08-090938/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240808/030000/A_WDPN31PGTW080300_C_RJTD_20240808025230_13.txt. August 12, 2024.
  11. August 13, 2024. prog. TS. 08W. 7. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.is/2024.08.14-090737/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240814/030000/A_WDPN33PGTW140300_C_RJTD_20240814030631_73.txt. August 12, 2024.
  12. Tropical Cyclone Advisory for STS Ampil (2407) . August 13, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 13, 2024 . https://archive.is/20240813093529/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq52.rjtd..txt. August 13, 2024.
  13. August 13, 2024. prog. TS. 08W. 6. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.is/2024.08.14-090723/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240813/210000/A_WDPN33PGTW132100_C_RJTD_20240813205316_30.txt. August 12, 2024.
  14. August 14, 2024. prog. TY. 08W. 9. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.14-152859/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn33.pgtw..txt. August 14, 2024.
  15. Tropical Cyclone Advisory for TY Ampil (2407) . August 13, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 15, 2024 . https://archive.md/2024.08.15-093648/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/RJTD/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240815/000000/A_WTPQ52RJTD150000_C_RJTD_20240815005117_36.txt. August 15, 2024.
  16. Prognostic Reasoning No. 15 for TY Ampil (2407) . August 15, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 15, 2024 . https://archive.md/2024.08.15-145448/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq32.rjtd..txt . August 15, 2024.
  17. Prognostic Reasoning No. 14 for TY Ampil (2407) . August 15, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 15, 2024 . https://archive.md/20240815092332/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq32.rjtd..txt. August 15, 2024.
  18. Web site: Danger not over as typhoon passes Japan NHK WORLD-JAPAN News . August 19, 2024 . NHK WORLD . en . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819103543/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_03/ . live .
  19. August 16, 2024. prog. TY. 08W. 15. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.16-093415/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240816/030000/A_WDPN33PGTW160300_C_RJTD_20240816024917_37.txt. August 15, 2024.
  20. Web site: Typhoon 08W (Ampil), # 19 FINAL . August 19, 2024 . Stars and Stripes . en . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819103549/https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/storm_tracker/2024-08-06/tropical-depression-06w-14771048.html . live .
  21. August 16, 2024. prog. TY. 08W. 17. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.16-152041/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn33.pgtw..txt. August 16, 2024.
  22. August 16, 2024. prog. TY. 08W. 18. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.17-142802/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240816/210000/A_WDPN33PGTW162100_C_RJTD_20240817014731_12.txt. August 16, 2024.
  23. August 17, 2024. prog. TY. 08W. 19. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.17-142831/https://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/PGTW/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20240817/030000/A_WDPN33PGTW170300_C_RJTD_20240817015918_97.txt. August 17, 2024.
  24. August 17, 2024. prog. TY. 08W. 23. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.18-151544/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdpn33.pgtw..txt. August 17, 2024.
  25. August 18, 2024. warn. TY. 08W. 24. Maria. https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp0224web.txt. https://archive.md/2024.08.18-151532/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpn33.pgtw..txt. August 18, 2024.
  26. Tropical Cyclone Advisory for Developing Low Former STS Ampil (2407) . August 19, 2024 . Japan Meteorological Agency . Tokyo, Japan . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819082136/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wt/wtpq52.rjtd..txt. August 19, 2024.
  27. Web site: . College Park, Maryland . August 20, 2024 . Product Loops 7 Days. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20240820154122/https://ocean.weather.gov/Loops/index.php?category=ua&product=UA_Pac_Difax&days=7&loop=0. August 20, 2024 . August 20, 2024 . en.
  28. Web site: August 16, 2024 . Flights, trains cancelled as 'very strong' typhoon barrels towards Tokyo . August 17, 2024 . South China Morning Post . en . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819103548/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3274711/typhoon-ampil-barrels-towards-tokyo-disrupting-flights-power . live .
  29. Web site: Shackelford . Jessie Yeung, Taylor Ward, Robert . August 15, 2024 . Japan braces as powerful Typhoon Ampil strengthens near Tokyo . August 17, 2024 . CNN . en . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817091424/https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/15/asia/japan-typhoon-ampil-flights-intl-hnk/index.html . live .
  30. Web site: Speed . Jessica . August 15, 2024 . 'Very strong' Typhoon Ampil set to approach eastern Japan on Friday . August 17, 2024 . The Japan Times . en . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819103549/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/08/15/japan/typhoon-ampil-thursday-outlook/ . live .
  31. News: Yoon . John . August 15, 2024 . Typhoon Ampil Approaches Japan, Disrupting Flights and Trains . August 17, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817123014/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/15/world/asia/typhoon-ampil-japan.html . live .
  32. Web site: US bases in Tokyo area pause, prepare for approaching Typhoon Ampil . August 18, 2024 . Stars and Stripes . en . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819103551/https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2024-08-15/typhoon-ampil-japan-military-bases-14870659.html . live .
  33. Web site: Caleon . Patricia . Mount Fuji Barrier Removed to Prevent Damage Amidst Typhoon Ampil . https://archive.md/2N9MP . 22 August 2024 . 2024-08-21 . www.tripzilla.com . en-US.
  34. News: Yoon . John . August 16, 2024 . Typhoon Ampil Lashes Eastern Japan, Forcing Evacuations . August 17, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817123013/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/16/world/asia/typhoon-ampil-japan.html . live .
  35. Web site: Traylor . Daniel . Kaneko . Karin . Speed . Jessica . August 16, 2024 . Typhoon Ampil lashes eastern Japan with heavy rain and wind . August 17, 2024 . The Japan Times . en . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819103550/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/08/16/japan/typhoon-ampil-severe-storm/ . live .
  36. Web site: Return to normal after typhoon lashes Japan NHK WORLD-JAPAN News . August 18, 2024 . NHK WORLD . en . August 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240818004507/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240817_11/ . live .
  37. Web site: Kageyama . Yuri . Typhoon Ampil moves away from Japan as train services resume and no major damage is reported . August 17, 2024 . www.sfgate.com . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817123014/https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/typhoon-ampil-moves-away-from-japan-as-train-19661483.php . live .
  38. Web site: Morrison . Aaron . 2024-08-21 . Former Typhoon Ampil moves north into the Bering Sea . https://archive.md/DB2fs . 2024-08-22 . 2024-08-22 . en.
  39. Web site: Morrison . Aaron . August 19, 2024 . Remnants of Typhoon Ampil to bring winds and rain to Alaska . August 20, 2024 . https://archive.md/WzQUs . August 20, 2024 . en.