The 1980 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly-below average season when compared to the long-term average, though it featured several intense storms. It ran year-round in 1980, but most tropical cyclones formed between May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. A total of 28 tropical depressions formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 24 became tropical storms and were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Beginning in March, tropical cyclones formed in each subsequent month through December. Of the 24 named storms, 15 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 2 reached super typhoon strength.
Additionally, tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names. This year, 23 storms were named this way.
Seasonal summary
Thie 1980 Pacific typhoon season's ACE index was approximately 237.8 units, This number represents the sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for all tropical cyclones of at least tropical storm intensity, divided by 10,000. Therefore, tropical depressions are not included.
Systems
Severe Tropical Storm Carmen
On 2 April, a tropical disturbance located east of the International Date Line began developing alongside a parallel cyclone, the precursor to Cyclone Wally, both inside the near-equatorial trough. Steadily tracking west, later that day, Carmen intensified into a tropical storm. A few hours later, as the system crossed east of the Date Line on 5 April, the JTWC issued their first warning on the system. Later that day, the JMA designated the system as a tropical storm, with the JTWC following suit a few hours later, naming it Carmen. Steadily intensifying, the next day, both the JTWC and JMA stated that Carmen peaked with sustained winds of 60 knots (110 km/h; 70 mph). Soon after, Carmen steadily weakened, and after tracking east of the Date Line on 7 April, both the JTWC and JMA stopped tracking the system.
Typhoon Dom (Ditang)
On 5 May, a weak tropical disturbance began developing in the near-equatorial trough. As it tracked westward across the Caroline Islands in the following three days, little development was seen. Despite that, on May 7, the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the disturbance as a tropical depression. The next day, an uptick in convective activity prompted the JTWC to issue a TCFA on the system, which was south of Guam. As the circulation steadily organized, the JTWC upgraded the system into a tropical depression. Two days later, the depression crossed into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), causing the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to name it Ditang. Despite intense vertical shear, the depression intensified into a tropical storm a few hours later, being named Dom by the JTWC. After the wind shear relaxed, on May 11, the JTWC stated that Dom had intensified into a typhoon, with the JMA following suit the next day. Soon after, Dom began weakening due to the mountainous terrain of Luzon, becoming a tropical storm on May 14. However, as Dom traced eastward, the next day, it re-intensified into a typhoon.
After this secondary peak, a combination of colder SSTs and unfavorable atmospheric conditions caused the system to steadily weaken, and after doing an anticyclonic loop, on May 18, Dom weakened into a tropical storm. The next day, the JTWC issued their last advisory on Dom, declaring that it had degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone. PAGASA kept tracking the system until May 21, when the remnants of Dom and a weakening Ellen began accelerating towards an extratropical cyclone south of Japan. The remnants of Dom and Ellen later merged with the cyclone the same day, causing the JMA to finally stop monitoring Dom a few hours later.
As Ditang tracked towards the Philippines, PAGASA issued Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) #3 for Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Sur, Aurora, Quirino, Cagayan, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Batanes, and Abra. Heavy rains and gusts were seen in Eastern Luzon. As a result of the typhoon, Baguio received 730.3 mm (28.75 in) of rain on May 15. At least four provinces suffered a loss of tobacco crops. In total, Ditang resulted in 3,696 homes being damaged and ₱2.4 million (US$320,000) in damage.
Typhoon Ellen
On 11 May, a tropical disturbance located in an equatorial trough east of Chuuk Lagoon began developing. Despite initially showing signs of weakening, the next day, it rapidly developed, becoming a tropical storm a few hours later, causing both the JTWC and JMA to issue their first advisories early on 13 May, with the former naming it Ellen. Slightly weakening for a few hours, on May 15, Ellen rapidly intensified, becoming a typhoon a few hours later. Soon after, Ellen deepened significantly, reaching a minimum pressure of 930 mbar (27 inHg) later that day. The next day, the JMA noted that Ellen had peaked with 10-minute sustained winds of 105 kn (120 mph; 195 km/h) while the JTWC stated that Ellen peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 110 kn (125 mph; 205 km/h). Shortly after, Ellen began recurving northwest towards Japan, weakening as it neared the extratropical cyclone which absorbed Dom. On 21 May, Ellen merged with the cyclone, causing the JTWC to stop tracking it. The JMA kept tracking it until 25 May.
As Ellen made its closest approach to Japan, Yokosuka saw gusts of 30–35 kn (35–40 mph; 56–65 km/h). Heavy rainfall from Ellen affected western and central Japan, causing around 60 landslides and flooding almost 300 homes.
Severe Tropical Storm Forrest (Gloring)
On 16 May, a tropical disturbance began developing west of Kosrae. Three days later, the JMA designated the disturbance as a tropical depression, with the JTWC issuing a TCFA on the system just a few hours after. The next day, both the JMA and JTWC designated the depression as a tropical storm, with the latter agency naming it Forrest. On 22 May, Forrest crossed into the PAR, being named Gloring by PAGASA. Steadily developing, the next day, both the JMA and JTWC noted that Forest had peaked with sustained winds of 55 kn (65 mph; 100 km/h). After making landfall in Luzon on 25 May, Forrest rapidly weakened, and on 26 May, both PAGASA and the JTWC stopped tracking Forrest. The JMA kept tracking a weakening Forrest until it dissipated on 29 May. In the Philippines, damage from the storm totaled to ₱900,000 (US$120,000).
Severe Tropical Storm Georgia (Edeng)
On 19 May, a monsoon depression embedded in the South China sea began developing. A few hours later, the JMA designated the weak circulation as a tropical depression, while the JTWC issued a TCFA on it. Barely developing, on 21 May, the system began featuring some convective activity, causing the JTWC and PAGASA to designate the system as a depression, with the latter agency naming it Edeng. The next day, Edeng left the PAR, causing PAGASA to stop tracking the system. Soon after, both the JMA and JTWC designated the system as a tropical storm, with the latter naming it Georgia. After making landfall in Shantou on 23 May with sustained winds of 55 kn (65 mph; 100 km/h), Georgia rapidly weakened, causing the JTWC to stop monitoring it the next day. The JMA followed suit the next day.
As Georgia made its closest approach to Hong Kong, some stations recorded intense gusts, with Stanley recording a gust of 73 kn (84 mph; 135 km/h). Additionally, light rainfall was seen. With the exception of some scaffolding blown off in Tai Kok Sui Road, no damage occurred.
Severe Tropical Storm Herbert (Huaning)
In mid-June, an equatorial trough was active, stretching from the Philippines to the eastern Caroline Islands near the equator. On 20 June, satellite imagery indicated increased convective activity around the eastern periphery of the trough as a result of convergent easterly
flow. As a result, a TCFA was issued on the area of convective activity. The next day, the disturbance was designated a depression by PAGASA, who named it Huaning. Making landfall in Leyte, Philippines the next day, the JMA designated the system as a tropical depression. However, landfall prevented further development, causing the TCFA to be cancelled later that day. However, after tracking westwards for several days, on 24 June, the JTWC reissued a TCFA. Several hours later, both the JTWC and JMA designated Huaning as a tropical storm, with the former agency naming it Herbert.
In the South China Sea, Herbert tracked northwestward toward Hainan Island while
intensifying slowly. After exiting the PAR on 25 June, PAGASA stopped tracking the system. Later that day, both agencies stated that Herbert peaked with sustained winds of 50 kn (60 mph; 95 km/h). Slightly weakening, at 1800Z the next day, Herbert made its landfall in Hainan with maximum sustained winds of 45 kn (50 mph; 85 km/h). After tracking into the Gulf of Tonkin, on 28 June, Herbert made its second landfall in Móng Cái, Quảng Ninh Province with sustained winds of 45 kn (50 mph; 85 km/h). Rapidly weakening, both the JTWC and JMA stopped tracking Herbert the next day.
As Herbert made its closest approach to Hong Kong, some stations recorded moderate gales, with Tate's Cairn recording a gust of 48 kn (55 mph; 89 km/h). Additionally, heavy rainfall was seen, flooding some roads and causing landslides. Two men died after their helicopter crashed into the slopes of Tai Mo Shan. The Paracel Islands recorded peak winds of 46 kn (53 mph; 85 km/h).
Typhoon Ida (Lusing)
On 5 July, a surface circulation began developing northwest of the Caroline islands. Later that day, the JMA designated the system as a tropical depression. Aerial reconnaissance caused the JTWC to issue a TCFA, and a few hours later, they designated the system as a tropical depression. The next day, the system intensified into a tropical storm, causing PAGASA to name the system Lusing as it was in the PAR, while the JTWC named it Ida. Steadily intensifying, on 9 July, the JMA stated that Ida peaked as a minimal typhoon while the JTWC stated that it peaked as a high-end tropical storm. Slightly weakening as it tracked into the Bashi Channel, on 11 July, Ida made landfall in Southeastern China, causing PAGASA to stop tracking it. The JMA stopped tracking the system four days later.
As Ida was developing, the naval air station in Guam received over 1.15 in (29 mm) of rainfall in three hours. Moderate rainfall was recorded in Hong Kong. In the Philippines, damage totaled to ₱7 million (US$932,000).
Typhoon Joe (Nitang)
An area of disturbed weather developed over the Caroline Islands on July 14. Tracking westward, convective activity gradually increased in both convection and coverage. At 18:00 UTC on July 22, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started tracking the system. By 00:00 UTC on July 17, the surface center and the deep convection moved closer together, prompting the JTWC to classify the system as a tropical depression. Meanwhile, PAGASA tracked the storm and named it Nitang.
The depression began to develop at a quicker pace, and early on July 18, the JTWC upgraded it to a tropical storm. After Joe developed a central dense overcast, the JMA upgraded Joe into a severe tropical storm. At midday, the JTWC and JMA upgraded Joe into a typhoon. This intensity estimate was confirmed by a Hurricane hunter plane later on July 19, which measured a pressure of 974 mbar (28.8 inHg). An eye began to clear out on July 20. That same day, a Hurricane hunter aircraft recorded a pressure of 940 mbar (28 inHg). At midday, the JTWC estimated that Joe peaked in intensity, with winds of 195 km/h (120 mph), equal to a Category 3 hurricane on the United States-based Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). Meanwhile, the JMA estimated maximum intensity of 160 km/h (100 mph).