The 1988 Pacific typhoon season was a very active season in terms of named storms, though it only featured 11 typhoons and 1 super typhoon. It had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1988, but most tropical cyclones formed between May and November. Tropical storms that formed in the entire west Pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 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.
A total of 26 tropical cyclones formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which all became tropical storms. Of the 26, 10 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 1 reached supertyphoon strength. Nine tropical cyclones moved through the Philippines this season, making this season the most active for the archipelago so far this decade.
Seasonal summary
A total of 26 tropical cyclones formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which all became tropical storms. Of the 26, 10 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 1 reached supertyphoon strength. Nine tropical cyclones moved through the Philippines this season.
Systems
Typhoon Roy (Asiang)
Typhoon Roy, which crossed the open Western Pacific as a Category 4 typhoon in January, caused moderate to extensive damage across the Federated States of Micronesia and the Philippines, causing $23.5 million (1988 USD) but only one death.
Typhoon Susan (Biring)
Typhoon Susan formed at the end of May just to the north of Luzon Island in the Philippines. As a depression Susan dropped heavy rains in and around the Manila area the resulting landslides killed 36 people. Losses totaled to US$1 million. As Susan moved away from the Philippines the storm strengthened into a typhoon shortly before cross in the southern tip of Taiwan and turning extratropical just after passing Okinawa. Heavy rains triggered landslides in Taiwan that blocked roads and caused the loss of crops. Numerous power outages were reported. Damage in Taiwan was at US$4.5 million.
Tropical Storm 03W (Konsing)
An area of convection developed on June 3 in the western Philippine Sea. The disturbance was designated Tropical Depression 03W as it tracked northwestward. It reached a peak intensity of 35 mph (45 km/h) before its central convection collapsed later that day. The system dissipated on the 6th as it tracked towards Taiwan and China.
Typhoon Thad (Ditang)
A tropical depression was designated by the JMA early on June 18. At the time, the depression was located south of the Caroline Islands. Further development was slow to occur due to strong winds aloft caused by a TUTT. Nevertheless, the system's cloud structure and outflow pattern slowly improved, and based on Dvorak estimates of T2.5/40 mph (65 km/h), the JTWC upgraded the disturbance into Tropical Storm Thad at 00:00 UTC on June 20, with the JMA following suit six hours later. After initially moving west, Thad tracked northwest due to the subtropical ridge to its north. Thad slowly deepened, with the JMA upgrading Thad to a severe tropical storm at 06:00 UTC on June 21 and a typhoon the next day. At 06:00 UTC on June 22, the JTWC upped Thad into a typhoon, based on satellite intensity estimates of 130 km/h (80 mph). Shortly thereafter, the JMA reported that Thad reached its highest intensity, with winds of 130 km/h (80 mph). Additional strengthening did not occur, however, as the system developed a central cold over – a large irregular shaped area of deep convection. By June 23, Thad reached the western periphery of a subtropical ridge, and began to recurve in response to a mid-latitude trough over eastern China. Rapid weakening began at 00:00 UTC on June 24 due to increased winds aloft. Both the JTWC and JMA downgraded Thad into a tropical storm that day as the storm passed 150 km (95 mi) southeast of Okinawa. The JTWC reported that Thad dissipated at 00:00 UTC on June 25, although the JMA continued to track it as a tropical depression for 12 more hours.
Severe Tropical Storm Vanessa (Edeng)
A tropical disturbance was first spotted at noon on June 24 over 200 km (125 mi) east of the Caroline Islands. Thunderstorm activity increased almost immediately thereafter, and the storm's outflow subsequently expanded, aided by a retreating Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT). The JMA upgraded the system into a tropical depression on the morning of June 26. Six hours later, the JTWC followed suit, and at 00:00 UTc on June 27, both the JTWC and JMA upgraded the depression into a tropical storm. Several hours later, Vanessa made landfall over the central Philippines; at the time of landfall, both the JMA and JTWC estimated winds of 80 km/h (50 mph). Accelerating, Vanessa entered the South China Sea at 02:00 UTC on June 28. Around this time, the JMA estimated that Vanessa reached its maximum intensity, with winds of 105 km/h (65 mph), making it a severe tropical storm. Strong wind shear then increased over the system, but Vanessa did not begin weakening until 00:00 UTC on June 29. Six hours later, after Vanessa became devoid of deep convection near the center, the JTWC issued their last warning on the system. However, the JMA continued to track it until noon that day.
Typhoon Warren (Huaning)
A tropical depression formed to the east of Guam shortly before passing north of the island. Shortly after passing the island the storm strengthened into Tropical Storm Warren. Warren kept gathering strength and reached peak intensity of 130 mph while 300 miles east of Luzon Island. Typhoon Warren moved westward and brushed the extreme northern tip of Luzon Island in the Philippines causing $10 million in damage. Warren then made landfall near Shantou, China, 13,000 homes were destroyed and 17 people were killed in Guangdong Province.
Severe Tropical Storm Agnes
Following the demise of Typhoon Warren, an area of disturbed weather formed southeast of Japan, and by July 27, this area had developed a closed surface circulation. At noon the same day, the JMA upgraded it into a tropical depression. Initially resembling a monsoon depression, the storm's upper-level outflow and organization increased on June 28 in response to decreased winds aloft. On June 29, both the JTWC and JMA upgraded the system into Tropical Storm Agnes. Contrary to forecasts, Agnes accelerated northeast in response to a trough northeast of Japan. At 00:00 UTC on June 30, the JTWC estimated a peak intensity of 80 km/h (50 mph) and the JMA estimated a peak intensity of 95 km/h (60 mph), making Agnes a severe tropical storm. Twelve hours later, the system lost all its deep convection, and the JTWC issued its last warning on it at 18:00 UTC. Despite this, the JMA continued to follow Agnes through August 4, three days after the agency declared Agnes extratropical.
JMA Tropical Storm Eight
This was not tracked by the JTWC.
Tropical Storm Bill
On August 1, the monsoon trough stretched from the Gulf of Tonkin to Japan, but four days later, abruptly re-aligned. This created favorable conditions aloft for tropical cyclone formation, and an area of convection in the Philippine Sea began to rapidly develop. On the evening of August 4, the JMA upgraded the disturbance into a tropical depression, and the next day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA). However, its development rate slowed as the system separated from the monsoon trough. Tracking northeast, the low passed just southwest of the southern tip of Okinawa at 15:00 UTC on August 6. That day, the JMA upgraded the depression into a tropical storm, though the JTWC did not do the same until 24 hours later. Shortly thereafter, both agencies indicated that Bill attained its peak velocity of 80 km/h (50 mph), an intensity it would maintain until making landfall 220 km (135 mi) south of Shanghai. Although the JTWC issued its final advisory at 00:00 UTC on August 8, with the JMA doing the same 36 hours later, its remains could still be identified through August 10.
Tropical Storm Bill, which formed on August 5 east of Taiwan, moved northwest to hit eastern China as a 45 mph tropical storm. Torrential rains and heavy flooding resulted in 110 casualties and widespread damage to roads and dams losses were estimated at 1 billion RMB (US$268 million).
Tropical Storm Clara
An area of disorganized convection about 1,000 km (620 mi) north of Wake Island in early August. The disturbance was classified on August 5 by the JMA. The depression tracked westward under the influence of a subtropical ridge. Two days later, the system began to organize, although shower activity remained exposed from the center. Strong wind shear prevented further development, but by August 10, thunderstorm activity had increased in coverage. At 19:15 UTC the same day, the JTWC upgraded it to Tropical Storm Clara, with the JMA following suit around the same time. Due to a strengthening ridge, Clara performed a counterclockwise loop, only to turn northeast on August 11. Around this time, the JTWC and JMA estimated that Clara attained peak winds of 80 and 70 km/h (50 and 45 mph). Shortly afterwards, shower activity quickly became displaced from the deep convection, prompting a weakening trend. The JTWC issued its final warning on August 12, though the JMA did not following suit until four days later.
JMA Tropical Storm Eleven
This was not tracked by the JTWC.
Typhoon Doyle
On August 12, a westward-moving area of disturbed weather developed within the monsoon trough. Deep convection developed near the low-level center on the next day, and the JMA classified the disturbance as a tropical depression. Overnight August 13 into August 14, the depression began to organize, and after performing a counterclockwise loop, it began moving to the west-northwest. At 18:00 UTC the same day, the JMA upgraded the depression into a tropical storm, though the JTWC did not follow suit until 18 hours later. Doyle then entered a period of rapid deepening, with the JMA upgrading Doyle into a typhoon on the morning of August 16. At 18:00 UTC, the JTWC estimated that Doyle attained peak winds of 210 km/h (130 mph), although according to the JMA, Doyle did not reach its peak intensity of 170 km/h (105 mph). The typhoon then curved north as it rounded a subtropical ridge, although unlike most recurving tropical cyclones, a TUTT cell prevented. This change in forward motion led to a gradual weakening trend over cold water. On August 20, the JMA estimated that Doyle lost typhoon intensity, and two days later, downgraded it into a tropical depression. At this time, the system became devoid of deep convection prompted the JTWC to issue its final warning. The JMA estimated that Doyle became extratropical on August 25. The agency stopped following the extratropical remnants the next day.
Although the typhoon passed close to Wake Island near peak intensity, wind gusts only reached 45 mph (70 km/h) and according to the JTWC, damage was insignificant.
JMA Tropical Storm Thirteen
This was not tracked by the JTWC.
Tropical Storm Elsie
On August 24, a persistent area of convection embedded in the monsoon trough was first detected. Despite favorable conditions aloft, the disturbance initially remained poorly organized. The JMA declared the system a tropical depression at 00:00 UTC on August 24, although the depression only started to organize on August 28. Dvorak classifications prompted the JTWC to upgrade the system into a tropical storm at midday, with the JMA following suit early on August 29. After tracking southeast, Elsie turned northeast. Interaction from newly formed Tropical Storm Fabian initially halted further intensification and the JTWC estimated that the storm was briefly no longer a classifiable tropical cyclone on August 30. At 00:00 UTC on August 31, the JMA estimated that Elsie reached its highest velocity of 80 km/h (50 mph). The storm then accelerated to the northeast while becoming extratropical and at 18:00 the same day, the JTWC classified Elsie as extratropical, with the JMA doing the same on September 1.