The 1995 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly below-average Pacific typhoon season in terms of named storms. In addition, the season saw the formation of forty-seven tropical cyclones, twenty-four of which were named storms, most of which were quite weak and short-lived, ending the seven-year stretch of above average activity. Eight typhoons formed during the season, one of them becoming a super typhoon, the fewest since 1988. The moderate 1995–96 La Niña event was a contributing factor to this low-activity.
This season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in the year, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and October. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The first named storm, Chuck, developed on April 27 while the last named storm, Dan, dissipated on December 31. Typhoon Angela became the worst tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines, killing over 1,000 people.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator between 100°E and 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, there are two agencies which assign names to tropical cyclones which can often result in a cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) will name a tropical cyclone if it has 10-minute sustained wind speeds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) anywhere in the basin, while the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones which are active in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N–25°N, regardless of whether or not a tropical cyclone has already been given a name by the JMA. Tropical depressions that are monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a number with a "W" suffix.
Systems
Tropical Depression 01W
A circulation started to develop and spawned a tropical disturbance near the equator but east of the International Dateline on December 30, 1994. The system remained stationary for several days until it finally gathered some warm waters and low to moderate windshear on January 5. With that, the JTWC classified it as Tropical Depression 01W as it crossed the basin early on January 7. Moving northeastwards, it entered an area of high vertical windshear, cool waters and weak convection and dissipated on January 9.
Tropical Storm Chuck
Chuck stayed in the ocean.
Tropical Storm Deanna (Auring)
At May 28, a low pressure area formed in the Pacific Ocean. A few days later, it moved towards the Philippines. Deanna then did a loop in the northeastern South China Sea after it passed through Phllippines. At June 8, Deanna moved towards Taiwan in an unusual west coast. It then brought heavy rain. Agricultural losses reached NT$410 million (US$15.5 million).
Tropical Depression Eli
Eli stayed at sea.
Typhoon Faye (Bebeng)
Tropical Depression 05W formed on July 15 and was named Faye the next day as it intensified into a tropical storm. On July 19, Faye became the first typhoon of the season, tied for the second latest date of the first typhoon with 1977, only behind Otto of 1998. It tracked northwestward and eventually reached a peak of 120 mph (190 km/h) 1-min winds and a minimum pressure of 950 millibars. Faye turned northward, and after weakening slightly it hit the south coast of South Korea on the 23rd, before accelerating east-northeastwards and becoming extratropical. 16 people were reported dead, with moderate damage from flooding.
On July 23, 1995, when the typhoon passed South Korea, a rogue wave hitting Pusan Harbor, the largest port in South Korea, which resulted in two ships colliding. Damage in Japan totaled to ¥2.8 billion (US$30 million).
Tropical Depression 06W
06W passed close to the Philippines.
Severe Tropical Storm Gary
On July 27, an area of low pressure near the Philippines later strengthened into Tropical Depression Gary. On July 28, Gary further strengthened into a tropical storm. After bringing torrential downpours and flooding to the Philippines, Gary moved northwest into the South China Sea. Gary intensified even further into a severe tropical storm on July 30 and made landfall near Shantou on July 31. On August 2, after moving inland, Gary dissipated.
Gary claimed four lives in Shantou. Near Taiwan, four fishing vessels sank, with two people dead and 19 others missing. Losses were at 200 million RMB (US$24 million).
Severe Tropical Storm Helen (Karing)
On August 7, Helen formed as a tropical depression about 1200 km east of Manila. Moving northwestwards, Helen soon intensified into a tropical storm on August 9. On August 11, Helen further intensified into a typhoon and made landfall about 60 km northeast of Hong Kong. On August 13, Helen rapidly weakened and soon dissipated.
In Guangdong Helen claimed 23 lives. It also brought many landslides and flooding. Damages totaled to 1.33 billion RMB (US$160 million).
Tropical Storm Irving (Diding)
On August 17, an area of low pressure in the South China Sea became Tropical Depression Irving. The following morning, Irving became a tropical storm and moved north at 15 km/h. On August 20, Irving again became a tropical depression, and made landfall on the Leizhou Peninsula. Irving then started losing strength rapidly and soon dissipated.
Tropical Storm Janis (Etang)
An active monsoon trough developed Tropical Storm Janis, forming on August 17 and becoming a tropical storm on the 21st. Another tropical depression to Janis's west merged with the storm, weakening it rather than the typical strengthening after a merger. Janis continued northwestward, eventually restrengthening to a 65 mph tropical storm before hitting eastern China. It recurved to the northeast, and hit near Seoul, South Korea, on the 26th. The storm brought more rain to an area hit by a typhoon only a month before, causing an additional 45 deaths and $428.5 million in damage.
Tropical Depression 11W
11W did not last for long.
Typhoon Kent (Gening)
A tropical wave was detected by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on August 24. On August 25, it was classified as Tropical Depression 12W by the JTWC. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) also upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression later that day. At the same time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) named 12W, Gening from its list of pacific typhoon names. On August 26, Gening intensified into a tropical storm and was named Kent by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Kent then quickly intensified into a typhoon on August 27 as it drifted slowly west-northwest. It quickly intensified and reached peak intensity as a Category 4 super typhoon on August 29. The storm also reached a low barometric pressure of 945 millibars during that time. Continuing west-northwest, the eye of Typhoon Kent passed over the Philippine island of Basco. Kent then undergo an eyewall replacement cycle later that day and started to weaken. Kent also weakened below super typhoon status as it accelerated towards China. Kent made landfall in China on August 31 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Hong Kong. After landfall, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued its final warning on September 1 as Kent dissipated. The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued its final advisory on Kent.
Kent caused 52 casualties, as well as $89 million in damage (1995 USD).
Severe Tropical Storm Lois
Lois hit Vietnam as a typhoon.
Typhoon Mark
Mark raced off the northeast away from land.
Tropical Storm Nina (Helming)
Nina hit the Philippines and China.
Tropical Depression 16W
16W was a weak but long lived depression that passed through the Philippines.
Typhoon Oscar
In Tokyo, numerous buildings sustained severe damage from high winds and several major highways were shut down. At least 20 people were injured by flying debris in Japan. One person was killed in a landslide and another drowned in a flood. Seven more people were killed by Typhoon Oscar throughout the country. Three other people were also listed as missing due to the storm. Losses from the storm throughout Japan amounted to 612.3 million yen (US$6.7 million).
Typhoon Polly (Ising)
Polly recurved out to sea.
Typhoon Ryan (Luding)
The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression over the South China Sea on September 14. It drifted northwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 16th and a typhoon on the 19th. As Ryan turned northeastward, it rapidly intensified to become a super typhoon on the 21st at 155 mph, the first ever to form and reach that intensity in the South China Sea. The super typhoon passed south of Taiwan, and weakened to a 110 mph typhoon as it made landfall on southwestern Japan on the 23rd. Ryan caused 5 deaths on its path. Damage is Japan was very severe with losses totaling ¥35.4 billion (US$377 million).
Severe Tropical Storm Sibyl (Mameng)
108 fatalities and $38.5 million in damage (1995 USD) can be attributed to Tropical Storm Sibyl as it crossed the central Philippines on September 29. Sibyl actually strengthened while passing through the archipelago due to the contraction of the wind field.
Tropical Depression 21W
21W did not last long.
Tropical Depression 22W
22W was only tracked by the JTWC.
Tropical Depression 23W
23W lasted a day.
Severe Tropical Storm Ted
Ted hit China. 61 people were killed and economic losses were 3.6 billion RMB (US$433 million).
Tropical Storm Val
Val moved erratically over open water.
Typhoon Ward (Neneng)
Ward recurved out to sea.
Severe Tropical Storm Yvette (Oniang)
Yvette hit Vietnam as a severe tropical storm.
Typhoon Zack (Pepang)
Like Sibyl, Zack strengthened while crossing the central Philippines on October 28. The typhoon continued to intensify over the South China Sea to a 140 mph storm, but weakened to a 115 mph typhoon as it made landfall on eastern Vietnam on the 1st.
The number of casualties from Typhoon Zack in the Philippines varies among reports. The JTWC report claims there were 110 deaths in the Philippines, including 72 in Negros Occidental, 18 in Cebu, and 20 in Iloilo. On the other hand, the HKO report states that the death toll in the country was over 160.
Regarding the strong winds caused by Typhoon Zack in Vietnam, the recorded wind gust speeds in Quảng Ngãi and Da Nang were both 144 km/h (89 mph). The lowest atmospheric pressure values during the typhoon, measured at several locations near the landfall area such as Quảng Ngãi and Quy Nhơn, were all above 995 hPa (29.38 inHg). In Da Nang, the rainfall caused by Typhoon Zack reached 430 mm. The typhoon has killed 27 people in Vietnam.
Typhoon Angela (Rosing)
The monsoon trough that developed Yvette and Zack spawned another tropical depression on October 25. It moved to the west, organizing very slowly to become a tropical storm on the 26th. 2 days later Angela became a typhoon, and from the 31st to the 1st Angela rapidly intensified to a 180 mph (290 km/h) super typhoon. It maintained that intensity as it moved westward, hitting the Philippines on the 2nd as a slightly weaker 160 mph (260 km/h) storm. Angela continued to the west-northwest, where upper-level winds caused it to dissipate on the 7th over the Gulf of Tonkin. Angela caused 9.33 billion Philippine Pesos (1995 pesos) in damage across the Philippines, resulting in 882 fatalities.
Tropical Storm Brian
Brian stayed away from land.
Tropical Storm Colleen
A non-tropical low area developed well far to the northwest of Hawaii on November 9. The low pressure area began slowly acquiring subtropical characteristics as it moved southwest before crossing the International Date line on November 11, as the JTWC issued a TCFA later on the same day. Early on the 12th the JTWC began advisories on Tropical Storm Colleen as the low pressure area acquired enough tropical characteristics, Not long after being designated, Colleen then moved westward as strong wind shear disheveled the small storm, causing it to dissipate on November 13.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency did not track Colleen as a tropical storm.
Tropical Depression 32W/33W (Sendang)
Tropical Depressions 32W and 33W, though operationally treated as two separate cyclones, were in actuality one system; a relative rare event that shows the difficulties of tracking poorly organized storms. 32 developed on November 30 east of the Philippines. Operationally it was said to have tracked to the northeast and dissipated, with a second area of convection to the west becoming 33W. 32's convection became disorganized with the shower activity heading northeastward, but the low level circulation remained behind and headed westward to be called 33. The depression headed west-southwest, where it brought heavy rain to the Philippines on the 4th and 5th, killing 14 people. The most recent example prior to this system that had two names was Tropical Storm Ken-Lola in the 1989 Pacific typhoon season.
Tropical Depression 34W
34W stayed at sea.
Severe Tropical Storm Dan (Trining)
Dan brought rains to the eastern Philippines during the last days of 1995.