The 1996 Pacific typhoon season was a very active typhoon season which featured 30 tropical storms, 16 typhoons and six super typhoons, despite the presence of a La Niña. Although the season ran year-round, most tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean form between May and December. The first storm, named Ann, developed on April 3. The final storm, named Greg, dissipated on December 27.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms forming east of the date line are called hurricanes; (see 1996 Pacific hurricane season). Tropical Storms in the western pacific basin were assigned names by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and tropical depressions were given a "W" suffix after their numerical designation. Additionally, tropical depressions that formed within or entered the Philippine area of responsibility were assigned local names by PAGASA.
Systems
Tropical Storm 01W (Asiang)
On February 23, a large area of convection developed south of the Philippine Sea. The convection developed into a low pressure area and was at first bombarded by wind shear, but conditions soon turned favorable which allowed it to strengthen rapidly on February 27 before becoming a Tropical depression later that day. The JMA upgraded 01W into a Tropical Storm before it drifted over the Philippines on February 29, and weakened slightly due to land interaction. On March 1, a cold front brought cold, dry air and vertical wind shear which pushed the system south caused the system's low level circulation center to become exposed. The exposed remnants of 01W continued to drift south, before being completely absorbed by the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Tropical Storm Ann (Biring)
A low pressure area formed in the Western Pacific by March 27th. Days later, it became a tropical depression, then a tropical storm. A day later, it was named Ana by the Japan Meteorological Agency. By April 4-5 it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and PAGASA named the storm Biring. It made a landfall in the Visayas region of Tacloban. One report stated it caused damages to homes, but could not estimate the damages. Another report by authorities estimated 2 deaths, and some reports of missing people who were not later found.
Tropical Depression 03W
Tropical Depression 03W was a short-lived tropical cyclone that formed in the South China Sea during April 1996. It existed for only a brief period, from April 25th to 26th. While its lifespan was short, it was a part of an active typhoon season in the region. Despite its limited duration, it contributed to the overall weather patterns and maritime conditions in the area during that time.
Typhoon Bart (Konsing)
Typhoon Bart, also known as Konsing, was a tropical cyclone that formed in the Western Pacific Ocean in 1996. It developed on May 8 and intensified into a typhoon on May 12. While it didn't make landfall, it was a significant storm that tracked northwestward across the open ocean. Bart eventually weakened into an extratropical cyclone on May 18.
Tropical Storm Cam (Ditang)
Cam developed over the South China Sea on May 18. The cyclone headed northeastward to east-northeastward and dissipated over the Pacific Ocean on May 23.
Typhoon Dan
Typhoon Dan, designated as the sixth tropical storm of the 1996 Pacific typhoon season, originated from a disturbance over the open Western Pacific Ocean on July 5, 1996. Classified as a tropical depression by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), it tracked west-northwestward under the influence of subtropical steering currents. Within 48 hours, the system intensified into a tropical storm and further organized into a typhoon by July 7.
Dan reached its peak intensity on July 8–9, with 10-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a central pressure of 970 hPa 1. During this period, the typhoon followed a characteristic parabolic path common to mid-summer Pacific systems. It maintained typhoon status for approximately 36 hours while moving northwestward across the Philippine Sea, though its core remained entirely over water, avoiding major landmasses 814.
By July 10, increasing vertical wind shear and cooler ocean temperatures initiated weakening. Dan decelerated to a tropical storm by July 11 near the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The system subsequently turned northeastward, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone by July 12 before dissipating over the open North Pacific.
Dan caused no documented land impacts or casualties, as its path remained oceanic throughout its lifecycle.
Typhoon Eve
A Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough spawned Tropical Depression 7W on July 10 over the open Western Pacific. It tracked generally west-northwestward, strengthening to a tropical storm on the 14th. On the 15th Eve became a typhoon, which was followed by a period of explosive deepening to a 100 mph Typhoon, with a pressure drop of 40 mb from early on the 15th to early on the 16th. An eyewall replacement cycle weakened Eve to a 95 mph typhoon, but as the outer eyewall contracted, the storm again reached wind speeds of 97 mph before hitting southern Japan on the 18th. Rapidly weakening over the mountains, Eve turned eastward over the islands and the last warning was issued on the 20th. It restrengthened to a tropical storm east of Japan, and continued northeastward until dissipation on the 27th. Eve, despite being a Category 4 at landfall, caused no reported deaths and only 9 injuries. However, it destroyed 2,361 homes and damaged another 933 homes. Total damage in Japan is estimated at ¥78.8 billion (US$724 million).
Severe Tropical Storm Frankie (Edeng)
An active monsoon trough over the Western Pacific Ocean developed 3 typhoons; Frankie, Gloria, and Herb. The first, Frankie, developed in the South China Sea on July 19. It tracked west-northwestward and became a tropical storm on the 21st. After crossing the island of Hainan Frankie rapidly intensified to a 100 mph typhoon, 975 millibar over the Gulf of Tonkin. It made landfall over northern Vietnam on the 23rd, and dissipated 2 days later over China. The lowest atmospheric pressure during the storm was recorded at Văn Lý weather station (Nam Hà province; 20°07'17.0"N, 106°18'10.8"E), reaching 969.0 hPa (28.61 inHg). Due to the storm, strong winds were recorded on land: sustained winds of approximately 28–30 m/s (101–108 km/h) in Thái Bình, and 28 m/s (101 km/h) at Cat Bi International Airport. The total rainfall caused by the storm reached 458 mm, measured at Km46 in Sơn La province.
According to the JTWC, the storm resulted in a total of 104 people dead and missing, 466 people injured, and approximately $200 million in economic damage. Vietnamese documents show that specifically in Vietnam, there were 67 people dead, 54 missing, and 279 injured. The economic damage in Vietnam alone was 1,654 billion Vietnamese dong ($140 million).
Typhoon Gloria (Gloring)
The same monsoon trough that spawned Frankie also spawned a tropical depression on July 19 east of the Philippines. It headed northwestward, slowly organizing into a tropical storm on the 22nd. The next day Gloria reached typhoon strength, and a day later it reached its peak of 100 mph winds. Gloria brushed the northern coast of the Philippines and turned northward to hit Taiwan on the 26th. After crossing the island and the Taiwan Strait, Gloria hit China where she dissipated on the 27th. Gloria caused 23 casualties, 20 of which were in the northern Philippines. In addition, damage was estimated at $20 million (1996 USD).
Typhoon Herb (Huaning)
Super Typhoon Herb was the strongest and the largest storm of 1996. Herb struck Ryūkyū Islands, Taiwan and China. Maximum sustained winds of the cyclone reached 160 miles per hour (260 km/h) over the open ocean. The system led to 590 casualties and US$5 billion in damage (1996 dollars).
Tropical Depression Ian
Ian was a weak tropical storm that existed from July 27 to July 31.
Typhoon Kirk (Isang)
A monsoon depression developed on July 28 over the open Pacific Ocean. It headed northwestward, slowly consolidating to become a tropical storm on the 5th. While south of Japan, Kirk drifted to the southeast and looped back to the west, strengthening to a typhoon on the 8th while looping. It continued slowly northwestward, and while curving to the northeast Kirk reached a peak of 110 mph winds. The typhoon struck southwestern Japan at that intensity on the 14th. It weakened over the country, and dissipated on the 16th over the northern Pacific. Kirk caused heavy flooding, resulting in at least 2 deaths and ¥20.6 billion (US$189 million) in damage.
Tropical Storm Lisa
The JTWC began monitoring an area of low pressure in the South China Sea on August 5 with a high chance of becoming a tropical depression. It became a tropical depression designated 14W as it began tracking towards southern China. On August 6, the JTWC upgraded the storm to a tropical storm named Lisa. On August 7, Lisa made landfall near Shantou, killing over 90 people. The storm dissipated inland the following few days.
Tropical Depression 15W
JTWC(Joint Typhoon Warning Center) Monitors Low Pressure System At The Western Pacific Near Miles Of Basin On August 10th Later 2 Days Later JMA(Japan Meteorological Agency) Upgrade It Into Tropical Depression Began Monitor It's Tracks Since No Warning Issued In Nearby Islands JMA Later Disintegrated System Into Low Pressure Later By August 16th Midnight It Dissipated
Tropical Storm Marty
The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression over southern China on August 11. It drifted southwestward, entering the Gulf of Tonkin on the 12th. Marty made landfall on the 14th on northern Vietnam, where it dissipated 3 days later.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Marty has reached tropical storm intensity with winds of 50 knots (95 km/h). However, both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting of Vietnam (NCHMF) classify Marty as a tropical depression. Based on surface weather observations, no weather station recorded sustained winds of Force 7 or higher on the Beaufort scale (50 km/h or more). The strongest gust measured on land was 72 km/h (20 m/s) at the Văn Lý weather station (Nam Hà province), where the lowest sea-level pressure of 989.4 hPa was also recorded at 10:00 ICT on August 14.
Though small and somewhat weak, Marty managed to cause severe damage and flooding, amounting to the deaths of 125 with 107 people missing.
Tropical Depression 17W
Tropical Depression 17W existed from August 13 to August 16.
Typhoon Niki (Lusing)
Niki developed on August 16. It struck Luzon on August 19 and then crossed the South China Sea. The typhoon later made landfall in Hainan on August 20 and northern Vietnam on August 21. Niki dissipated by August 23.
During the Typhoon Niki, the Văn Lý weather station recorded sustained winds of 31 m/s (112 km/h) and a minimum sea-level pressure of 983.8 hPa. The storm resulted in 60 deaths, 161 injuries, and 1 person missing. The total economic damage was estimated at 670 billion VND.
Typhoon Orson
Orson existed from August 20 to September 3.
Tropical Storm Piper
Piper existed from August 22 to August 26.
Tropical Depression 21W
Tropical Depression 21W existed from August 25 to August 29.
Tropical Storm Rick
Rick existed from August 27 to September 3.
Typhoon Sally (Maring)
On September 2, a tropical depression developed well east of the Philippines. It headed west-northwestward, reaching tropical storm strength on the 5th and typhoon strength on the 6th. On the 7th Sally rapidly intensified to a 160 mph Super Typhoon while passing just north of the Philippines. It weakened slightly yet steadily to a 115 mph typhoon over the South China Sea, hitting the Luichow Peninsula of China on the 9th, and dissipated the next day over the country. Sally brought heavy rain and damage to China, causing 114 casualties, 110 people missing, and economic losses estimated at $1.5 billion (1996 USD).
Tropical Storm 24W (Ningning)
Ningning developed on September 6. It struck Luzon on September 9 and then entered the South China Sea. Ningning dissipated offshore Vietnam on September 14.
Typhoon Violet (Osang)
Violet existed from September 11 to September 23. It destroyed 897 homes and damaged 12,226 homes. It caused ¥16.7 billion (US$154 million). Seven people were killed.
Typhoon Tom
Tom existed from September 11 to September 21.