![]() Tropical Storm Utor shortly after peak intensity on July 5 | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | July 1, 2001 |
Dissipated | July 7, 2001 |
Severe tropical storm | |
10-minute sustained ( JMA) | |
Highest winds | 110 km/h (70 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 960 hPa ( mbar); 28.35 inHg |
Category 1-equivalent typhoon | |
1-minute sustained ( SSHWS/ JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 150 km/h (90 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 963 hPa ( mbar); 28.44 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 203 total |
Damage | $2.78 billion (2001 USD) |
Areas affected | Philippines, China and Taiwan |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2001 Pacific typhoon season |
Severe Tropical Storm Utor, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Feria, was a large and deadly system that caused heavy rains and landslides throughout the Philippines, Taiwan, and China. [1] [2] The eighth tropical depression and fourth named storm of the 2001 Pacific typhoon season, Utor formed on July 1 and intensified into a tropical storm shortly after. Utor was upgraded to a typhoon by the JTWC on July 3, and a day later, Utor was estimated to have peaked with 10-min winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), with the JTWC estimating 1-min winds of 150 km/h (95 mph). After passing just north of Luzon, Utor began to weaken, before making landfall on the district of Dapeng as a minimal typhoon. Utor caused 203 deaths, of which 168 were in the Philippines, 23 were in the province of Guangdong, 10 were in the province of Guangxi, and 2 were in Taiwan. Total damages from the storm amounted to $2.78 billion.
At 21:30 UTC on June 26, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring a system in the Western Pacific Ocean. On June 29 at 12:30 UTC, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on the system. [2] The system continued moving to the southwest and on July 1 at 0:00 UTC both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm, with the JMA giving it the name Utor. [3] Shortly after being named, Utor abruptly turned to the north, passing just west of the island of Yap. On the next day at 6:00 UTC, Utor entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was named Feria by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which also began issuing advisories. [4] Utor steered northwestward as it was gradually strengthening, being upgraded to a typhoon by the JTWC east of Luzon on July 3. [3] The JMA followed suit, upgrading it to a severe tropical storm. [5] Utor continued to strengthen as it continued northwestward, and on July 4, Utor made its closest approach to the island of Luzon, peaking in the process with 10-min winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), with the JTWC estimating 1-min winds of 150 km/h (95 mph). [5] [2] Utor developed a ragged eye during peak intensity, with the island of Calayan being in the eye. [2] [3] After peak intensity, Utor slowed down slightly, beginning to weaken as it approached the Chinese province of Guangdong. On July 6 at 0:00 UTC, Utor made landfall on the district of Dapeng as a minimal typhoon, quickly weakening over land. 18 hours later, the JTWC issued its final warning on the system, and the JMA followed suit not long after. [2] Utor dissipated over the autonomous region of Guangxi. [1]
Utor, while not a very strong storm, brought heavy rain causing many landslides and flooding throughout the countries it affected. Almost 1 million people spread out over 20 provinces in the Philippines were affected by the typhoon, with thousands of houses being destroyed or damaged. [2] Effects and impacts from Utor in the Philippines amounted to greater than $37 million (2001 USD) in damage, as well as causing at least 168 fatalities. [6] [3] At least 17 landslides occurred throughout the Philippines. [3] In Baguio, rainfall from Utor set a new 24-hour rain record. [3] Due to the effects of the storm, on August 13, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of calamity in the Ilocos Region and in the Cordillera Administrative Region. [7]
During Utor's passage, a 980 hPa reading was recorded in Hong Kong. [3] 87 flights were canceled and 402 more were delayed due to the storm on July 6 in Hong Kong, with crops, roads, power lines, and other infrastructure in Guangdong being heavily damaged. [8] [9] A total of 23 people were killed and damages in Guandong amounted to ¥6.7 billion (US$813 million) (2001 USD). [1] [3] In Guangxi, economic losses were estimated at ¥16 billion (US$1.93 billion) (2001 USD), with 10 people being killed and another 6,850 people injured. [3] In Nanning, the Yong River rose to 5.4 meters above its danger level, the highest it has reached in 50 years. [3]
Agricultural losses in Taiwan amounted to NT$68 million (US$2 thousand) (2001 USD). 2 people were killed and 6 were injured due to torrential rains and strong winds. [1]