![]() Typhoon Fengshen near peak intensity on July 18 | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | July 13, 2002 |
Dissipated | July 28, 2002 |
Very strong typhoon | |
10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 920 hPa (mbar); 27.17 inHg |
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 270 km/h (165 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 892 hPa (mbar); 26.34 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 5 total |
Damage | $4 million (2002 USD) |
Areas affected | Japan, China |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season |
Typhoon Fengshen was the strongest storm of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season.[1] It developed on July 13 from the monsoon trough near the Marshall Islands, and quickly intensified due to its small size. By July 15, Fengshen attained typhoon status, and after initially moving to the north, it turned toward the northwest. On July 18, the typhoon reached its peak intensity of 185 km/h (115 mph 10‑minute winds), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated peak winds of 270 km/h (165 mph 1‑minute winds), and the agency estimated that Fengshen was a super typhoon for five days. This broke the record for longest duration at that intensity, previously set by Typhoon Joan in 1997, and which was later tied by Typhoon Ioke in 2006.
While near peak intensity, Typhoon Fengshen underwent the Fujiwhara effect with Typhoon Fung-wong, causing the latter storm to loop to its south. Fengshen gradually weakened while approaching Japan, and it crossed over the country's Ōsumi Islands on July 25 as a severe tropical storm. The typhoon washed a freighter ashore, killing four people and forcing the other 15 crew members to be rescued. In the country, Fengshen dropped heavy rainfall that caused mudslides and left $4 million (¥475 million 2002 JPY),[nb 1] in crop damage. There was an additional death in the country. After affecting Japan, Fengshen weakened in the Yellow Sea to a tropical depression, before moving across China's Shandong Peninsula and dissipating on July 28.
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