Typhoon Emma (1959)

Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

On October 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began tracking an area of severe weather south of Kwajalein Atoll.[1] Two days later, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated the area as a tropical depression.[2][nb 1][nb 2] By November 5, a reconnaissance aircraft discovered the area had formed a closed surface circulation, along with wall clouds and sustained winds of 55 km/h (35 mph). The area was designated as a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC of November 5 by JTWC, receiving the name Emma. The depression continued west-northwest, traveling past Guam at an average speed of 9–10 knots (17–19 km/h).[1] Both JMA and JTWC upgraded Emma to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC of November 6 west of Guam, with sustained winds of 80 km/h (50 mph) and a surface pressure of 990 hectopascals (29 inHg).[2][5][nb 3] The storm gradually increased strength, with its eye ill-defined majority of the time.[1] At 00:00 UTC of November 11, Emma strengthened into a typhoon east of Luzon,[7] with winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson scale,[5] and pressure of 970 hPa (29 inHg).[2]

Emma began to turn north at an average speed of 11 knots (20 km/h). At 07:30 UTC on November 11, a reconnaissance aircraft entered the 110-kilometer (60 nmi) eye of Emma and recorded flight-level winds of 195 km/h (105 kn), estimating surface winds of 240 km/h (130 kn).[1] JTWC assessed the typhoon had reached its peak at 18:00 UTC later that day, with surface winds of 205 km/h (125 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale.[5] JMA reported Emma's lowest surface pressure, 960 hPa (28 inHg) at 00:00 of November 12 east of Formosa.[2][7] After reaching its peak, westerlies had begun to influence Emma, and the typhoon began to turn northeast and accelerate.[1] Emma weakened to 165 km/h (105 mph) by 12:00 UTC of November 12,[5] as it was southeast of Okinawa. The typhoon continued to increase in speed, and it lost strength throughout November 13.[7] At 18:00 UTC of that day, JTWC discontinued advisories for Emma, as it had transitioned into an extratropical cyclone,[1] with surface winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and moving at an average speed of 35 kn (65 km/h).[1][5] JMA declared the storm as extratropical six hours later,[2] and its surface winds dropped to 100 km/h (60 mph), below typhoon strength. JTWC ceased tracking the cyclone at 00:00 UTC of November 15,[5] and JMA stopped 12 hours later,[2] where it was located west of the Midway Atoll.[7]

As Emma passed through Guam as a tropical depression on November 6, a pressure of 995 hectopascals (29.4 inHg) and sustained winds of 56 km/h; 35 mph (30 kn) were recorded.[1] The depression caused a postponement of a baseball game at Paseo De Susana Ballpark due to wet field conditions.[8] In the Philippines, the storm delayed President Carlos P. Garcia's departure from Tagbilaran via ship late on November 12. The ship, RPS Lapu-Lapu, received high winds and waves throughout the day.[9]

At sea, several Japanese tankers were damaged by the storm. Nikkai Maru, a tanker carrying timber from the Philippines, was sunk by the storm on November 12, 800 kilometers (500 mi) east of Formosa. The tanker had sprung a leak,[10] and 35 of the 38 members of its crew were rescued by Ryuho Maru, which arrived at Naha on November 15.[11] One member of the Nikkai Maru crew drowned, and two were reported as missing.[12] Another tanker, Yoneyama Maru, had its rudder damaged by driftwood near Ishigaki, causing it to drift. The tanker was rescued by an United States Navy ship.[11] In total, officials reported eight vessels were sunk and eight more were missing,[1] with others reporting 47 vessels that were damaged or sunk.[12]

Several preparations were made before Emma struck Okinawa. American servicemen across the territory received warnings and emergency food and water, while remaining in their homes.[13] American military aircraft stationed in the area were evacuated to other areas in East Asia.[14] Nike Hercules missile testing was cancelled for November 14–16 and was rescheduled for the week after. Construction of bleachers for the event was also disrupted.[11] Due to concerns after the landslides caused by Typhoon Charlotte one month earlier,[14] 2,400 residents were evacuated from dangerous areas. There were concerns about food shortages for January 1960, as Charlotte destroyed much of the crops earlier.[15]

Emma passed Okinawa to the south by 65 kilometers; 40 miles (35 nmi) late on November 12. At Kadena Air Base, sustained winds of 102 km/h; 63 mph (55 kn) and gusts of 157 km/h; 98 mph (85 kn) were reported.[1] A rainfall total of 129.2 centimeters (50.87 in) was recorded at the air base.[16] A weather station on a hill near Naha reported a gust of 196 km/h; 122 mph (106 kn).[1] Landslides blocked off roads leading to Naha and many trees were uprooted.[12][15] Power lines were downed and communications were disrupted,[14][17] preventing an early assessment of damage.[14] The storm caused severe flooding in downtown Naha, with low-lying areas submerged under 2.4 meters (8 ft) of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground.[15] Many shops in the area were damaged by the debris in the flooding, destroying thousands of dollars of merchandise.[12] Crops, which were already damaged by Charlotte, were damaged again by heavy winds and rains. On Amami Ōshima, one-fourth of Nago was flooded by heavy rains.[15] American military installations in the territory were slightly damaged, and several Marine units reported flooding and damaged buildings and supplies.[17] At Camp Butler, floodwaters rose up to one meter (40 in) in one hut Marines resided in. A habu, along with other types of debris, washed into the camp.[18] The damage at Kadena Air Base amounted to $219,586.50 (1959 USD).[16] At least two people were killed in Okinawa and one fisherman away from the islands during the storm.[11] There were no fatalities or injuries within the number of American servicemen and their dependents.[17] One fisherman previously listed as missing and presumed dead on November 13, Kentoku Kayoda, was found washed ashore after ten days at sea. He survived on rainwater and raw fish, and when he returned home he was able to join a meal of rice cakes which his wife had prepared for his funeral.[19]

Cleanup began soon after Emma passed Okinawa, and electricity was restored to the islands after late on November 13. Telephone service soon returned on the next day.[11] Repairs for roads, culverts, and drainage ditches began in February 1960, using $100,000 (1960 USD) of funding requested after the storm hit Okinawa.[20]

• Typhoon Billie (1959)
• Typhoon Sarah (1959)
• Typhoon Vera

• Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 195920 (EMMA)