2008 Pacific typhoon season



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Hurricane season, 2008

The 2008 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it runs year-round in 2008, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November.^[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 2008 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical storms formed in the entire Western North Pacific basin are assigned a name by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Tropical depressions formed in this basin are given a number with a "W" suffix by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center. In addition, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones (including tropical depressions) that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility. These names, however, are not in common use outside of the Philippines.

Seasonal forecasts

Since the 2000 season, the Laboratory for Atmospheric Research at the City University of Hong Kong has forecast the expected number of tropical cyclones, named storms, and typhoons in a season. Forecasts are released in April and June.^[2]

This season, the CityUHK is predicting a slightly more active than usual season. An average season, according to the CityUHK, has 31 tropical cyclones, 27 named storms, and 17 typhoons. In its April forecast, the CityUHK predicted 33 total tropical cyclones, 30 named storms, and 19 typhoons.^[2] Its June forecast reaffirmed the April numbers, predicting the same number of systems, tropical storms, and typhoons.^[3]

Storms

Typhoon Neoguri (Ambo)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	April 13—April 20
Intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min), 960 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Neoguri (2008)

On April 11, area of convection with an area of low pressure was located between Palau and Yap. ^[4] Early on April 13, a low-level circulation developed near Mindanao.^[5] The JMA designated the system as a minor tropical depression on the same day,^[6] and PAGASA began warning on the system, naming it Tropical Depression "Ambo".^[7] The low continued to get better organized and early on April 14, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center began issuing advisories on Tropical Depression 02W, which was located about north of Zamboanga City, Philippines.^[8] Later that day, the agency upgraded it to tropical storm status, based on satellite intensity estimates.^[9] The JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm, naming it Neoguri, the next day.^[10] Early April 16, the system was upgraded to severe tropical storm status,^[11] and then reached typhoon status a few hours later.^[12] The typhoon continued north, weakening as it did so.^[13][14] The cyclone made landfall as a weak tropical storm on Guangdong province in southern China,^[15] and the final advisories from both agencies were issued shortly after.^[16][17]

As the typhoon approached and passed Hainan Province, about 120,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas.^[18] According to the China Meteorological Administration, it was the earliest in the year a tropical cyclone had ever impacted China (the old record was for Typhoon Wanda on May 3, 1971). ^[19] 42,000 residents were displaced in the aftermath of Neoguri. ^[20] 18 Chinese fisherman and 22 Vietnamese fisherman remain missing due to the passage of the storm.^[21] Three fatalities have been confirmed in China, two due to a road being covered in a mud flow, and another due to winds blowing a sheet of aluminum into a person, throwing them off the roof of a stadium. ^[22]

Typhoon Rammasun (Butchoy)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	May 7—May 13
Intensity	195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min), 915 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Rammasun (2008)

Early on May 7 PAGASA designated an area of low pressure which was about 790 km east of Mindanao as Tropical Depression Butchoy. ^[23] Around the same time the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also designated the area of low pressure as a Tropical depression with the JTWC assigning the number 03W to the depression. ^{[24] [25]}

Later that day the JMA upgraded the Tropical Depression to Tropical Storm status with RSMC Tokyo assigning the name Rammasun to the storm. ^[26] It quickly organized, intensifying into a typhoon on May 9. ^[27] Rapid intensification continued and it strengthened into a Category 4-equivalent typhoon by early on May 10,^[28] and a super typhoon by midday.^[29]

Rammasun continued on a northerly path, and reached a peak of 105 knots (194 km/h) and 915 hPa on May 10.^[30] Soon after, the typhoon began slowly weakening. The JTWC downgraded it to a typhoon on May 11.^[31] On May 12, the weakening became more rapid, and the JMA downgraded the system to a severe tropical storm,^[32] while the JTWC issued its last advisory, noting that it was extratropical.^[33] The JMA, however, held onto Rammasun until early May 13, when it downgraded the cyclone to a low and issued its final advisory.^[34] Though it never hit land, it was the third strongest May typhoon in recorded history, behind Damrey of 2000 and Phyllis in 1958.^{citation needed}

Rammasun brushed the Japanese coastline as it became extratropical on May 13 delivering strong winds and high waves. Along with moderate to heavy rain, winds gusted up to 52 mph (83 kph) as the storm moved out to sea.^[35]

A strong storm from the "tail" of Rammasun struck the Philippines as it passed south of Japan. The winds brought by the storm caused severe damage to some buildings and numerous trees some weighing tonnes were uprooted. The damage may have been due to a possible tornado but there is no clarification for this possibility. At least 40 people were injured and damage totaled to 11 million PHP ($280,000 USD). ^[36][37]

Severe Tropical Storm Matmo (Dindo)

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	May 14—May 17
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 992 hPa (mbar)

A tropical disturbance formed to the east of the Philippines on May 13. ^[38] Early the next day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system. ^[39] Later that day the JMA classifed the disturbance as a weak tropical depression and started to issue advisories on it ^[40] The JTWC then designated the depression as Tropical Depression 04W ^[41] Later that day the JMA started to issue full advisories on the storm. ^[42] On May 15, the depression had intensifed into a Tropical Storm and was named Matmo and assigned the international number of 0803 by RSMC Tokyo. ^[43] Later that day PAGASA issued its first advisory on Matmo and assigned the local name of "Dindo" ^[44] The JTWC then upgraded the system to a tropical storm later that day. ^[45]

In RSMC Tokyo's post storm analysis the JMA noted that Matmo had continued to intensify and upgraded Matmo in to a Severe Tropical Storm. ^[46] During that day Matmo started to weaken as it moved north away from the Philippines with PAGASA issuing its final warning on tropical storm Dindo (Matmo) as the system was heading out of its Area of responsibilty. ^[47] The JTWC also issued their last advisory later that day on Matmo as the system was becoming an extratropical cyclone. ^[48] The JMA issued their last advisory on Matmo early the next day as it had weakened into an extratropical low, ^[49] Matmo then dissipated later that day. ^[46]

As a preparatory move against the storm, PAGASA cautions residents living in low lying areas and mountain slopes to be cautious about mudslides. When the storm was far away from the Philippines, residents were alerted about a big wave generated by the cyclone. However, the storm caused no reported damages or deaths.

The name Matmo was submitted by the United States and means "heavy rain" in the Chamorro language. ^[50]

Severe Tropical Storm Halong (Cosme)

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	May 14—May 20
Intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min), 970 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Tropical Storm Halong (2008)

Early on May 14 PAGASA upgraded a tropical disturbance west of the Philippines to Tropical Depression Cosme.^[51] Later that day the JTWC issued a TCFA,^[52] later the first advisory on the system as Tropical Depression 05W.^[53] On May 16, the JMA upgraded 05W to Halong.^[54] Later that day, it was upgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm by JMA,^[55] and a Typhoon by JTWC,^[56] and reached its peak of 60 knots (110 km/h) early May 17.^[57] It made landfall on western Pangasinan early May 17,^[58] and weakened while crossing northern Luzon,^[59][60] but after reaching open waters it re-organized while accelerating northeastward. The system intensified to a severe tropical storm again,^[61] but never reached its previous peak intensity and began weakening as it moved northeast.^[59] The JTWC and the JMA issued their final advisories on May 20.^[62][63]

In Luzon, the storm caused 58 deaths and $94 million (USD) in damage. The storm destroyed 43,365 houses and damaged 188,830 more. Most of the damages reported were in Northern Luzon.^[64] Meanwhile, Mindoro and Panay islands were also affected as the storm-induced southwest monsoon brought rains and floods to those areas.

Typhoon Nakri (Enteng)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	May 26—June 3
Intensity	185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min), 930 hPa (mbar)

A tropical disturbance formed south of Guam on May 25.^[65] On May 26, the JMA recognized it as a weak tropical depression,^[66] and later that day, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the system.^[67]

Early on May 27, the JTWC issued its first advisory on Tropical Depression 06W.^[67] Hours after, the JMA designated the system as Tropical Storm Nakri.^[68] Early on May 28, the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm.^[69] Twelve hours later, the JTWC upgraded 06W to a typhoon. Later that day, Nakri strengthened at a more rapid pace and the rapid intensification continued into May 29, when Nakri strengthened to a Category 4-equivalent typhoon. PAGASA then issued its first advisory on the storm on early on May 30 and named it "Enteng". By May 31 it began to weaken as it moved north.^[70] But on the next day, it started to re-intensify slightly.^[71] On June 2, it began to undergo transition to an extratropical system.^[72] And later, both JTWC and JMA stopped issuing advisories as it already degenerated to an extratropical low.^[73][74]

The name Nakri was submitted by Cambodia and refers to a type of flower found in the country.^[50]

Typhoon Fengshen (Frank)

Main article: Typhoon Fengshen (2008)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	June 18—June 25
Intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min), 945 hPa (mbar)

On June 18, an area of low pressure that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had been monitoring for a few days was upgraded to Tropical Depression Frank.^[75] Later that day both the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started issuing full advisories on Frank with the JTWC designating it as Tropical Depression 07W.^[76][77] Early the next day the JMA upgraded the tropical depression to a tropical storm and assigned the name Fengshen.^[78] Tropical Storm Fengshen then rapidly intensified that day by becoming a severe tropical storm and then intensifying into a typhoon later that day.^[79][80] The next day Typhoon Fengshen made landfall in eastern Samar in the central Philippines and travelled northwest over the islands.^[81]

Fengshen was initially forecast to go through Bicol Region but later on shifted its course further westward, eventually going towards the direction of Mindoro Province. However, before even reaching Mindoro it again shifted its direction northward towards the direction of Metro Manila, mainly because of the weakening of the High Pressure area system in the northern part of the Philippines.^[82]

Typhoon Fengshen, after creating havoc in the Philippines, emerged into the South China sea on the 22nd of June and moved northwards towards China.^[83] After moving into the South China Sea both the JMA and PAGASA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm while the JTWC downgraded Fengshen from a Typhoon to a Tropical Storm.^[84][85][86] PAGASA then issued its final advisory on Tropical Storm Fengshen (Frank) due to Fengshen leaving PAGASA's Area of Responsibility.^[87] Late in the evening of the 24th June Tropical Storm Fengshen made landfall on Shenzhen, Guangdong, before moving into mainland China.^[88]The next day the JTWC downgraded Fengshen to a tropical depression and issued their final warning on the system.^[89] The JMA then announced their final warning as they downgraded Fengshen to a tropical depression.^[90]

Typhoon Kalmaegi (Helen)

Main article: Typhoon Kalmaegi (2008)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 13—July 20
Intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min), 960 hPa (mbar)

Early on July 13th, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), began to issue full advisories on a Tropical depression, which was located to the east of the Philippines.^[91] Later that day PAGASA allocated the name Helen to the depression, followed the next day by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) designating the number 08W. Early on the 15th July both the JTWC, and the JMA upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm status, with RSMC Tokyo assigning the name "Kalmaegi" to the storm. Early on the 17th, Kalmaegi began rapidly intensifying; both the JTWC and JMA upgraded Kalmaegi to a Typhoon.

In the Philippines, it passed over Northern Luzon (mostly affecting Ilocos and Cagayan Valley), where it killed two people, left more than 31,129 people affected and damaged ₱ 7 million worth of property. ^[92] The storm also hit 82 villages (all in Northern Luzon) and caused around ₱45,000 worth of damage to farmland and livestock,^[93] Typhoon Kalmaegi, which was downgraded to tropical storm status by Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau while still east of the country, made landfall at Ilan County in northeast Taiwan in the evening of July 17 at 19:40 local time (13:40 UTC) and emerged into the Taiwan Strait at 7:20 in the morning local time (01:20 UTC) on July 18. ^[94] At least nineteen lost their lives due to the storm and six are currently reported as missing.^[95] Tainan County in southern Taiwan reported more than 1100 mm of rainfall in some mountain regions.^[96] The storm caused NT$ 300 million worth of damage,^[97] including an estimated US$16 million in agricultural losses,^[95] and the typhoon destroyed about 5,100 hectares of orchards and crops.^[97]

From Taiwan, the typhoon, now downgraded to a tropical storm, turned toward southeast China.^[97] In Xiapu County of Fujian Province, the tropical storm made landfall at 17:50 local time (0950 UTC), with winds of about 90 miles per hour.^[98] In that province and in neighboring Zhejiang Province, 360,000 residents left coastal and low-lying homes to escape the storm.^[97] Schools and many businesses remained closed, and the storm was expected to travel northwest.^[98] Early on July 19, the JTWC issued its final advisory on Kalmaegi and downgraded it to a tropical depression. However, the JMA continued to issue advisories and maintained Kalmaegi a tropical storm as it moved to Yellow Sea. Late the next day, the JMA downgraded Kalmaegi to a Remnant Low (Extratropical cyclone) as it moved in land over North Korea.

Typhoon Fung-wong (Igme)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 24—July 30
Intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min), 960 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Fung-wong (2008)

On July 23 the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started to issue WWJP25 warnings on a minor Tropical Depression which was located to the east of the Philippines. ^[99] Early the next morning PAGASA named the depression as Igme. ^[100] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) then initiated issuing advisories on the Tropical Depression designating it as Tropical Depression 09W. ^[101] Later that day the JMA began to issue full advisories on the tropical depression ^[102] whilst the JTWC upgraded the depression to tropical storm status. ^[103] The JMA then designated it as Tropical Storm Fung-wong on July 25. ^[104]

Fung-wong then carried on intensifying and during the morning off July 26th Fung-wong became a severe tropical storm. Later that day both the JTWC and PAGASA upgraded Fung-wong to Typhoon status. ^{[105] [106] [107]} However the JMA did not upgrade Fung-wong to Typhoon Status until early the next morning. Late on July 27th Fung-wong reached its peak wind speeds of 95 kts (110 mph, 170 km/h) which is equivalent to a strong category two Typhoon on the Safir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Later that day Fung-wong made landfall on Taiwan near the border of Hualien County and Taitung County as a Typhoon. PAGASA then released their final advisory on Fung-wong as it had moved out of PAGASA's area of responsibility.

Early on July 28th Fung-wong it then emerged into the Taiwan Strait from Changhua County early the next morning by this time however Fung-wong had weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm whilst the JTWC had downgraded Fung-wong to a Tropical Storm. Fung-wong then made its second landfall later that day over mainland China. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center then released its last warning on Tropical Storm Fung-wong. However the JMA continued to issue advisories on Fung-wong weakening Fung-wong into a tropical storm on July 29th. The JMA then terminated issuing full advisories later that day as Fung-wong weakened into a Tropical Depression, However the JMA continued to monitor the Depression within their WWJP25 warnings until later the next day when they issued their last warning on Fung-wong.^{citation needed}

Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri (Julian)

Main article: Tropical Storm Kammuri (2008)

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 3—August 8
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 975 hPa (mbar)

On August 3 at 1500 UTC, PAGASA identified a Tropical Disturbance located to the north of Luzon island in the Philippines and designated it as Tropical Depression Julian. ^[108] Later that day the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) designated Julian as a minor Tropical Depression and initiated advisories on the Tropical Depression. ^[109]

Early the next day the JMA started to issue full advisories on the Tropical Depression with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) starting to issue warnings on the Tropical Depression with the JTWC designating it as Tropical Depression 10W. ^[110] Furthermore, later that day both PAGASA and the JTWC upgraded the Tropical Depression to a Tropical Storm. ^{[111] [112]} On August 5th RSMC Tokyo upgraded the depression to a Tropical Storm and named it Kammuri. ^[113] PAGASA then released their last advisory on Tropical Storm Kammuri (Julian) as it moved out of PAGASA's Area of responsibility and headed towards Mainland China. ^[114] The Hong Kong Observatory then upgraded Kammuri to a Severe Tropical Storm, with the JMA upgrading it to a severe tropical storm early the next morning. ^{[115] [116]}

However, Kammuri started to weaken after making landfall along the south coast of China in the Western Guangdong Province at about 12pm UTC on August 6th. ^{[117] [118]} After Kammuri had made landfall the JMA downgraded Kammuri to a Tropical Storm, ^[119] whilst the JTWC issued their final advisory later that day on Tropical Storm Kammuri. ^[120] Early the next day Tropical Storm Kammuri emerged into the Gulf of Tonkin, however later that day Kammuri made landfall again in the Guangxi province of China. After making landfall Kammuri weakened to a tropical depression as the JMA issued its last advisory on August 7th. ^[121] However the JMA continued to monitor the depression in their WWJP25 warnings until early on August 8th. ^[122]

Severe Tropical Storm Phanfone

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Duration	August 10—August 11
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 996 hPa (mbar)

Late on August 9, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started to issue full advisories on a Tropical Depression which was located in the Bering Sea to the east of Japan. ^[123] Early the next day, the depression intensified into a tropical storm and was named Phanfone and given the international Designation of 0810 by the JMA as it moved northwards. ^[124] Late on August 10, Phanfone reached its maximum wind speeds of 40 knots (75 km/h, 45 mph) as it was becoming extratropical. ^[125] Early the next day Phanfone became an extratropical low as the JMA issued their final advisory on Phanfone. ^[126]

Phanfone was upgraded to a severe tropical storm in post-storm analysis.^[127]

The name Phanfone was submitted by Laos and is the name of an animal. ^[50]

Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 14—August 17
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 990 hPa (mbar)

Late on August 14 the JMA identified a tropical depression which was located to the south of Japan and started issuing advisories on it. ^[128] Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started issuing advisories on the tropical depression, designating it as Tropical Depression 12W. ^[129] Early the next morning as the depression moved closer to Japan the JMA upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Vongfong, the JTWC also upgraded Vongfong to a tropical storm around the same time. ^{[130] [131]} On August 16, the JTWC issued its final advisory as it began transiting into an extratropical low. ^[132] The JMA issued their final advisory early the next day once it had become an extratropical low. ^[133]

Typhoon Nuri (Karen)

Main article: Typhoon Nuri (2008)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 17—August 23
Intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min), 955 hPa (mbar)

On August 17 the Joint Typhoon Warning Center identified a tropical depression located to the east of the Philippines and designated it as 13W. ^[134] Later that day both the JMA and PAGASA identified the tropical depression and started to issue full advisories on the depression with PAGASA naming the depression Karen. Also later that day the JTWC upgraded 13W to a Tropical Storm. ^{[135] [136] [137]}

The next day, both PAGASA and the JMA upgraded the depression to a Tropical Storm with RSMC Tokyo naming it as Nuri. ^{[138] [139]} It then intensified rather quickly with the JMA designating it as a Severe Tropical Storm ^[140] with the JMA, PAGASA, and the JTWC upgrading Nuri to a Typhoon later that day. ^{[141] [142] [143]} Late on August 19th Typhoon Nuri made landfall on the Philippines and then over the next day moved across northern Luzon causing 12 deaths and 461.3 million PHP in damage. ^[144] that day Nuri entered the Babuyan Channel early the next day and started to move northwestwards towards Hong Kong and China. On August 21 PAGASA then issued its final advisory on Nuri as it was moving out of PAGASA's Area of Responsibility. ^[145] The JMA then downgraded Nuri to a Severe tropical storm with the JTWC also downgrading Nuri to a Tropical Storm later that day as it was approaching Hong Kong. However the JMA did not downgrade Nuri to a tropical storm until the next morning after Nuri had made a rare direct hit on Hong Kong. The JTWC then issued its final advisory later on tropical storm Nuri and the JMA then downgraded Nuri to a weak tropical depression early the next day and issued its last full advisory on Nuri as it was just moving into the Chinese mainland.

Typhoon Sinlaku (Marce)

Main article: Typhoon Sinlaku (2008)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 08—September 21
Intensity	175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min), 935 hPa (mbar)

On September 8th the JMA and PAGASA started to issue advisories on a tropical depression which was located to the north of Manila with PAGASA designating it as Tropical Depression Marce. During that afternoon the JTWC designated the depression as Tropical Depression 15W. Later that day the depression intensified into a Tropical Storm as was named Sinlaku by the JMA. During the next day Sinlaku firstly rapidly intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm and then in to a Typhoon. On September 10 Sinlaku reached its peak 1 minute sustained winds of 125 knots (145 mph). During September 11 Sinlaku, started to weaken as it went under an eyewall replacement cycle. On September 13 Sinlaku made landfall on Taiwan with winds of 90 knots which made Sinlaku a category two typhoon. As Sinlaku moved through Taiwan Sinlaku turned to the Northeast and moved back in to the South China Sea and started moving towards Japan. The next day as Sinlaku moved towards Japan it weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm and exited PAGASA's area of responsibility whilst the JTWC did not downgrade Sinlaku to a tropical storm until late on September 15. By then they were followed by the JMA which downgraded Sinlaku to a tropical storm early the next day. On September 16 the JTWC reported that Sinlaku had restrengthened into a Typhoon whilst the JMA reported that Sinlaku had strengthened into a Severe Tropical Storm. However the JTWC Quickly downgraded Sinlaku back down in to a Tropical Storm whilst the JMA kept Sinlaku at Severe tropical Storm strength. The next day the JTWC reported that Sinlaku had intensified into a typhoon for a third time however later that day the JTWC downgraded Sinlaku to Tropical Storm. On September 17 the JTWC issued its final advisory on Sinlaku as it became extratropical. However the JMA kept issuing advisories on Sinlaku until early on September 21st when it became an extratropical low.

Typhoon Hagupit (Nina)

Main article: Typhoon Hagupit (2008)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 19—September 25
Intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min), 935 hPa (mbar)

On September 14 a tropical disturbance formed to the northeast of Guam. Over the next few days it slowly developed, with the JMA designating it as a minor tropical depression on September 17. Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) then issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing tropical depression. Late the next day the JTWC designated the depression as 18W as it began to issue advisories on the depression. Early on September 19 the JMA began to issue full advisories on the depression as it moved in to PAGASA’s Area of Responsibility and was named Nina by PAGASA. Later that day both the JMA & the JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm. The JMA named the storm as Hagupit, and assigned the international number of 0814. Early the next day Hagupit intensified into a severe tropical storm, and a category 3 typhoon later that day. It reached maximum intensity with 140 mph winds on September 23, and made landfall at that strength the next day. It then dissipated over land, thus late on September 24 JTWC issued its final advisory on the system followed by JMA early the next day.

Typhoon Jangmi (Ofel)

Main article: Typhoon Jangmi (2008)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 23—October 1
Intensity	215 km/h (130 mph) (10-min), 910 hPa (mbar)

On September 23 both the JMA and the JTWC designated a Tropical disturbance which was located to the east of the Phillippines as a tropical Depression with the JTWC assigning the number 19W to the depression. Early the next day the JTWC reported that the depression had intensifed into a tropical storm however the JMA did not upgrade the depression to a tropical storm untill later that day and asssigned the name Jangmi and the international number of 0815. The Depreesion then moved into PAGASAs Area of responsbilty and was assigned the local name of Ofel.

Early on September 25 both the JTWC and the JMA upgraded Jangmi to a Typhoon this was after the JMA had reported that Jangmi had intensifed into a Severe Tropical Storm. Early on September 26 the JTWC reported that Jangmi had intensifed into a category two typhoon with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). During that afternoon, the JMA reported that Jangmi had continued to intensify. However, the JTWC did not report intensification, keeping the storm at a steady 110 mph (175 km/h), though in their next advisory the JTWC acknowledged the intensification and reported that Jangmi had intenisfed in to a category four super typhoon with winds of 135 kt (150 mph, 215 km/h). Operationally the JTWC kept Jangmi at this intensity before it weakened as it made landfall on Taiwan, but in their season best track the JTWC revised their peak intensity estimates, concluding that Typhoon Jangmi was the first category five of 2008 in any basin with maximum winds of 145 kts (165 mph 270 km/h) at 0600Z on September 27. ^[146]

Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 28—September 30
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 980 hPa (mbar)

On September 25 a tropical disturbance formed to the south of China, in the Gulf of Tonkin. Over the next few days it gradually intensifed and late on September 27 the JMA designated it as a tropical depression. Early the next day the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing depression and then later that day, designated the depression as Tropical Depression 20W. Early on September 28 the JMA reported that the depression had intensifed into a tropical storm and named it as Mekkhala. Later that day the JTWC upgraded Mekkhala to a Tropical Storm. However on the 30th it began to move inland and thus, early that day, JTWC issued its final advisory on Mekkhala as it is expected to dissipate within a short time. Later that day, the JMA downgraded the storm to a tropical depression and issued the final advisory.

At least 21 people have been killed due to Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala.^[147] Damages from the storm totaled to $6.6 million (USD)^[148]

• See the final JMA advisory on TS Mekkhala.

Tropical Storm Higos (Pablo)

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 29—October 6
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min), 998 hPa (mbar)

On September 27 a tropical disturbance formed in the Philippine Sea to the east of Mindanao, in the Phillippines. During the next day the JTWC issued a TCFA on the tropical disturbance. Early on September 29 the JMA designated the disturbance as a tropical depression. Later that day both PAGASA and the JTWC designated the disturbance as a tropical depression, with PAGASA naming the depression as Pablo whilst the JTWC designated it as Tropical Depression 21W. The JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm early in the afternoon. The JMA followed shortly after and upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Higos early on September 30. Higos tracked towards the northwest and made landfall in the eastern Philippines (on Samar island) on October 1. Higos tracked over the Philippines as a tropical storm (but PAGASA downgraded it as a tropical depression) for most of the day before moving out over open waters. Once out over water, the JTWC downgraded Higos to a tropical depression, however, the JMA kept it as a tropical storm. As Higos neared landfall, it suddenly relocated, paralleling the northeastern coast of Hainan, China. The storm later made landfall on October 4 around 2 a.m. (CST) on the northern coastline of the island. JMA then issued its final advisory as Higos weakened to a tropical depression. The JTWC followed 12 hours later.

Other storms

JTWC Tropical Storm 01W

Tropical depression (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	January 13—January 16
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min), 996 hPa (mbar)

In the second week of January, a disturbance south-west of the Philippines slowly developed. On January 13, the JTWC declared it Tropical Depression 01W. ^[149] The JMA declared it a minor depression on the same day. ^[150] However the JMA did not develop the depression any further however the JTWC did and strengthened in to a tropical storm according to the JTWC early on January 14. ^[151] However Later that day, the JTWC downgraded the storm back down to a Tropical depression, ^[152] and then issued its last advisory early on January 15. ^[153] However, it regenerated into a Tropical depression later that night and the JTWC started issuing advisories. ^[154] However it did not intensify any further and the JTWC issued their final advisory on January 16.^[155]

PAGASA Tropical Depression Gener

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
Duration	July 4—July 5
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min), 1006 hPa (mbar)

Early on July 4 PAGASA designated an area of low pressure (98W), which was located to the west of the Philippines, as Tropical Depression Gener. ^[156] However during the next day PAGASA released its final advisory on the Tropical Depression as it headed northwest, out of PAGASA's area of responsibility.^[157]

JTWC Tropical Depression 11W

Tropical depression (JMA)
Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	August 13—August 14
Intensity