1976 Pacific typhoon season

The 1976 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1976, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

1976 Pacific typhoon season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	January 27, 1976
Last system dissipated	December 30, 1976
Strongest storm
Name	Louise
• Maximum winds	260 km/h (160 mph) (1-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	895 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	51
Total storms	25
Typhoons	15
Super typhoons	4 (unofficial)
Total fatalities	>650
Total damage	> $1.162 billion (1976 USD)
Related articles
1976 Atlantic hurricane season 1976 Pacific hurricane season 1976 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Pacific typhoon seasons 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

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 1976 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

Systems

25 tropical storms formed this year in the Western Pacific. 14 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 4 reached super typhoon strength.^[1]

Typhoon Kathy

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	January 26 – February 2
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min); 965 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Kathy was a Category 1 typhoon that stayed at sea for its entire life.

Tropical Depression Asiang

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
Duration	January 26 – February 1
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Asiang was a Tropical Depression. It was named by PAGASA.

Tropical Depression Biring

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
Duration	February 8 – February 11
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Biring was also named by PAGASA.

Tropical Storm Lorna

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	February 25 – March 3
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min); 998 hPa (mbar)

Lorna was a weak tropical storm with wins of 65 km/h.

Typhoon Marie (Konsing)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	April 1 – April 16
Peak intensity	215 km/h (130 mph) (1-min); 930 hPa (mbar)

This category 4 typhoon affected the Philippines; but mostly stayed out to sea. Marie did not reach super typhoon status; but recorded a strong pressure of 930 millibars. Marie was the first category 4 of the season.

Severe Tropical Storm Nancy

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	April 24 – May 3
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min); 985 hPa (mbar)

Nancy stayed at sea.

Typhoon Olga (Didang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 3-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	May 10 – May 28
Peak intensity	185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min); 940 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Olga (1976)

The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression east of the Philippines on May 10. It tracked generally westward, reaching tropical storm status on the 13th while remaining poorly organized. On the 14th Olga relocated to the southeast, and regained tropical storm strength after weakening. The storm headed to the northwest, and looped in response to the approach of a long wave trough. After returning to a westward movement Olga, despite unfavorable wind shear, strengthened to a typhoon on the 20th. It rapidly intensified that night, and hit eastern Luzon early on the 21st as a 115 mph (185 km/h) typhoon. It drifted across the island, and turned northward in the South China Sea. Olga moved rapidly to the northeast, and on the 28th Olga was absorbed by a subtropical disturbance. Olga brought torrential flooding, at some points as much as 50 inches (1,300 mm) of rain. Because of this, 374 people were killed and thousands were left homeless. Olga also destroyed many of the sets used during the filming of Apocalypse Now.

Super Typhoon Pamela

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	May 14 – May 29
Peak intensity	240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min); 920 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Pamela (1976)

The near equatorial trough produced a tropical depression on May 14 north of Chuuk. It moved southwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 15th. Pamela slowly looped to the northwest, and reached typhoon status on the 16th. On the 18th and 19th, Pamela rapidly intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) super typhoon, and slowly weakened as it continued its northwest movement. On May 21 the typhoon crossed Guam with sustained winds of 140 mph (230 km/h). After slowly crossing the island, Pamela turned to the north, and weakened until becoming extratropical on the 26th. Pamela was the strongest typhoon to hit Guam since Super Typhoon Karen in 1962. Though Karen was much stronger, Pamela's slow crossing caused much more damage, amounting to $500 million (1976 USD, $1.7 billion 2005 USD). Well-executed warnings allowed for only one death in Guam. Before Typhoon Pamela hit Guam, ten people died in a landslide in Truk (Chuuk) from its heavy rains.

Tropical Depression Gloring

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
Duration	June 15 – June 18
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Named by PAGASA.

Typhoon Ruby (Huaning)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	June 20 – July 5
Peak intensity	220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min); 935 hPa (mbar)

The monsoon trough spawned Tropical Depression 7W on June 20. It headed westward, slowly organizing into a tropical storm on the 23rd. Ruby turned to the northwest, and reached typhoon strength just before hitting Luzon on the 25th. It crossed the island, weakening to a tropical storm before turning to the northeast in the South China Sea. Ruby again became a typhoon on the 28th, and on July 2, the typhoon reached a peak of 140 mph (230 km/h) winds while south of Japan. The typhoon turned to the east, and became extratropical on the 3rd. 16 people were killed from the typhoon.

Typhoon Sally (Isang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	June 24 – July 5
Peak intensity	215 km/h (130 mph) (1-min); 925 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Sally formed on June 24. The storm was a Category 4 typhoon with 130 miles per hour of 1-minute sustained wind and 925 millibars of central pressure which did not threaten land.

Super Typhoon Therese

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	July 8 – July 21
Peak intensity	250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min); 905 hPa (mbar)

Typhoon Therese, which developed on July 8, explosively deepened on the 12th and 13th to a 155 mph (249 km/h) super typhoon. Therese weakened as it continued to the northwest, and struck southwest Japan on the 19th as a tropical storm. It looped to the west, and dissipated on the 21st. Therese caused heavy flooding, killing 3 people and causing millions in damage. The storm was a Category 4 typhoon at peak, with 1-minute sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour and a central pressure of 905 millibars.

Severe Tropical Storm Violet (Lusing)

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	July 20 – July 27
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min); 985 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Storm Violet struck Hong Kong and Hainan Island killing 2 people.^[2]

Severe Tropical Storm Wilda

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	July 17 – July 24
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min); 985 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Storm Wilda hit Japan. The storm had a maximum 1-minute sustained wind speed of 50 miles per hour and a central pressure of 985 millibars.

Typhoon Anita (Maring)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	July 20 – July 27
Peak intensity	120 km/h (75 mph) (1-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

Anita hit Japan.

Typhoon Billie (Nitang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	July 31 – August 12
Peak intensity	230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min); 915 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Billie (1976)

When 105 mph (169 km/h) Typhoon Billie hit eastern Taiwan and China, it caused heavy flooding and wind damage, amounting to 4 casualties (with 8 missing and 41 drownings) and $2.6 million in damage (1976 USD).

Severe Tropical Storm Clara

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 2 – August 8
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min); 985 hPa (mbar)

Clara hit China.

Tropical Storm Dot (Osang)

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 17 – August 24
Peak intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min); 990 hPa (mbar)

Dot hit China and Japan.

Tropical Storm Ellen (Paring)

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 20 – August 25
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min); 992 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Storm Ellen struck Hong Kong killing 27 people and left 3 missing.^[2] Eighteen people were killed in one landslip in Sau Mau Ping, Hong Kong.^[3]

Super Typhoon Fran (Reming)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 4-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	September 2 – September 15
Peak intensity	240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min); 910 hPa (mbar)

Main article: Typhoon Fran

An area of disturbed weather organized into Tropical Depression 17W on September 2. It tracked northwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 4th and a typhoon on the 6th. Fran rapidly intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) super typhoon on the 7th, and weakened as it turned northward. After stalling and drifting to the west, Fran continued its northward movement, hit southwestern Japan on the 12th, and became extratropical in the Sea of Japan on the 13th. The storm caused heavy flooding and wind damage, causing 133 fatalities (with 32 missing) and $572 million in damage (1976 USD, $1.9 billion in 2005 USD), the worst Japanese typhoon in over 10 years.

Tropical Storm Georgia

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 8 – September 16
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min); 990 hPa (mbar)

Georgia moved north away from land.

Typhoon Hope

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	September 13 – September 19
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min); 965 hPa (mbar)

Hope did not come near land.

Tropical Depression Seniang

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
Duration	September 13 – September 14
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

Seniang was short-lived.

Typhoon Iris (Toyang)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	September 14 – September 29
Peak intensity	140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min); 975 hPa (mbar)

Iris meandered over the South China Sea and struck South China.

Typhoon Joan

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 1-equivalent typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	September 18 – September 25
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min); 965 hPa (mbar)

Joan recurved east of Japan.

Typhoon Louise (Welpring)

Typhoon (JMA)
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon (SSHWS)
Duration	October 27 – November 9
Peak intensity	260 km/h (160 mph) (1-min); 895 hPa (mbar)

Louise was the strongest typhoon of the season, becoming a Super Typhoon, bringing minor impacts to the Philippines and Japan.

Typhoon Marge (Yoning)

Typhoon (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	November 4 – November 12
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min); 975 hPa (mbar)

Marge was a strong tropical storm.

Severe Tropical Storm Nora (Aring)

Severe tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	December 1 – December 8
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min); 990 hPa (mbar)

Nora brushed the Philippines.

Tropical Storm Opal (Basiang)

Tropical storm (JMA)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	December 8 – December 10
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min); 995 hPa (mbar)

Opal was a minimal tropical storm.

Tropical Depression Kayang

Tropical depression (PAGASA)
Duration	December 29 – December 30
Peak intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);

The depression lasted a day.

Storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1976 was named Kathy and the final one was named Opal.

Agnes Bonnie Carmen Della Elaine Faye Gloria Hester Irma Judy Kit Lola Mamie Nina Ora Phyllis Rita Susan Tess Viola Winnie

Alice Betty Cora Doris Elsie Flossie Grace Helen Ida June Kathy 1W Lorna 2W Marie 3W Nancy 4W Olga 5W Pamela 6W Ruby 7W Sally 8W Therese 9W Violet 10W Wilda 11W

Anita 12W Billie 13W Clara 14W Dot 15W Ellen 16W Fran 17W Georgia 18W Hope 19W Iris 20W Joan 21W Kate 22C Louise 23W Marge 24W Nora 25W Opal 26W Patsy Ruth Sarah Thelma Vera Wanda

Amy Babe Carla Dinah Emma Freda Gilda Harriet Ivy Jean Kim Lucy Mary Nadine Olive Polly Rose Shirley Trix Virginia Wendy

One Central Pacific system developed, Hurricane Kate. The policy at the time was to use Western Pacific names the Central Pacific.

Philippines

Asiang	Biring	Konsing	Didang	Edeng
Gloring	Huaning	Isang	Lusing	Maring
Nitang	Osang	Paring	Reming	Seniang
Toyang	Unsang	Welpring	Yoning
Auxiliary list
				Aring
Basiang	Kayang	Dorang (unused)	Enang (unused)	Grasing (unused)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones in their area of responsibility. PAGASA assigns names to tropical depressions that form within their area of responsibility and any tropical cyclone that might move into their area of responsibility. Should the list of names for a given year prove to be insufficient, names are taken from an auxiliary list, the first 6 of which are published each year before the season starts. Names not retired from this list will be used again in the 1980 season. This is the same list used for the 1972 season. PAGASA uses its own naming scheme that starts in the Filipino alphabet, with names of Filipino female names ending with "ng" (A, B, K, D, etc.). Names that were not assigned/going to use are marked in gray.

Season effects

This table will list all the storms that developed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean west of the International Date Line and north of the equator during 1976. It will include their intensity, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, missing persons (in parentheses), and damage totals. Classification and intensity values will be based on estimations conducted by the JMA, however due to lack of information around this time sustained winds were recorded by the JTWC. All damage figures will be in 1976 USD. Damages and deaths from a storm will include when the storm was a precursor wave or an extratropical low.

Name	Dates	Peak intensity			Areas affected	Damage (USD)	Deaths	Refs
		Category	Wind speed	Pressure
Kathy	January 27 – February 2	Typhoon	155 km/h (95 mph)	965 hPa (28.50 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
Asiang	January 28 – February 1	Tropical depression	55 km/h (35 mph)	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	Philippines	None	None
TD	February 1 – 5	Tropical depression	Not specified	1000 hPa (29.53 inHg)	Mariana Islands	None	None
Biring	February 8 – 11	Tropical depression	55 km/h (35 mph)	1010 hPa (29.83 inHg)	Philippines	None	None
Lorna	February 27 – March 1	Tropical storm	65 km/h (40 mph)	998 hPa (28.47 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
Marie (Konsing)	April 2 – 14	Typhoon	215 km/h (135 mph)	930 hPa (27.46 inHg)	Palau	None	None
Nancy	April 25 – May 2	Severe tropical storm	100 km/h (60 mph)	985 hPa (29.09 inHg)	None	None	None
Olga (Didang)	May 11 – 27	Typhoon	185 km/h (115 mph)	940 hPa (27.76 inHg)	Philippines, Ryukyu Islands	Unknown	374
Pamela	May 14 – 27	Typhoon	240 km/h (150 mph)	920 hPa (27.17 inHg)	Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands	$500 million	11
TD	May 14 – 15	Tropical depression	Not specified	1002 hPa (29.59 inHg)	Palau	None	None
Gloring	June 14 – 21	Tropical depression	55 km/h (35 mph)	1002 hPa (29.59 inHg)	Philippines, Ryukyu Islands	None	None
TD	June 16	Tropical depression	Not specified	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	None	None	None
Ruby (Huaning)	June 21 – July 4	Typhoon	220 km/h (135 mph)	935 hPa (27.61 inHg)	Philippines, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands	Unknown	16
TD	June 21 – 22	Tropical depression	Not specified	1000 hPa (29.53 inHg)	South China	None	None
Sally	June 23 – July 3	Typhoon	215 km/h (135 mph)	925 hPa (27.32 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
Therese	July 9 – 21	Typhoon	250 km/h (155 mph)	905 hPa (26.72 inHg)	Mariana Islands, Japan	Unknown	3
TD	July 17 – 18	Tropical depression	Not specified	1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
TD	July 18 – 21	Tropical depression	Not specified	1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)	None	None	None
Violet (Lusing)	July 19 – 27	Severe tropical storm	100 km/h (60 mph)	985 hPa (29.09 inHg)	South China	None	0 2
Wilda	July 21 – 24	Severe tropical storm	85 km/h (55 mph)	985 hPa (29.09 inHg)	Japan	None	None
Anita (Maring)	July 21 – 27	Typhoon	120 km/h (75 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)	Japan	Unknown	None
TD	July 24	Tropical depression	Not specified	1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)	None	None	None
TD	July 26 – 27	Tropical depression	Not specified	1002 hPa (29.59 inHg)	None	None	None
TD	July 30 – August 2	Tropical depression	Not specified	1002 hPa (29.59 inHg)	Ryukyu Islands	None	None
TD	July 30 – August 1	Tropical depression	Not specified	1002 hPa (29.59 inHg)	Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan	None	None
Billie (Nitang)	August 1 – 12	Typhoon	120 km/h (75 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)	Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, East China	$2.6 million	48
TD	August 1 – 2	Tropical depression	Not specified	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	None	None	None
Clara	August 2 – 7	Severe tropical storm	75 km/h (45 mph)	985 hPa (29.09 inHg)	South China	Unknown	Unknown
TD	August 2 – 3	Tropical depression	Not specified	1002 hPa (29.59 inHg)	South China	None	None
Dot (Oyang)	August 17 – 23	Tropical storm	95 km/h (60 mph)	990 hPa (29.23 inHg)	Japan, East China, South Korea	None	None
Ellen (Paring)	August 20 – 25	Tropical storm	85 km/h (55 mph)	992 hPa (28.29 inHg)	Philippines, South China	Unknown	27
TD	August 31 – September 2	Tropical depression	Not specified	1012 hPa (29.89 inHg)	None	None	None
Fran	September 3 – 14	Typhoon	240 km/h (150 mph)	910 hPa (26.87 inHg)	Mariana Islands, Japan	$660 million	169
Georgia	September 8 – 16	Tropical storm	75 km/h (45 mph)	990 hPa (29.23 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
TD	September 9	Tropical depression	Not specified	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	None	None	None
Iris (Toyang)	September 13 – October 1	Typhoon	140 km/h (85 mph)	975 hPa (28.79 inHg)	Philippines, South China	Unknown	Unknown
Hope	September 13 – 18	Typhoon	130 km/h (80 mph)	965 hPa (28.50 inHg)	None	None	None
Seniang	September 13 – 14	Tropical depression	45 km/h (30 mph)	1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)	None	None	None
TD	September 17 – 18	Tropical depression	Not specified	1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)	Mariana Islands	None	None
Joan	September 18 – 24	Typhoon	130 km/h (80 mph)	965 hPa (28.50 inHg)	None	None	None
TD	September 19	Tropical depression	Not specified	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	None	None	None
TD	September 26	Tropical depression	Not specified	1008 hPa (29.77 inHg)	Ryukyu Islands	None	None
TD	September 29 – October 1	Tropical depression	Not specified	1000 hPa (29.53 inHg)	None	None	None
Undang	September 29 – October 2	Tropical depression	45 km/h (30 mph)	1002 hPa (29.53 inHg)	Ryukyu Islands	None	None
Louise (Welpring)	October 28 – November 8	Typhoon	260 km/h (160 mph)	895 hPa (26.43 inHg)	Caroline Islands, Philippines	None	None
Marge (Yoning)	November 4 – 11	Typhoon	110 km/h (70 mph)	975 hPa (28.79 inHg)	Caroline Islands, Ryukyu Islands	None	None
TD	November 21	Tropical depression	Not specified	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
TD	November 28 − 30	Tropical depression	Not specified	1006 hPa (29.71 inHg)	Philippines	None	None
Nora (Aring)	December 2 – 7	Severe tropical storm	85 km/h (55 mph)	990 hPa (29.23 inHg)	Philippines	Unknown	Unknown
Opal (Barang)	December 7 – 10	Tropical storm	65 km/h (40 mph)	996 hPa (29.41 inHg)	Caroline Islands	None	None
Kayang	December 28 – 30	Tropical depression	45 km/h (30 mph)	1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)	Philippines	Unknown	Unknown
Season aggregates
51 systems	January 27 – December 30, 1976		260 km/h (160 mph)	895 hPa (26.43 inHg)		>$1.16 billion	>650

See also

•  Tropical cyclones portal

• Pacific typhoon season
• 1976 Pacific hurricane season
• 1976 Atlantic hurricane season
• 1976 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
• Australian region cyclone seasons: 1975–76 1976–77
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1975–76 1976–77
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1975–76 1976–77

References

1. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
2. . Archived from the original on 2015-05-16. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
3. "Meteorological Results 1976. Part III - Tropical Cyclone Summaries" (PDF). Hong Kong Observatory. 1977. p. 27. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

External links

• Japan Meteorological Agency
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center 2010-03-01 at the Wayback Machine.
• National Weather Service Guam
• Hong Kong Observatory
• Macau Meteorological Geophysical Services
• Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
• Digital Typhoon - Typhoon Images and Information
• Typhoon2000 Philippine typhoon website