Tropical Depression Josie

Tropical Depression Josie was a weak tropical system that impacted the Philippine archipelago of Luzon, bringing widespread flooding. The tropical depression was classified in the South China Sea on July 20, and steadily moved eastward while gradually intensifying. The storm reached its peak intensity of 1-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) while nearing the northern tip of the Ilocos Region. By July 22, the system moved northward and rapidly weakened. The system was last noted on July 23 to the northeast of Taiwan.

Tropical Depression 13W (Josie)
Tropical depression (JMA scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Tropical Depression Josie impacting Luzon on July 21, 2018
FormedJuly 20, 2018
DissipatedJuly 23, 2018
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 55 km/h (35 mph)
1-minute sustained: 65 km/h (40 mph)
Lowest pressure996 hPa (mbar); 29.41 inHg
Fatalities16 total
Damage$87.4 million (2018 USD)
Areas affectedPhilippines, Taiwan
Part of the 2018 Pacific typhoon season

Despite being a relatively weak system, Tropical Depression Josie was known for actively enhancing the southwest monsoon that brought widespread flooding over Luzon, Philippines within most of July 2018. In the country, Josie caused ₱4.66 billion (US$87.4 million) of damages, also killing a total of 16 people. The storm was the second in history since Typhoon Ketsana struck Metro Manila and caused ocean-high flooding since 2009.

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

On 06:00 UTC of July 20, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began tracking a tropical disturbance that had developed about 402 km (250 mi) south-south east of Hong Kong.[1] Operationally, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a weak tropical depression around that same time,[2] however, post-analysis showed that the system strengthened into a weak tropical depression six hours later.[3] Later that day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert after the system gradually organised.[4] Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery showed that the system had flaring convection wrapping into its Low-level circulation center.[5] The storm's location over favourable environments with low wind shear and warm sea-surface temperatures prompted the JTWC to upgrade the system to a tropical depression and initiate advisories, receiving the designation of 13W.[5][6] On 00:00 UTC of July 21, the JMA began issuing advisories on the tropical depression, meaning that the system is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.[7] Three hours later, the PAGASA began issuing advisories on the tropical depression, giving the local name Josie.[8]

Around the time the PAGASA started tracking the storm, Josie was located in an area of low vertical wind shear of 5-10 knots.[9] This helped organise the storm more as a "compact system" with deep convection, despite remaining at tropical depression intensity.[9] However, in a post-analysis report after the season, the JTWC classified Josie as a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph).[10] The JMA only remained the system as a tropical depression with a minimum barometric pressure of 996 hPa (29.41 inHg).[11] As Josie neared the northern tip of Luzon, vertical wind shear gradually increased, maintaining the storm's intensity.[12] By 09:00 UTC of July 22, Josie curved northward, and animated satellite imagery showed the storm's structure began to deteriorate. The storm's center became really disorganised.[13] Twelve hours later, the JMA issued its final advisory on Josie, meaning that the JMA no longer expects the system to intensify into a named tropical storm.[14] By the next day, the storm's center became exposed with its last remaining convection being sheared.[15] Hence, the JMA fully stopped tracking the system on 12:00 UTC of July 23.[16] The JTWC issued their final advisory on the system three hours later.[17]

Preparations and impact

On July 21, as soon as the PAGASA began tracking Tropical Depression Josie, Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) #1 was issued for the Ilocos Region (Region I), northern Cagayan and the Babuyan Islands.[18] This also meant that local government officials within the area banned sea travel in the eastern seaboards of Luzon, and advised residents to take appropriate actions against flooding and landslides.[19] At that time, the PAGASA warned that light to moderate rainfall was expected in most of Central Luzon, the rest of Mountain Province and the province of Pangasinan, while majority of the country will experience light rainfall with scattered thunderstorms within the next 12 hours.[20] They also warned that all residents residing near creeks, rivers and channels must evacuate, and hence, all bridges and roads were closed in Northern Luzon and in the Cordilleras.[20] The PAGASA later issued a yellow flood warning for Batangas, which meant that flooding was possible with a continuous intense rainfall of about 15–30 mm (0.6–1.2 in) being observed in an hour.[21] On 5:00 pm local time (09:00 UTC) of the same day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) issued a "red alert" to all member and government agencies towards the areas that are affected, mainly in the northern provinces.[20][22] This red alert means that all member agencies must take action towards immediate help from affected families from torrential rains.[22]

Later that day, Pangasinan was under a state of calamity due to widespread flooding,[23] where 1,291 families (or 5,067 individuals) have been temporarily evacuated.[24] In Calatagan, Batangas, a boat got capsized due to rough seas spawned by the enhancement of the monsoon and rescued the 57 passengers and 10 crew members safely.[20] More than 250,000 houses were affected in seven different regions, where a total of 14,551 families (61,674 individuals) were escorted to 302 evacuation centres.[25]

See also

References
  1. https://www.webcitation.org/713RBQEVQ
  2. http://www.webcitation.org/714rn4WfQ
  3. "Digital Typhoon: List of weather charts on July 20, 2018 (Fri)". Digital Typhoon. March 2019.
  4. https://www.webcitation.org/714tCT3U1
  5. "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 01". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 20, 2018.
  6. "Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 001". July 20, 2018.
  7. "RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory TD". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 21, 2018.
  8. "Severe Weather Bulletin #1 Tropical Depression "JOSIE"". PAGASA. July 21, 2018.
  9. "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 03". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 21, 2018.
  10. "JTWC Annual Tropical Cyclone Report 2018" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
  11. "RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 21, 2018.
  12. "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 06". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 22, 2018.
  13. "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 07". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 22, 2018.
  14. "RSMC Tropical Cyclone Advisory TD". Japan Meteorological Agency. July 22, 2018.
  15. "Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 11". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 23, 2018.
  16. https://www.webcitation.org/7198xHtRy
  17. "Tropical Depression 13W (Thirteen) Warning Nr 012". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. July 23, 2018.
  18. "Advisory on Severe Weather Bulletin No. 01 re Tropical Depression JOSIE" (PDF). NDRRMC. July 21, 2018.
  19. "Josie gains speed, threatens Babuyan Islands: PAGASA". ABS CBN News. July 21, 2018.
  20. Rhodina Villanueva (July 22, 2018). "Josie batters north; storm signals raised". Philstar.
  21. "Tropical Depression Josie brings more rains to Luzon". CNN Philippiens. July 21, 2018.
  22. "NDRRMC issues red alert status due to TD 'Josie'". Manila Bulletin. July 21, 2018.
  23. "Tropical Depression Josie crossing Babuyan Islands". Rappler. July 22, 2018.
  24. "'Josie' exiting; 'habagat' causes calamitous flooding in Luzon". Manila Bulletin. July 23, 2018.
  25. "NDRRMC: Over 250,000 families affected by days of rain, flooding". Philstar. July 22, 2018.
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