Tropical Storm Linda (1997)

Severe Tropical Storm Linda (Openg)

Severe tropical storm (JMA scale)
Category 1 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Typhoon Linda in the Gulf of Thailand
Formed	October 31, 1997
Dissipated	November 9, 1997
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph) 1-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure	985 hPa (mbar); 29.09 inHg
Fatalities	>3,123 total
Damage	$385 million (1997 USD)
Areas affected	Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma
Part of the 1997 Pacific typhoon season 1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Severe Tropical Storm Linda, known in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Openg, was the worst typhoon in southern Vietnam in at least 100 years, killing thousands of people and leaving extensive damage. It formed on October 31, 1997 in the South China Sea, between Indochina and the Philippines. Strengthening as it moved westward, Linda struck extreme southern Vietnam on November 2 with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h), dropping heavy rainfall. Once in the Gulf of Thailand it strengthened further to minimal typhoon status, but weakened to tropical storm strength before crossing the Malay Peninsula into the Bay of Bengal, the first storm to do so in five years. It restrengthened in the Indian Ocean to typhoon status, but increasing wind shear and weakened steering currents caused Linda to dissipate on November 9.

The worst of Linda's impact was in Vietnam, where 3,111 people were killed, and damage totaled $385 million (USD). Heavy rainfall caused flooding, which damaged or destroyed about 200,000 houses and left about 383,000 people homeless. Widespread crop and transportation damage also occurred, the latter which impeded relief efforts. Several countries around the world sent relief aid, including medical teams, food, and clothing. However, the food supply and health status of the storm victims proved not as bad as originally feared. Linda later struck Thailand, causing flash flooding and at least 164 deaths. The storm also affected Burma (Myanmar), Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia to a lesser degree.

The origins of Typhoon Linda were from an area of convection that were first noted east of the Philippines on October 26. A subtropical ridge persisted to the north, which caused the disturbance to move generally westward. On October 29, the system crossed the Philippines and entered the South China Sea. It subsequently began to organize, and late on October 31, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 30W. At that time, the system was located off the northwest coast of Borneo. The PAGASA organization named it "Openg".