Tropical Storm Mirinae (2016)

Severe Tropical Storm Mirinae

Severe tropical storm (JMA scale)
Tropical storm (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Tropical Storm Mirinae approaching Hainan, China on July 26
Formed	July 25, 2016
Dissipated	July 28, 2016
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 100 km/h (65 mph) 1-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph)
Lowest pressure	980 hPa (mbar); 28.94 inHg
Fatalities	5 total
Damage	$345 million (2016 USD)
Areas affected	South China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand
Part of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season

Severe Tropical Storm Mirinae (pronounced [mi.ɾi.nɛ̝]) was a strong tropical cyclone that struck Hainan Island, China and Northern Vietnam in late July 2016. The third named storm of the annual typhoon season, Mirinae formed on July 25, 2016 as a tropical depression in the west of Luzon, Philippines. On July 26, it moved west-northwestwards, it had become a tropical storm and made landfall in Hainan Island, China. During July 27, it intensified into a severe tropical storm and made landfall over Red River Delta in Northern Vietnam late on July 27 and dissipated during the next day.

In Hainan, economic losses by the storm reached US$56 million. In Vietnam, by July 29, the storm had left five people dead and five others missing. Severe damage to infrastructure was reported in Northern Vietnam, with damage to power lines causing blackouts and power cuts in some areas. Mirinae also sank 12 boats, destroyed the roofs of 1,425 houses and uprooted about 5,000 trees. Total damage in Vietnam reached US$289 million.

Mirinae was first noted as a tropical depression during July 25, as it moved off the west coast of Luzon into the South China Sea, about 300 km (185 mi) to the east of the Paracel Islands. The system's well defined low level circulation centre was located in a very favourable environment for further development, with low vertical windshear and very warm sea surface temperatures. Later that day the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and classified it as Tropical Depression 05W, as it moved north-westwards along the periphery of a subtropical ridge of high pressure. During the next day, as the system moved west-northwestwards, it continued to intensify was named Mirinae by the JMA after it had become a tropical storm. Mirinae subsequently weakened slightly as it made landfall later that day, near Wanning and crossed Hainan Island, before it re-intensified as it had moved into the Gulf of Tonkin. The system was classified as a severe tropical storm by the JMA during July 27, as it was estimated that Mirinae had peaked with sustained wind-speeds of 95 km/h (59 mph). The system subsequently made landfall about 110 km (70 mi) to the south of Hanoi in northern Vietnam later that day. Mirinae subsequently weakened gradually over northern Vietnam, before it was last noted during July 28, as it dissipated to the north of Hanoi.