Typhoon Chaba (2016)

Typhoon Chaba (Igme)

Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Typhoon Chaba at peak intensity on October 3, observed from the International Space Station
Formed	September 24, 2016
Dissipated	October 7, 2016
(Extratropical after October 5)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 215 km/h (130 mph) 1-minute sustained: 270 km/h (165 mph)
Lowest pressure	905 hPa (mbar); 26.72 inHg
Fatalities	7
Damage	$18.3 million (2016 USD)
Areas affected	South Korea, Japan
Part of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Chaba, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Igme, was the third most intense tropical cyclone in 2016 and the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in South Korea since Sanba in 2012. Chaba also caused 7 deaths in the country. Typhoon Chaba was the eighteenth named storm and the eighth typhoon of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season.

OnSeptember 26, a tropical depression developed approximately 1,445 km (898 mi) east-northeast of Guam. Despite a marginally favorable environment, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the system to a tropical storm and assigned it the name Chaba late the next day. Early on September 28, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) gave the identifier of 21W. Flaring convection and improved overall convective structure prompted the JTWC to upgrade it to a tropical storm. By September 30, Chaba had intensified into a severe tropical storm after deep convection had evolved into a banding feature and very favorable conditions such as very low wind shear and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of about 30 degrees Celsius. On October 1, Chaba entered the Philippine area of responsibility, with PAGASA assigning the local name Igme, as it started to move in a northwestward direction. Several hours later, both agencies upgraded Chaba to a typhoon after its organization and structure had vastly improved. During the next day, Chaba became more symmetric as feeder bands wrapped into its deep central convection, signalling the onset of explosive intensification.

Continuing its strengthening trend, Chaba reached Category 5 super typhoon intensity with a sharp 5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) wide eye surrounded by a very intense convective core due to very warm SSTs. Chaba reached its peak intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph), 1-minute sustained winds of 270 km/h (165 mph), and a minimum central pressure of 905 mbar. Thereafter, the JTWC stated that Chaba began weakening, as its core became asymmetric, and Chaba weakened to a strong Category 4 typhoon by October 4. Later, significant weakening led the JTWC to downgrade Chaba further to a Category 2 typhoon, due to interaction with strong north-northeasterly winds. As it neared the coast of Busan, South Korea, Chaba started to undergo extratropical transition and the JTWC issued its final advisory a few hours later, while downgrading the system to a tropical storm. At the same time, the JMA downgraded Chaba to a severe tropical storm. Six hours later, the JMA issued its final advisory, as Chaba became extratropical.