Typhoon Mike

Typhoon Mike (Ruping)

Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Typhoon Mike at peak intensity while approaching the Philippines
Formed	November 5, 1990
Dissipated	November 18, 1990
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph) 1-minute sustained: 280 km/h (175 mph)
Lowest pressure	915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg (885 mbar (hPa; 26.13 inHg) according to the JTWC)
Fatalities	748 total
Damage	$388.5 million (1990 USD)
Areas affected	Caroline Islands, Philippines, Vietnam, China
Part of the 1990 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Mike, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ruping, was the second strongest typhoon, behind Typhoon Flo, and the deadliest typhoon of the 1990 Pacific typhoon season as it crossed the Philippines in November. Forming from an area of persistent convection over the Caroline Islands, Mike headed westward. Early on the 8th, the depression strengthened to Tropical Storm Mike near Yap. Mike became a typhoon early on November 9, the 18th of the season. On November 10, the typhoon rapidly intensified, reaching peak winds of 165 mph later that day. In a 48-hour period, the typhoon deepened 99 millibars to a pressure of 915 mbar (27.0 inHg). Mike weakened shortly before land interaction and slammed over the eastern Philippines as a 140 mph (230 km/h) typhoon on November 12.

Mike reached a secondary peak of 95 mph (153 km/h) winds on November 14. However, interaction with Vietnam again weakened it to a minimal typhoon. Vertical shear increased, weakening Mike to a tropical storm on the 16th. Early the next day, the storm passed over western Hainan Island, and degraded to a tropical depression that night. After a brief passage over the Gulf of Tonkin Mike hit southern China, then dissipated there on November 18.

A total of 748 people were either killed or reported missing across the Philippines. Damage in the country amounted to $388.5 million, with agriculture accounting for the majority.

An area of persistent convection over the Caroline Islands was first noted in the Significant Tropical Weather Advisory on November 6. As it headed westward, its outflow rapidly improved, with banding and a more circular cloud pattern. The organization continued, and it was upgraded to Tropical Depression 27W on the 7th. Early on the 8th, the depression strengthened to Tropical Storm Mike near the island of Yap.

Mike continued its westward movement and its intensification rate, and became a typhoon early on November 9, the 18th of the season. At this time, a weakness in the subtropical ridge, which kept the storm on its westward movement, was bring Mike northward. This did not occur, and Mike kept its persistent westward motion. On November 10, the typhoon rapidly intensified, reaching peak winds of 165 mph later that day. In a 48-hour period, the typhoon deepened 99 millibars to a minimum central pressure of 915 mbar (27.0 inHg). Mike retained its intensity of 165 mph (266 km/h) for a day as it approached the Philippines. Fortunately for the archipelago, the combination of an eyewall replacement cycle and land interaction to its west weakened the super typhoon. Initially, Mike was forecast to move west northwest and make landfall over Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, and Bicol region, but Mike slammed over the eastern Philippines as a 140 mph (230 km/h) typhoon on November 12. The typhoon further weakened to an 85 mph (137 km/h) typhoon while crossing the islands, but in the South China Sea, conditions favored slight strengthening.