Typhoon Ruth (1951)

Typhoon Ruth
Analysis of Typhoon Ruth on October 12
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 8, 1951
DissipatedOctober 15, 1951
Category 4-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds220 km/h (140 mph)
Lowest pressure924 hPa (mbar); 27.29 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities572
Injuries2,644
Missing371
Areas affectedGuam, Northern Mariana Islands, Yap, Japan
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1951 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Ruth was a typhoon that hit Japan in October 1951.[1][2]

Preparations

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Storm warnings were issued for southern Japan on October 13.[3] Planes in Tokyo were grounded and courier service to Korea was suspended.[4]

Impact

USS Badoeng Strait in Typhoon Ruth

Ruth impacted Japan between October 13–15, killing 572 people and injuring another 2,644; 371 people were left unaccounted for.[5] Many of these deaths arose from river flooding triggered by Ruth.[6] The storm damaged 221,118 homes and 9,596 ships, as well as some 3.5 million bushels of rice.[5] Due to Ruth's large size, much of the country was affected by the typhoon's winds and rains. A peak wind gust of 195 km/h (121 mph) and a rainfall total of 639.3 mm (25.17 in) was recorded at Kamiyaku, Kagoshima; both of these values were the highest recorded in Japan from Ruth.[6] Yamaguchi Prefecture was most severely impacted by the typhoon.[5][7] Coastal areas were inundated and communications were disrupted.[8] Winds reaching 150 km/h (95 mph) and waves 13.5 m (44 ft) high struck Sasebo, Nagasaki, sinking ships and damaging others in the harbor; among them were warships deployed for the Korean War.[9] American military installations throughout Japan incurred over US$1 million in damage.[10] Overall property damage in Japan was estimated at US$25 million, affecting an estimated 123,773 people;[11] total damage to property, crops, and forests reached US$55 million.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "ルース台風 昭和26年（1951年） 10月10日～10月15日". www.data.jma.go.jp. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  2. ^ "Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 195115 (RUTH) – Disaster Information". agora.ex.nii.ac.jp. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "Typhoon 'Ruth' Swirls Toward Japan's Coast". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Reuters. October 14, 1951. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Winds Send Troopship Onto Jap Island Shoal". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. No. 257. Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. October 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c Kitamoto, Asanobu. "Typhoon 195115 (RUTH)". Digital Typhoon. National Institute of Informatics. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "ルース台風". 災害をもたらした気象事例 (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "Typhoon Damages Rice". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. No. 263. Fort Worth, Texas. Reuters. October 21, 1951. p. 12. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "Typhoon Hits U.S. Troopship Aground Off Japanese Coast". The Scranton Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. United Press. October 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Typhoon Ruth – 14–15 October 1951". Anzac Day Commemoration Committee. ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland) Incorporated. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "Transfer 500 From Wrecked Ship". The Mt. Pleasant News. Vol. 73, no. 243. Mount Pleasant, Iowa. International News Service. October 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Typhoon Blows Out Harmlessly". The Elwood Call-Leader. No. 245. Elwood, Indiana. International News Service. October 16, 1951. p. 6. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Nearly 500 Die in Jap Typhoon". Visalia Times-Delta. No. 174. Visalia, California. Associated Press. October 17, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.