1964 Pacific Typhoon Season - Seasonal Activity

Seasonal Activity

52 numbered tropical waves formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 39 became tropical storms. 26 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 7 reached super typhoon strength. The season's 39 tropical storms is the most recorded tropical storms to form in the basin. The South China Sea saw higher than normal activity in 1964 – between the years 1959-1963, the average was 3.2 typhoons to travel the area, compared to the 10 typhoons in the 1964 season. Two of the super typhoons, Sally and Opal, set seasonal records - Sally was strongest storm of the season, reaching a pressure of 894 mbar while Opal was the largest system of the season.

Five typhoons performed cyclonic loops this season; only two or three happen on average yearly. Kathy did a rare move by executing a second minor loop while undergoing the first loop. Another unusual phenomenon that occurred during the 1964 season was rapid degeneration of typhoons. Notable ones include Alice, Elsie and Cora which degenerated into tropical lows within hours. No apparent reason has been found to this rapid degeneration event.

Read more about this topic:  1964 Pacific Typhoon Season

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