Typhoon Bebinca

Typhoon Bebinca (Ferdie)

Bebinca approaching China near peak intensity on September 15
Meteorological history
Formed	September 9, 2024
Dissipated	September 18, 2024
Typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds	140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure	965 hPa (mbar); 28.50 inHg
Category 1-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure	963 hPa (mbar); 28.44 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	8+
Injuries	12+
Missing	2+
Damage	$1.4 billion (2024 USD)
Areas affected	Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, Eastern China
Part of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Bebinca, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ferdie, was a strong tropical cyclone that affected East China, Guam, Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands in early September 2024. Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai, China, becoming the strongest typhoon to hit the city since Typhoon Gloria in 1949. The thirteenth named storm and sixth typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Bebinca formed from atmospheric convection 385 km (239 mi) east-northeast of Kosrae, was upgraded to a tropical storm by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on September 10, and was named Bebinca, before turning west-northwest due to interaction with an upper vortex; by September 13, as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration named it Ferdie, and it eventually moved across the Ryukyu Islands, where both the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the JMA upgraded it to a minimal typhoon. Inland, Bebinca quickly weakened to a severe tropical storm due to land interaction as it moved west-northwest under the steering influence of the subtropical high. The JMA tracked the system until it was last noted on September 17.

Although Bebinca did not make landfall in the Philippines, its associated trough and the southwest monsoon caused heavy rains across many regions, resulting in nearly 97 homes being damaged or destroyed, displacing more than 36,626 people, and causing infrastructure damage valued at ₱200,000 (US$4,060.91). At least six fatalities and two missing persons were reported in the Philippines, along with eleven injuries. Two fatalities and one death were also recorded in China. The storm significantly impacted Guam, prompting the issuance of storm warnings. In Japan, thousands of houses lost power in Amami, and high winds were recorded in Okinawa Prefecture.

Typhoon Bebinca emerged from an area of atmospheric convection 385 km (239 mi) east-northeast of Kosrae on September 5.^[1] The system, characterized by a disorganized wave in the easterlies, featured intense deep convection over a large area, supported by favorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis,^[2] such as warm sea surface temperatures of 28–29 °C (82–84 °F), moderate vertical wind shear and good poleward outflow.^[3] At 02:30 UTC on September 9, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, noting that the system had become well-defined with formative banding in the eastern quadrants.^[4] A few hours later, both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the JTWC followed suit and upgraded the tropical depression, with the latter designating the system as 14W.^[5][6] On September 10, the depression intensified into a tropical storm and was named Bebinca by the JMA,^[7] as it consolidated with a central dense overcast (CDO) feature obscuring its circulation center while tracking near Guam,^[7] and subsequently turned west-northwestward due to interaction with an upper vortex.^[8] Guam radar imagery showed a well-defined surface circulation, with curved convective bands extending southward from the circulation center and wrapping around the northern part of the system into its western periphery.^[9]

Around 00:00 UTC on September 11, the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm, citing Dvorak technique—a method of determining a tropical cyclone's intensity based on satellite appearance.^[10] On September 13, the JMA reported that the storm had weakened to a tropical storm due to its near-surface circulation being fully exposed and its banding being fragmented along the northern edge,^[11] with a broad tail of deep monsoonal flow and a tropical upper tropospheric trough cell to the west continuing to infuse dry air into the storm's mid-level core.^[12] By 06:00 PHT (10:00 UTC), Bebinca had entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was subsequently named Ferdie by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),^[13] but just a few hours later, it exited the PAR.^[14] Bebinca then shifted northwestward along the northern edge of a deep subtropical high,^[15] and the JMA reported that the storm had regained severe tropical storm status.^[16] Satellite imagery revealed a compact, circular system with enhanced radial outflow and flaring convection in the northwest quadrant,^[17] leading both the JMA and JTWC to upgrade it to a minimal typhoon the next day as it moved across the Ryukyu Islands;^[18][19] meanwhile, Bebinca developed a ragged eye feature and maintained a symmetrical and impressive CDO over the past six hours.^[20] The JMA reported that Bebinca reached its peak intensity at 00:00 UTC on September 15 with 10-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a central pressure of 965 hPa (28.50 inHg),^[21] before eventually peaking at Category 1-equivalent intensity on the Saffir-Simpson scale with 1-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph).^[20] On September 16, at around 07:30 CST,^[22] Bebinca made landfall in Lingang New City, Shanghai, China,^[23] becoming the strongest typhoon to hit the area since Typhoon Gloria in 1949,^[24][25] with a microwave eye feature spanning 29 miles (46 km) and convective bands extending south-southwestward as it moved west-northwestward under the steering influence of the subtropical high.^[26] Shortly after landfall, the JTWC discontinued warnings on the system.^[27] Inland, Bebinca quickly diminished to a severe tropical storm due to land interaction,^[28] with the JMA tracking the system until it was last noted on September 17.^[29]

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) stated that the southwest monsoon, locally called Habagat, will happen when the storm enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and will continue after the storm exits the PAR. Bebinca is also predicted to bring heavy rains across the northern portion of the Philippines. Thunderstorms are also expected in the rest of Luzon and Metro Manila.^[30] PAGASA also predicts that the storm will intensify into a typhoon, bringing flash floods into the country.^[31] PAGASA stated that the storm will bring 1.5–3.5 metres (1.6–3.8 yards) high flash floods to Palawan, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the Davao Region. Small waterborne vehicles, like Motor bancas were advised to take precautionary measures because of the storm.^[32] The province of Antique evacuated 545 families because of the storm, also suspending classes, in all levels in the province. The province provided food packs for the evacuees.^[33]

The heavy rains brought by the storm-associated trough and southwest monsoon damaged or destroyed nearly 97 homes in the Philippines, displacing over 36,626 people and causing infrastructure damage estimated at ₱200,000 (US$4,060.91). In total, 203,197 people were affected, with at least six fatalities, two missing persons, and eleven injuries reported. Additionally, power outages occurred in 18 cities and municipalities, while 40 roads were blocked and six bridges were rendered impassable.^[34] All fatalities were caused by falling trees, including four children aboard a tricycle in Malabang, Lanao del Sur and two in the Zamboanga Peninsula.^[35] According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 1,381 individuals were preemptively evacuated, while classes were suspended in 244 areas, including nine municipalities that also ceased work operations.^[34]

By September 14, the Zhejiang provincial government declared increased alertness, dispatched humanitarian employees,^[36] and ordered the relocation of anchored boats, construction netting and tourists.^[37] On September 15, the China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert for a typhoon, forecasting intense gales and heavy rainfall in eastern China.^[38] State media reported that 414,000 people were evacuated across Shanghai and that 56,000 rescue workers were deployed.^[39][40] Due to Bebinca, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport cancelled all flights, and Shanghai Disneyland closed on September 16.^[41] All highways inside the city were closed, while driving speeds were limited to 40 kilometres per hour.^[40] 570 passenger trains were cancelled in Shanghai.^[42]

Bebinca became the second storm to hit China within a few weeks, following Typhoon Yagi's landfall on Hainan Island in the southern part of the country.^[43] At least 30,000 households lost power.^[40] Four homes were damaged, over 10,000 trees were damaged or uprooted, and 53 hectares (132 acres) of farmland were flooded.^[44] Two people were killed after they were electrocuted by a fallen power line in Kunshan, while a falling tree injured one person in Chongming Island.^[45] Economic losses were estimated to be ¥10 billion (US$1.4 billion).^[46]

When the storm passed the Pacific Ocean, Guam was affected, leading to a storm warning all across the territory. After the storm passed the territory, the Government of Guam declared Condition of Readiness Three, a small warning which allows people to go to work, not affecting businesses and the territorial government.^[47] In Taiwan, as a way of preparation, weather researchers used artificial intelligence to predict the storm path. The program was also used for Typhoon Gaemi, successfully working a week before the hit.^[48] The storm was predicted to bring heavy rains to Taiwan, with possible thunderstorms occurring.^[49] The storm was forecast to pass through Okinawa.^[50] Power outages affected 7,240 households in Amami.^[51] High winds were recorded at Kadena Air Base and parts of Okinawa Prefecture.^[52]

• Weather of 2024
• Tropical cyclones in 2024

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon Bebinca (2024).

• 14W.BEBINCA from the United States Naval Research Laboratory
• General Information of Typhoon Bebinca (2413) from Digital Typhoon