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| Typhoon Lekima (2019) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Typhoon Lekima (2019) |
| Basin | WPac |
| Year | 2019 |
| Formedd | July 30, 2019 |
| Extratropical | August 11, 2019 |
| Dissipated | August 13, 2019 |
| Winds | 105 |
| Pressure | 925 |
| Fatalities | 89 |
| Damages | $8.78 billion (2019 USD) |
Typhoon Lekima (2019) was a powerful and destructive tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific Ocean during the 2019 Pacific typhoon season. Originating from a tropical disturbance near the Philippine Sea, Lekima intensified into a tropical storm and later a typhoon that made landfall in China after affecting the Philippines and Taiwan. The storm caused extensive damage across East Asia, prompting large-scale evacuations and relief operations by regional authorities.
A tropical disturbance tracked westward from the western North Pacific and consolidated into a tropical depression on July 30, 2019, in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands and the Philippine Sea. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) issued successive upgrades as deep convection organized, with Lekima reaching tropical storm intensity near the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan Strait. Favorable upper-level outflow associated with a subtropical ridge and warm sea surface temperatures allowed rapid intensification, with the JTWC estimating peak one-minute sustained winds and the JMA recording a minimum central pressure that categorized Lekima as a super typhoon equivalent. The cyclone tracked northwestward, making landfall over Shanwei and Wenchang on the Chinese coast near Zhuhai and subsequently weakening while crossing the South China Sea and moving inland over Zhejiang province before transitioning to an extratropical cyclone as it moved toward the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
Officials in the Philippines through the PAGASA issued public storm warnings and directed evacuations in coastal and flood-prone provinces such as Luzon and the Bicol Region, while maritime authorities suspended ferry services between the Visayas and Mindanao. In Taiwan, the Central Weather Bureau activated emergency centers and advised residents in Hualien and Taitung counties to prepare, with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications canceling flights and rail services including the Taiwan High Speed Rail. The People's Republic of China's National Meteorological Center and provincial governments in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Shanghai issued red alerts, evacuated hundreds of thousands of residents from cities including Wenzhou, Ningbo, and Hangzhou, and suspended operations at ports such as Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. Authorities in Japan monitored the storm as it approached the Ryukyu Islands, issuing advisories through the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Lekima produced destructive winds, torrential rainfall, and storm surge across multiple jurisdictions. In the Philippines, coastal flooding and rough seas caused shipping disruptions near Davao and damage to infrastructure in Palawan. Taiwan experienced heavy rains and landslides in eastern counties including Hualien, prompting local rescues by the Fire Department and military engineers from the Republic of China Armed Forces. The most severe impact occurred in Mainland China, where catastrophic flooding and mudslides struck Zhejiang and Shandong provinces; cities such as Taizhou, Wenzhou, and Weifang reported widespread property damage, collapsed buildings, and interrupted power and water supplies. Industrial zones near Hangzhou Bay sustained losses, while agriculture in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces faced extensive crop destruction. International ports including Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port recorded vessel damage and cargo delays. The storm caused more than 89 reported fatalities and economic losses estimated in the billions of US dollars, with critical infrastructure—roads, bridges, and levees—suffering major damage.
Following landfall, emergency response involved provincial disaster relief bureaus, the People's Liberation Army's engineering units, and municipal authorities coordinating search and rescue, debris clearance, and restoration of utilities in affected locales such as Wenzhou and Taizhou. The Red Cross Society of China and regional branches of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies mobilized emergency supplies, while local governments distributed temporary shelter in stadiums, schools, and community centers. International attention prompted offers of assistance and situational reporting by organizations including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and bilateral aid from neighboring states. Reconstruction efforts focused on repairing transportation corridors like sections of the Beijing–Shanghai Railway and coastal defenses, and on providing compensation and reconstruction support for displaced residents and damaged agricultural sectors.
Lekima was notable within the 2019 Pacific typhoon season for its rapid intensification and high accumulated cyclone energy relative to contemporaneous storms such as Typhoon Hagibis (2019) and Typhoon Faxai (2019). Meteorological agencies documented Lekima's rapid pressure falls and sustained peak intensity, comparing its lifecycle to historical storms that impacted East China Sea coasts. The name "Lekima" was contributed by Vietnam to the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee naming list; the designation follows the committee's practice of using short names submitted by member economies including Japan, Philippines, Thailand, and China.
Due to the storm's high death toll and extensive economic damage in China and impacts across the Philippines and Taiwan, the name "Lekima" was retired by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee at a subsequent meeting, in keeping with precedents such as the retirement of names after Typhoon Haiyan and Typhoon Morakot. Lekima's legacy influenced regional discussions on coastal urban planning in municipalities like Ningbo and Wenzhou, disaster risk reduction strategies adopted by provincial authorities in Zhejiang and Shandong, and improvements to early warning dissemination by agencies including the China Meteorological Administration and Japan Meteorological Agency. The event has been cited in analyses by research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Hong Kong on the role of sea-surface temperature anomalies and atmospheric steering patterns in extreme typhoon behavior.
Category:2019 Pacific typhoon season Category:Typhoons in China Category:2019 disasters in China