Typhoon Vamco

Vamco
Current storm status Tropical storm  (JMA)
Current storm status Category 1 typhoon (1-min mean)
Satellite image Forecast map
As of:	12:00 UTC, November 15
Location:	18.1°N 106.1°E / 18.1; 106.1 (Vamco) 145 nmi (270 km; 165 mi) NW of Da Nang, Vietnam
Sustained winds:	35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) (10-min mean) 70 knots (130 km/h; 80 mph) (1-min mean) gusting to 50 knots (95 km/h; 60 mph)
Pressure:	1,006 hPa (29.71 inHg)
Movement:	WNW at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
See more detailed information.

Typhoon Vamco, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ulysses, is currently a weakening Category 1-equivalent typhoon that recently caused the worst flooding in Metro Manila since Typhoon Ketsana in 2009. The twenty-second named storm and tenth typhoon of the 2020 Pacific typhoon season, Vamco originated as a tropical depression northwest of Palau, where it slowly continued its northwest track until it made landfall in Quezon. The typhoon is now currently threatening South China and Vietnam.

Vamco made its first landfall in the Philippines near midnight in the Quezon province. The typhoon brought heavy rains in Central Luzon, and the nearby provinces, including Metro Manila, the national capital. Heavy rains caused by the typhoon overflowed rivers, causing severe flooding in Marikina. As the typhoon crossed the country, dams from all around Luzon neared their spilling points, forcing the dams to release large amounts of water into their impounds. As the Magat Dam approached its spilling point, all seven of its gates were opened to prevent dam failure, which overflowed the Cagayan River and caused widespread floods in Cagayan and Isabela. Days after the typhoon had passed the Philippines, rescue operations in the Cagayan Valley were still ongoing due to the unexpected extent of the flooding.

As of November 14, 2020, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the Philippines reported 67 validated deaths, with another 12 missing, caused by the typhoon. However, other government agencies are reporting a death toll as high as 43, with at least 20 missing.

Meteorological history

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

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On November 8, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began tracking a new tropical depression 132 nautical miles (245 km; 150 mi) north-northwest of Palau. At 12:00 UTC on the same day, the PAGASA declared the system as a tropical depression inside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and named it Ulysses. The next day at 7:15 UTC, the system strengthened into a tropical storm, earning the name Vamco by the JMA, with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center later issuing their first warning on the system as a tropical depression. As the system tracked closer to southern Luzon, both the PAGASA and the JMA upgraded Vamco into a severe tropical storm. Vamco was then upgraded to typhoon status by the JMA on November 11, followed by the JTWC and the PAGASA shortly after. At 22:30 PHT (14:30 UTC), Vamco made its first landfall on the island town of Patnanungan, Quezon. Then, surrounded by favorable conditions for an intensification, Vamco continued to gain strength and reached its initial peak of intensity, with 10-min sustained winds at 130 km/h (81 mph), 1-minute sustained winds of 176 km/h (109 mph) and pressure of 970 mbar, supporting Vamco as a high-end category 2 equivalent typhoon. At 23:20 PHT (15:20 UTC) and at 1:40 PHT of the following day (17:40 UTC), Vamco made its next two Quezon landfalls over Burdeos (in Polillo Island) and General Nakar (in the Luzon landmass), respectively. Later, Vamco dropped below typhoon intensity inland. At 00:00 UTC, Vamco emerged over the South China Sea. The system left the PAR at 01:30 UTC as the PAGASA redeclared the system as a typhoon. Vamco gradually intensified in the South China Sea, before rapidly intensifying into a Category 4-equivalent typhoon on November 13.

Current storm information

As of 12:00 UTC November 15, Tropical Storm Vamco is located near 18.1°N 106.1°E / 18.1; 106.1 (Vamco), also about 145 nautical miles (270 km; 165 mi) northwest of Da Nang, Vietnam. Maximum 10-minute sustained winds are at 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph), while maximum 1-minute sustained winds are at 70 knots (130 km/h; 80 mph), with gusts up to 50 knots (95 km/h; 60 mph). The minimum central barometric pressure is 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg), and the system is moving west-northwestward at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9 mph).

For the latest official information see:

• JMA's Tropical Cyclone Information on Tropical Storm 2022 (Vamco)
• JTWC's Tropical Cyclone Warning Text for Typhoon 25W (Vamco)

Preparations

Philippines

As Vamco initially formed inside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) immediately began issuing severe weather bulletins in preparation for the typhoon. The Philippines had recently been hit with three other tropical cyclones — Typhoon Molave (Quinta), Typhoon Goni (Rolly), and Tropical Storm Etau (Tonyo) — making this the fourth tropical cyclone to approach Luzon in the past month. After Goni damaged the PAGASA's weather monitoring station in Catanduanes, one of the only three stations in the country, typhoon tracking was done manually. The PAGASA first raised tropical cyclone wind signals as early as November 9. By 23:00 UTC on November 10, the PAGASA had raised a Signal #2 wind signal for 17 provinces, parts of 6 provinces, 2 islands, and the national capital region, Metro Manila. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), also began sending out emergency alerts to mobile phone users about possible storm surges. The NDRRMC later used this same system to alert citizens in areas under Signal #3.

Residents in the Pollilo Islands and in Central Luzon were forced to evacuate a day before the storm's landfall. 14,000 residents were also to be evacuated in Camarines Norte. Bicol Region, one of the regions worst hit by Goni last month, evacuated 12,812 individuals ahead of the incoming storm. Over 2,071 passengers were stranded in ports in multiple regions of Luzon as sea conditions worsened. Philippine Airlines suspended flights due to the inclement weather brought by Vamco. The Office of the President of the Philippines suspended work in government offices and online classes in public schools in 7 regions, including the National Capital Region. 12 hours before the typhoon's landfall, the PAGASA raised Signal #3 warnings for areas to be hit by the typhoon on landfall including the entirety of Central Luzon. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology then issued lahar warnings for the Mayon Volcano, the Taal Volcano, and Mount Pinatubo hours prior to the typhoon's landfall.

Prior to the typhoon's landfall, at least 231,300 individuals were evacuated by local government units.

Vietnam

On November 14, at least 460,000 people were ordered to evacuate by the government. On the morning of that same day, all flights in 5 airports, included Da Nang, Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Dong Hoi and Vinh were ordered to be suspended or delayed.

Impact

Philippines

Typhoon Vamco nearing landfall on the Philippines on November 11, 2020.

Even before the typhoon's landfall, Catanduanes had already experienced heavy rains, causing floods and rockslides in the province. Flood waters were reported to reach the roofs of some houses in Bagamanoc.

Several areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, reported that they experienced power outages prior to the typhoon making landfall.

Emergency hotlines in some locations became unavailable because most emergency numbers provided by national agencies and local governments were landline phone numbers, which were difficult to call from mobile phones, and became totally inaccessible once telephone lines in the localities were brought down by the storm. PAGASA's own phone lines went down due to technical problems on the morning of November 12, going back up a few hours later. Broadcast news coverage had been significantly reduced compared to typhoons in previous years as a result of the shutdown of the ABS-CBN broadcast network, which had local news bureaus and strong signal reach in provinces far from Manila. The shutdown caused an information gap among areas which could only receive the network's signals. Social media filled in some of the information gap, with some residents and even local governments treating it as a de facto emergency hotline.

In the early hours of November 12, local government officials began reporting that their local rescue capabilities were already overwhelmed, and that they needed help from the national government in the form of airlift support and help from the Philippine Coast Guard. After attending an online ASEAN summit that morning, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the nation via a pre-taped broadcast on state-owned television network People's Television Network (PTV), saying that he wanted to visit the storm-hit constituencies, but that he was constrained by his security personnel and doctor from doing so because of the risk to his safety and health. Actor Jericho Rosales and digital creative Kim Jones resorted to using their surfboards to rescue stranded citizens in Marikina.

The Philippine Stock Exchange was closed on November 12 due to the typhoon.

As of 08:00 PHT on November 15, 2020, the NDRRMC reported 67 deaths caused by the typhoon, along with ₱470 million (US$9.76 million) worth of infrastructure damages and ₱1.19 billion (US$24.7 million) worth of agricultural damages. Over 107,000 individuals, including 41,000 from the National Capital Region, required rescuing as over 105 areas experienced heavy flooding. Over 1.1 million individuals were affected by the typhoon's onslaught.

Marikina City officials report an unofficial total of ₱44 billion (US$914 million) worth of damages, however this estimate is yet to be validated by the NDRRMC as assessments are still ongoing. The Department of Public Works and Highways, however, marked infrastructure damages as high as ₱4.2 billion (US$87 million).

Vietnam

Vamco began affecting central Vietnam during midnight (UTC+7) of November 15. Despite weakened, a weather station on Lý Sơn island reported hourly sustained winds of 100 km/h and a gust of 115 km/h. Strong winds knocked many trees, damaged many houses across four provinces of Hà Tĩnh to Thừa Thiên Huế. In Thuận An, Thừa Thiên Huế, strong waves lashed docking fishing ships into civilian houses. In the city of Da Nang, storm surges destroyed many sea embankments, washed rocks and debris further into land and streets. Power outages affected 411,252 customers in six central provinces. No fatality was reported caused by Vamco.

Aftermath

Philippines

Even after the typhoon had passed, widespread flooding from the typhoon's rains and from nearly overflowed dams wreaked havoc on the country days after its landfall.

River floods

The Marikina River surpassed the water levels reached by Typhoon Ketsana in 2009, which brought massive rainfall and caused severe flooding. By 11:00 PHT on November 12, the river's water level had risen to 22 metres (72 ft), submerging most parts of the city in flood waters, according to the Marikina Public Information Office. Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro declared the city under a state of calamity due the massive floods brought by the typhoon. Government scientists and advocacy sector conservationists warned that the flooding on the Marikina River was a consequence of the severe deforestation of the Upper Marikina Watershed in Rizal province, where illegal logging, illegal quarrying, and landgrabbing continued to be a problem.

In Pampanga, 86 villages experienced flooding due to the swelling of the Pampanga River.

Dam overflow

Dams in the affected areas, including La Mesa Dam, Angat Dam, Binga Dam, Magat Dam, Ipo Dam, and Caliraya Dam, reached their maximum levels on November 12, forcing them to begin releasing water.

By November 13, a water level of 192.7 metres (632 ft), 0.3 meters below the dam's spilling point, forced the Magat Dam to continue releasing water. All seven gates of the dam were opened at 24 meters as the dam released over 5,037 cubic metres (1,331,000 US gal) of water into the Cagayan River as numerous riverside towns experienced massive flooding. Local governments continuously conducted rescue operations in their areas but had run out of equipment and manpower to rescue. Because there was very little media coverage of the flooding in the area, residents resorted to social media to request the national government for rescue. Waters under the Buntun Bridge went up as high as 13 meters, flooding the nearby barangays up to the roofs of houses. Rescue efforts continued into the early hours of November 14, but low visibility made aerial rescue efforts impossible until daylight. The local government of Cagayan has also declared a state of calamity in the whole province.

Retirement

During the season, PAGASA announced that the name Ulysses will be removed from their naming lists after this typhoon caused more than ₱1.66 billion (US$24.7 million) worth of damages on its onslaught in the country. A replacement name will be chosen in 2021.

See also

• Other tropical cyclones named Vamco
• Other tropical cyclones named Ulysses
• Tropical cyclones in 2020
• Typhoon Patsy (1970) – notable late-season typhoon that took a similar track in November 1970
• Typhoon Xangsane (2006) – devastated Metro Manila and also had a similar wind strength to Vamco
• Typhoon Conson (2010) – a deadly Category 1 typhoon that took a similar track
• Typhoon Nari (2013) – a powerful typhoon which struck Central Luzon area and also had a similar destructive wind strength
• Tropical Storm Fung-wong (2014) – similar situation to Ketsana and Vamco

External links

• 25W.VAMCO from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory