The Strongest Typhoon Ever 'Hinnamnor', Surpassing Maemi and Rusa?

Central Pressure at Busan Landfall 950hPa, Stronger than Maemi and Sarah
Maximum Instantaneous Wind Speed of 40-60m/s Expected in Jeju and Southern Coast
Maemi Reached Daily Maximum Wind Speed of 51m/s, Chaba 49m/s

Satellite image and forecast track of Typhoon Hinnamnor as of 9 a.m. on the 5th (Source: Korea Meteorological Administration)

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Typhoon No. 11 ‘Hinnamnor’ possesses a strength comparable to typhoons such as ‘Maemi’ and ‘Rusa,’ which caused significant casualties and property damage in South Korea 20 years ago.

Considering the central pressure and trajectory of Typhoon ‘Hinnamnor,’ it is expected to be the strongest typhoon to make direct landfall on the Korean Peninsula. As of 6 a.m. on the 5th, ‘Hinnamnor’ maintains a central pressure of 935 hPa while moving northward, skimming past the coast of Seogwipo and making landfall approximately 90 km southwest of Busan on the 6th. It is then expected to pass over land in Busan and move out to the waters near Ulleungdo.

The central pressure of Hinnamnor at the time of landfall in Busan on the morning of the 6th is forecasted to be 950 hPa. As it moves from the waters near Seogwipo to Busan, the typhoon’s strength is expected to somewhat weaken to ‘Strong’ due to encountering mountainous terrain and heavy rainfall. ‘Very Strong’ refers to maximum wind speeds of 44 m/s or more but less than 54 m/s, while ‘Strong’ refers to maximum wind speeds of 33 m/s or more but less than 43 m/s.

Regarding phenomena by wind strength, starting at 17 m/s, it becomes difficult for people to walk due to the wind; at 25 m/s, roofs of buildings may be blown off or trees uprooted. At wind speeds of 34 m/s or higher, trains may derail, and at 44 m/s or higher, people or large rocks can be blown away by the wind. Wind speeds of 54 m/s or more can cause buildings to collapse.

The central pressure of Hinnamnor at the time of landfall in Busan (950 hPa) is stronger than that of typhoons ‘Sarah’ and ‘Maemi.’ The central pressure of Typhoon ‘Sarah’ recorded in Busan on September 17, 1959, was 951.5 hPa, and Typhoon ‘Maemi’ recorded in Tongyeong on September 12, 2003, was 954.0 hPa. The lower the central pressure of a typhoon, the stronger the vortex, classifying it as a more powerful typhoon.

On the 4th, as Typhoon Hinnamnor, the 11th typhoon, is moving northward, high waves are rising at Haeundae Beach in Busan. (Photo by Yonhap News)

The maximum instantaneous wind speeds in Jeju Island, the southern coast of Jeollanam-do, and coastal areas of Gyeongsangnam-do, where the typhoon will be closest on the 5th and 6th, are expected to reach 40 to 60 m/s. On September 13, 2003, Typhoon ‘Maemi’ recorded a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 60 m/s in Gosan, while Typhoon ‘Rusa’ recorded 56.7 m/s. Typhoon ‘Chaba’ in 2016 also reached a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 56.5 m/s.

The typhoons that caused the greatest damage in South Korea over the past 20 years include ‘Rusa’ and ‘Maemi.’ Typhoon ‘Rusa’ in 2002 resulted in 209 deaths, 37 missing persons, 63,085 displaced people, and property damage amounting to 5.1479 trillion won. When Typhoon ‘Maemi’ occurred in 2003, 119 people died, 12 went missing, and 61,844 were displaced. Property damage reached 4.2225 trillion won.

Although the size of a typhoon does not directly correlate with the scale of damage, risks still remain. Compared to 20 years ago, flood control infrastructure, disaster prevention systems, and forecasting accuracy have greatly improved, but the Korea Meteorological Administration explains that it is not a situation to be complacent about.

Yoo Hee-dong, Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration, stated, “Human activities have increased, structures have become more complex, and consequently, risk factors have increased. Typhoon paths and intensities are showing aspects we have not experienced before. Considering all situations, we cannot say that the situation has improved for typhoons that may be stronger than Maemi.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.