Typhoon Chan-hom (2009)

Typhoon Chan-hom (Emong)

Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 2 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Severe Tropical Storm Chan-hom approaching the Philippines on May 6
Formed	May 2, 2009
Dissipated	May 13, 2009
(Extratropical after May 9)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph) 1-minute sustained: 155 km/h (100 mph)
Lowest pressure	975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg
Fatalities	55 direct, 5 indirect, 13 missing
Damage	At least $26.1 million (2009 USD)
Areas affected	Vietnam, Philippines
Part of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Chan-hom, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Emong, is the sixth tropical depression and the second tropical storm to develop during the 2009 Pacific typhoon season. Chan-hom developed out of an area of convectional cloudiness associated with an area of disturbed weather which originated from the remnants of Tropical Depression Crising and formed southeast of Nha Trang, Vietnam on May 2. Moving towards the northeast, it slowly organized according to JTWC who issued a TCFA, and JMA classified Chan-hom as a minor tropical depression later that day. The next day, both JTWC and JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and named it Chan-hom. On May 6, the storm intensified into a Category 1 typhoon, and on May 7, Chan-hom intensified into a Category 2 typhoon equivalent. However, Chan-hom weakened into a severe tropical storm after passing northern Luzon. On May 14, Chan-hom regenerated into a Tropical Depression, and dissipated late on May 15. Laos submitted the name, which means a kind of tree.

Typhoon Chan-hom was first identified as a disorganized area of low pressure on May 2, 2009 situated roughly 305 km (190 mi) southeast of Nha Trang, Vietnam in the South China Sea. Deep convection was mainly confined to the northern portion of the system; however, a band of cloud cover had begun to wrap around the center of circulation during the afternoon. Later that day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began monitoring the developing low as a tropical depression. Hours later, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system as convection consolidated around the center of circulation. Further development was anticipated as the storm slowly moved through an area of warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, conditions favoring tropical cyclone formation. Early on May 3, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Depression 02W. Following the formation of a central dense overcast, both the JTWC and JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm, at which time it received the name Chan-hom. Situated to the north of a weak subtropical ridge, little movement was expected over the next two days.