 Ewiniar near peak intensity just east ofLuzon late on May 26 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 23, 2024 |
| Extratropical | May 30, 2024 |
| Dissipated | June 6, 2024 |
| Typhoon | |
| 10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
| Highest winds | 140 km/h (85 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 970hPa (mbar); 28.64 inHg |
| Category 2-equivalent typhoon | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 961hPa (mbar); 28.38 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 6 |
| Injuries | 8 |
| Damage | $17.7 million (2024USD) |
| Areas affected | Philippines,Japan,Alaska |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the2024 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Ewiniar, known in the Philippines asTyphoon Aghon, was a fairly strongtropical cyclone that impacted parts of thePhilippines, particularlyLuzon, in late May 2024. The firstnamed storm and typhoon of theannual typhoon season, Ewiniaremerged from an area ofatmospheric convection 441 km (274 mi) southeast ofPalau. TheJapan Meteorological Agency (JMA) labeled the system as alow-pressure area on May 21. It intensified on May 23 and became a tropical depression, giving it the nameAghon by thePhilippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration after entering thePhilippine Area of Responsibility, marking it as the fifth-latest start of a Pacific typhoon season since reliable records began; the depression intensified into a tropical storm, assigning it the name Ewiniar. The cyclone made nine landfalls in the Philippines. Afterward, it began to move over the warm tropical waters ofLamon Bay, where theJoint Typhoon Warning Center and the JMA upgraded Ewiniar into a minimal typhoon. Beginning to weaken for the final time on May 30, the storm passed directly over the island ofMinamidaitōjima and began an extratropical transition. It was last noted by the JMA early on June 2, near theInternational Date Line, and absorbed into another extratropical cyclone just south ofPrince William Sound on June 6.
Strong winds and flooding caused power outages and transportation disruptions, with rough seas stranding over 7,175 people in various ports, and more than 152,266 people were directly impacted. In Japan, heavy rainfall was observed in several regions, with a maximum of 52.5 mm (2.07 in) of rain being recorded inMiyake, Tokyo. Agricultural damage in the Philippines totaled₱85.6 million (US$1.47 million). Damage to infrastructure was valued at ₱943 million (US$16.2 million). In all, the typhoon killed at least six people and left eight injured, resulting in over ₱1 billion (US$17.7 million) in damages.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionTyphoon Ewiniaremerged from an area ofatmospheric convection 441 km (274 mi) southeast ofPalau. The disturbance was moving northwestward towards an environment favorable for tropical cyclogenesis, characterized bysea surface temperatures of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F), lowvertical wind shear, and moderate to strongoutflow aloft associated with an uppertropospherictrough west of the system.[1] On May 22, theJapan Meteorological Agency (JMA)[nb 1] labeled the system as alow-pressure area.[2] TheJoint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 2] subsequently issued aTropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) as the disturbance developedrainbands wrapping from the southwest, with deep convection obscuring the system's consolidated circulation center.[4] At 18:00UTC on May 23, the JMA identified the system as a tropical depression,[5] and later that day, it entered thePhilippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).[6] However, later that day, the JTWC cancelled their TCFA, since the depression was still weak.[7] Early morning of May 24, thePhilippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration upgraded the system from a low-pressure area into a depression, assigning it with thenameAghon — aHiligaynon word for amariner'scompass and the replacement name forAmbo — marking it as the fifth-latest start of a Pacific typhoon season since reliable records began.[8][9][nb 3]
The JTWC then reissued a TCFA on the system while it was 233 km (145 mi) northeast ofDavao City, Philippines.[10] At 18:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to Tropical Depression 01W based on surface observations fromGuiuan.[11] Aghon made its firstlandfalls overHomonhon Island andGiporlos inEastern Samar in the early morning of May 25 (PHT).[12] At 12:00 UTC, the JTWC reported that the tropical depression had intensified into a tropical storm while it was still inTayabas Bay.[13] In the evening, it made five more landfalls overBasiao and Cagduyong Islands ofCatbalogan, Samar;Batuan inTicao Island;Masbate City; andTorrijos, Marinduque.[14] The JMA then classified the system as a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC, assigning it the nameEwiniar.[15] In the morning of May 26 (PHT), the storm made its 8th landfall overLucena, Quezon inLuzon island;[16] nonetheless, the system developed a smalldense overcast holding a ragged, formativeeye.[17] The JTWC then reported that Ewiniar hadrapidly intensified into a typhoon due to strong equatorward and poleward outflow.[18] In the evening, the storm made its ninth landfall overPatnanungan in thePolillo Islands;[19] however, the outermost deep convective was diminishing because of the topographical effects from Luzon island, and the further development of a poleward outflow channel.[20] Ewiniar then turned northwestward along the northwestern edge of a mid-levelsubtropical high.[21]
Soon after, the JMA upgraded Ewiniar to a severe tropical storm at 06:00 UTC on May 26 as itsmaximum sustained winds increased to100 km/h (65 mph).[6] By 18:00 UTC that same day, Ewiniar had intensified into a typhoon, marking it as the first typhoon of the2024 Pacific typhoon season;[22][23] although its structure consolidated, the system's pinhole eye became obscured bycirrus clouds.[24] At 06:00 UTC, the JTWC estimated maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a Category 2-equivalent intensity on theSaffir-Simpson scale, though it was slightly weakening as a result of moderate wind shear.[25] Infrared satellite imagery showed a partially-exposed circulation center with deep convection over the southern portion of the storm;[26] however, Ewiniar maintained its convective symmetric structure as it accelerated northeastward.[27] On May 27, the JMA recorded maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a minimumbarometric pressure of 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) as the system's peak intensity.[6] The storm then deteriorated fromsubsidence from a mid-latitude trough aloft as evidence by the structure's erosion and warmingcloud tops.[28] The center was still well-defined, as its outflow was enhanced by a longwave trough, though wind shear was moderate.[29]
At 12:00 PHT (04:00 UTC) on May 29, the typhoon left the PAR.[30] Shortly afterwards, it passed directly over the island ofMinamidaitōjima.[31] At 18:00 UTC, Ewiniar had weakened into a severe tropical storm.[6] Environmental conditions became more unfavorable as sea surface temperatures decrease and vertical shear increases, as dry air invaded the system from the lower troposphere.[32]Stratocumulus cloud lines went towards the elongated central convection due to this while the storm accelerated along the subtropical ridge to its northeast, weakening into a tropical storm as according to the JTWC.[33] On May 30, the JTWC reported that Ewiniar had begunlosing its tropical characteristics while 719 km (447 mi) east-northeast ofKadena Air Base inOkinawa, Japan.[34] Moreover, the JMA downgraded Ewiniar to a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC.[35] The storm then developed acold front to its southwest as deep convection detached from the fully-exposed and asymmetrical center, briefly becoming asubtropical cyclone.[36] By 18:00 UTC on that day, the JMA reported that Ewiniar had transitioned into an extratropical low.[37] The JTWC then ceased issuing advisories on the system the next day as it entered thebaroclinic zone and an area of high wind shear.[38] The extratropical remnants of Ewiniar were last noted by the JMA on June 2 near theInternational Dateline;[6] however, theOcean Prediction Center indicated that these extratropical remnants crossed the International Dateline and entered the Central North Pacific Ocean late on June 3.[39][40] On June 6, Ewiniar's remnant was absorbed into another extratropical cyclone, just south ofPrince William Sound.[41]
Upon the system's designation as a tropical depression, thePhilippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration issuedTropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 fromSorsogon, part ofAlbay,Catanduanes, part ofCamarines Sur,Samar,Northern Samar, part ofLeyte, the entire province ofSurigao del Norte, andSurigao del Sur.[42] Ewiniar also raised Signal No. 1 alerts from the eastern portions ofBulacan,Nueva Ecija,Quezon,Laguna,Rizal, andRomblon, and the entirety ofAurora,Marinduque,Camarines Norte,Masbate,Eastern Samar,Southern Leyte,Bohol,Dinagat Islands,Agusan del Sur, andAgusan del Norte.[43] Flights arriving and departing were cancelled because of the adverse weather conditions, with eleven domestic flights and one international flight.[44] TheNational Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 65 people were preemptively evacuated.[44]
After Ewiniar reached the severe tropical storm category on the afternoon of May 26, the agency raised Signal No. 3, indicating an expectation of winds of 89–117 km/h (55–73 mph) within the next 18 hours for the eastern section of Quezon, including thePolillo Islands, while storm signals were also raised inMetro Manila and parts ofBataan,Batangas,Pampanga andOriental Mindoro.[45] Moving northeastward and then intensified into a typhoon category, the agency raised Signal No. 1 in parts ofQuirino,Nueva Vizcaya,Isabela, and Camarines Norte.[46] Classes and government work in some parts of Metro Manila, Aurora, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas,Cavite, and Nueva Ecija were suspended due to the typhoon.[47] TheUniversity of the Philippines Los Baños also suspended classes due to the inclement weather brought by Ewiniar.[48]
The Japanese government issued a high alert as Ewiniar was likely to enhance a stationary front near the nation, which would cause heavy rainfall throughout Japan.[49] On May 27, the JMA stated that the typhoon would bring heavy rain to portions ofOkinawa Prefecture.[50][51] Weather warnings were also raised in theIzu Islands and theKantō region.[52]
Typhoon Ewiniar (known as "Aghon" in the Philippines) made multiple landfalls over the Philippine archipelago over the course of several days.[44] Following the passage of Ewiniar, it marked the beginning of the nation's rainy season on May 29, 2024.[53][54] Some flooding occurred inMisamis Oriental,[55]Eastern Visayas, andBicol on May 25, causing a tree inLegazpi, Albay to fall down and injure three people.[56] A tornado also spawned inLavezares, Northern Samar, destroying four houses and damaging eight others.[57] A passenger boat sank in stormy waters off the coast ofAroroy,Masbate, leading to the rescue of its 35 passengers and crew.[58] In Bicol, four people were injured, and almost 6,000 people were stranded in ports after sea travel was suspended,[56][59] while 600 others were also stranded in ports in Eastern Visayas. A power outage occurred in parts of Eastern Samar.[60] A falling tree destroyed two vehicles inTaytay, Rizal.[61] Flooding and power outages occurred in Quezon and Laguna Provinces, while a barge ran aground inMauban.[62][63] A landslide blocked a road inDinapigue, Isabela.[64] Rough sea conditions also damaged an oil container on board a ship inNew Washington, Aklan, causing anoil spill.[65] Around 7,175 were stranded in ports across the Philippines due to the storm.[66] As rains continued throughout the day, theAngat Dam reached its spilling level of 179.79 meters (589.9 ft), while theIpo Dam also reached its spilling level of 99.96 meters (328.0 ft).[67] A total of 7,659 homes were affected, including 752 which were destroyed.[44][68] Power outages were reported in 115 cities and municipalities.[44] At least 21,000 ha (52,000 acres) of farmland in Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas suffered damage.[69] Across the Philippines, roads were blocked in 57 places, and two bridge was rendered impassable by vehicles.[44] Nineteen houses were washed away by strong waves inTanza, Cavite.[70] One infant drowned after a house was swept away by floods inPadre Burgos, Quezon,[71] while two others were killed by falling trees inSan Antonio, Quezon and Lucena.[72] A minor was also killed by a falling tree inMisamis Oriental.[73]
After Ewiniar left the Philippines,Lucena, Quezon, was declared in astate of calamity.[74] along with the1st and2nd districts ofQuezon.[75][76] The NDRRMC reports that assistance and relief goods worth₱15.3 million (US$263,000) have been distributed to affected families. The assistance provided varies, both in type and agency responsible, with most of the relief provided being food packs from theDepartment of Social Welfare and Development.[44] The government also provided ₱1.2 million (US$20,600) and an allocation of ₱3 billion (US$51.6 million) worth of aid to the victims.[77][78] As of 6 June 2024[update], the NDRRMC estimated damages in the agricultural sector to be ₱85.6 million (US$1.47 million). The NDRRMC also reported damage to infrastructure estimated at ₱943 million (US$16.2 million), for a total of ₱1.03 billion (US$17.7 million) in damages. Overall, Typhoon Ewiniar killed six people and left eight injured, and around 152,266 others were affected by Ewiniar in the Philippines.[44]
Sustained winds of 20 km/h (12 mph) were recorded as the storm passed directly over the island ofMinamidaitōjima.[31] Intense winds occurred inKitadaitō, Okinawa. A maximum wind gust of 89 km/h (55 mph) was recorded.[79] Accumulated rainfall totaled 52.5 mm (2.07 in) in the village ofMiyake, Tokyo, and 36 mm (1.4 in) inChuo Ward.[80]
On February 20, 2025, PAGASA announced that the nameAghon was retired from the rotating naming lists after it caused over ₱1 billion pesos in damage throughout its onslaught despite its first usage and it will never be used again as a typhoon name within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It will be replaced withAmuyao — a Filipino local name for a mountain inMountain Province — for the 2028 season.[81]
At their 57th Session in February 2025, the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee announced that the nameEwiniar, along with eight others, would be retired from the naming lists for the Western Pacific.[82]
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Tropical cyclones of the2024 Pacific typhoon season | ||
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