Super Typhoon Goni as seen by the light of the Halloween full moon on October 31, 2020, by the VIIRS instrument. The lights of Manila are visible at left. (Image credit: NASA Worldview)
I have been studying Iceland, which does not really have terrible damage from cyclonic events, so I chose to write about Super Typhoon Goni, which hit Philippines in November of 2020 and caused catastrophic damage in the region of Catanduanes Island. The reason that I chose to write about it is that I remember hearing about it vividly because my dear friend who is from Philippines was so worried about family there and we were already so concerned about COVID-19. Goni, known as Rolly in Philippines, was the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone in world history at the time. It had sustained winds of 195mph and central pressure of 884mb.
Infrared satellite image of Super Typhoon Goni at 4:50 p.m. EDT October 31, when it was making landfall on Catanduanes Island in the Philippines with sustained winds of 195 mph and a central pressure of 884 mb. (Image credit: RAMMB/CIRA/Colorado State University)
Radar image of Super Typhoon Goni making landfall near Bato, on Catanduanes Island, in the Philippines, at 20:50 UTC October 31. (Image credit: PAGASA)
The damage caused by Goni/Rolly was extensive. As stated in a Yale Climate Connections article “The wind damage from a 195-mph hurricane would be akin to that from a high-end EF3 tornado with 165 mph winds.”
Damage was caused by storm surge, torrential rains, landslides, and flooding. Lahars, buried 300 homes, killed at least three people and caused another three to go missing.
Fortunately this massive storm’s eyewall collapsed shortly after landfall and spared the city of Manila, which has a population of more than 13 million. Had it not, the devastation would have been unimaginable.
Mitigation efforts included warnings to stay away from the coast or beach, low lying areas, and cancel any maritime activities. In addition it was suggested to stay up to date on the status of the storm.
Storm surge forecast for Goni issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, October 31, 2020.
In addition another mitigation measure would be to avoid building near the coast or beach, or to raise any building so that it would not be destroyed by storm surge.
Sources:
Yale Climate Connections:
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/
Center for Disaster: Super Typhoon Goni
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