Typhoon Kim (1977)
Typhoon Kim on November 13, approaching Luzon | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 6, 1977 |
| Dissipated | November 17, 1977 |
| Violent typhoon | |
| 10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
| Highest winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 920 hPa (mbar); 27.17 inHg |
| Category 4-equivalent typhoon | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 916 hPa (mbar); 27.05 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 102 |
| Injuries | 115 |
| Missing | Unknown |
| Damage | >$2.04 million (1977 USD) |
| Areas affected | Philippines, Guam |
Part of the 1977 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Kim, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Unding, was a powerful typhoon that struck the Philippines and Guam in November 1977, causing over 100 fatalities and widespread damage. It was the fiftieth depression, eighteenth tropical storm, ninth typhoon, and third violent typhoon of the 1977 Pacific typhoon season.
The storm began as an area of low pressure, which originated from a near-equatorial surface trough. The trough consolidated on November 2, becoming a disturbance which strengthened to be named Kim. The storm slowly intensified due to the subtropical ridge, which later weakened and allowed Kim to strengthen quicker. It made landfall in Guam as a tropical storm on November 8, then quickly became a strong typhoon. It reached a peak of 145 mph on November 10. Kim would make landfall in Luzon, Philippines on November 13 as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon. After landfall, it rapidly deteriorated and turned to the northeast. It dissipated on November 17 southeast of the Ryukyu Islands.
Kim claimed the lives of 102 people as it passed over Luzon as a strong typhoon, mostly due to flooding. A similar number of people were injured. A little over $2 million USD in damages were reported from Kim.