Typhoon Maemi

Typhoon Maemi (pronounced [mɛ.mi] or pronounced [ma.emiː]), known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Pogi, was the most powerful typhoon to strike South Korea since record-keeping began in the country in 1904. The fourteenth named storm, eighth typhoon and third super typhoon of the 2003 Pacific typhoon season, Maemi developed from a disturbance in a monsoon trough on September 4. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Maemi, named by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Moving northwestward, it became a typhoon on September 8. It briefly crossed into the warning territory of PAGASA, which gave it the local name Pogi. Favorable conditions facilitated more rapid strengthening; the storm developed a well-defined eye and reached peak maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) on September 10. While near peak intensity, Maemi decelerated and began turning to the north-northeast. Soon after, the eyewall passed over Miyako-jima, Japan with a minimum barometric pressure of 912 mbar (26.9 inHg), the fourth-lowest pressure recorded in the nation. Due to warm sea surface temperatures, Maemi was able to maintain much of its intensity before it made landfall just west of Busan, South Korea, on September 12. The typhoon underwent extratropical transition in the Sea of Japan the next day, although its remnants persisted for several days, lashing northern Japan with strong winds.

The typhoon first affected the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. On Miyako-jima, strong winds damaged 104 buildings and left 95% of residents without power. Maemi caused heavy rainfall there, bringing a total rainfall of 58.5 mm (2.30 in) in an hour and 402.5 mm (15.85 in) in 24 hours, with the latter setting a new record. One person died after being struck by airborne debris. Elsewhere in Japan, the storm caused flights to be canceled, and rainfall-induced landslides blocked roads. There were two other deaths in Japan, and damage totaled JP¥11.3 billion (US$96 million USD). Damage was heaviest in South Korea, particularly where it moved ashore. On Jeju Island, Maemi produced a wind gusts that peaked at 216 km/h (134 mph) and a minimum pressure of 950 mbar (28 inHg), both breaking records for the country; the pressure reading broke the longstanding lowest pressure set by Typhoon Sarah in 1959. Winds in Busan near where the typhoon made landfall reached 154 km/h (96 mph), the second-highest on record. The port sustained heavy damage, restricting exports in the months following the storm. Nationwide, high winds destroyed approximately 5,000 houses, damaged 13,000 homes and businesses, leaving 25,000 people homeless. About 1.47 million households lost power, and widespread crop damage occurred, resulting in the poorest rice harvest in 23 years. Across South Korea, Maemi was responsible for 117 deaths. Overall damage in the country totaled ₩5.52 trillion (US$4.8 billion).