Typhoon Bebinca (2024)

This article is about the 2024 typhoon. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Bebinca and List of storms named Ferdie.

Typhoon Bebinca (Ferdie)

Bebinca on September 12
Meteorological history
Formed	September 9, 2024
Typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds	140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure	965 hPa (mbar); 28.50 inHg
Category 1-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure	973 hPa (mbar); 28.73 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	6+
Injuries	11+
Missing	2+
Damage	$4,061 (2024 USD)
Areas affected	Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Philippines, Ryukyu Islands
Part of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Bebinca, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ferdie, is a tropical cyclone which affected multiple islands in the Pacific Ocean in early September 2024. The thirteenth named storm and sixth typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Bebinca formed from atmospheric convection 385 km (239 mi) east-northeast of Kosrae, was upgraded to a tropical storm by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on September 10, and was named Bebinca, before turning west-northwest due to interaction with an upper vortex; by September 13, as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration renamed it Ferdie, and it eventually moved across the Ryukyu Islands, where both the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the JMA upgraded it to a minimal typhoon.

Although Bebinca did not make landfall in the Philippines, its associated trough and the southwest monsoon caused heavy rains across many regions, resulting in nearly 97 homes being damaged or destroyed, displacing more than 36,626 people, and causing infrastructure damage valued at ₱200,000 (US$4,060.91). At least six fatalities and two missing persons have been reported in the Philippines, along with eleven injuries. The storm has significantly impacted Guam, prompting the issuance of storm warnings. Power outages affected 7,240 households in Amami, and high winds were recorded at Kadena Air Base and parts of Okinawa Prefecture.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Typhoon Bebinca emerged from an area of atmospheric convection 385 km (239 mi) east-northeast of Kosrae on September 5. The system, characterized by a disorganized wave in the easterlies, featured intense deep convection over a large area, supported by favorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis, such as warm sea surface temperatures of 28–29 °C (82–84 °F), low vertical wind shear and excellent poleward outflow. At 02:30 UTC on September 9, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, noting that the system had become well-defined with formative banding in the eastern quadrants. A few hours later, both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the JTWC followed suit and upgraded the tropical depression, with the latter designating the system as 14W. On September 10, the depression intensified into a tropical storm and was named Bebinca by the JMA, as it consolidated with a central dense overcast (CDO) feature obscuring its circulation center while tracking near Guam, and subsequently turned west-northwestward due to interaction with an upper vortex.

Guam radar imagery showed a well-defined surface circulation, with curved convective bands extending southward from the circulation center and wrapping around the northern part of the system into its western periphery. Around 00:00 UTC on September 11, the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm, citing Dvorak technique—a method of determining a tropical cyclone's intensity based on satellite appearance. On September 13, the JMA reported that the storm had weakened to a tropical storm due to its near-surface circulation being fully exposed and its banding being fragmented along the northern edge, with a broad tail of deep monsoonal flow and a tropical upper tropospheric trough cell to the west continuing to infuse dry air into the storm's mid-level core. By 06:00 PHT (10:00 UTC), Bebinca had entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was subsequently named Ferdie by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), but just a few hours later, it exited the PAR. Bebinca then shifted northwestward along the northern edge of a deep subtropical high, and the JMA reported that the storm had regained severe tropical storm status. Satellite imagery revealed a compact, circular system featuring enhanced radial outflow and flaring convection in the northwest quadrant, prompting both the JMA and the JTWC to upgrade it to a minimal typhoon the next day as it moved across the Ryukyu Islands, maintaining a symmetrical and impressive CDO over the past six hours.

Preparations and impact

Philippines

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) stated that the southwest monsoon, locally called Habagat, will happen when the storm enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and will continue after the storm exits the PAR. Bebinca is also predicted to bring heavy rains across the northern portion of the Philippines. Thunderstorms are also expected in the rest of Luzon and Metro Manila. PAGASA also predicts that the storm will intensify into a typhoon, brining flash floods into the country. PAGASA stated that the storm will bring 1.5–3.5 metres (1.6–3.8 yards) high flash floods to Palawan, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the Davao Region. Small waterborne vehicles, like Motor bancas were advised to take precautionary measures because of the storm. The province of Antique evacuated 545 families because of the storm, also suspending classes, in all levels in the province. The province provided food packs for the evacuees.

The heavy rains brought by the storm-associated trough and southwest monsoon have damaged or destroyed nearly 97 homes in the Philippines, displacing over 36,626 people and causing infrastructure damage estimated at ₱200,000 (US$4,060.91). In total, 203,197 people have been affected, with at least six fatalities, two missing persons, and eleven injuries reported. Additionally, power outages occurred in 18 cities and municipalities, while 40 roads were blocked and six bridges were rendered impassable. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 1,381 individuals were preemptively evacuated, while classes were suspended in 244 areas, including nine municipalities that also ceased work operations.

China and Japan

The storm was forecast to bring heavy rains to Japan. The storm was also forecast to pass through Okinawa. Power outages affected 7,240 households in Amami. High winds were recorded at the Kadena Air Base and parts of Okinawa Prefecture. A rebook policy was made by Delta Air Lines, which suspended all flights coming from Shanghai from September 14 to 16. Trains were cancelled in Shanghai. By September 14, the Zhejiang government declared increased alertness, dispatched humanitarian employees, and ordered the relocation of anchored boats, construction netting and tourists.

Elsewhere

When the storm passed the Pacific Ocean, Guam was affected, leading to storm warning all across the country. After the storm passed the country, Guam hoisted Readiness Three, a small warning which allows people to go to work, not affecting businesses and the national government. As a way of preparation, weather researchers used AI to predict the storm path. The program was also used for Typhoon Gaemi, successfully working a week before the hit. The storm was predicted to bring heavy rains to Taiwan, with possible thunderstorms occurring.

See also

• Weather of 2024
• Tropical cyclones in 2024

External links

• 14W.BEBINCA from the United States Naval Research Laboratory
• General Information of Typhoon Bebinca (2413) from Digital Typhoon