Typhoon Lingling (2019)

Typhoon Lingling, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Liwayway, was a powerful tropical cyclone that impacted several countries in East Asia in late August and early September 2019. Lingling formed as a tropical depression east of the Philippines on August 30, 2019, and quickly intensified into a tropical storm, receiving the name Lingling.

The storm tracked northwestward, strengthening into a typhoon as it moved over warm waters and favorable atmospheric conditions. Lingling intensified significantly, becoming a very powerful typhoon with peak sustained winds of approximately 195 km/h (120 mph), making it a Category 3 equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Lingling passed east of Taiwan, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the island. The typhoon then moved northward, impacting the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, causing power outages and infrastructure damage.

The most significant impacts of Typhoon Lingling were felt in the Korean Peninsula. The storm brushed the west coast of South Korea, bringing torrential rainfall and strong winds to the region. The strong winds downed power lines, resulting in widespread blackouts affecting hundreds of thousands of homes. The heavy rainfall led to flooding and landslides in some areas. North Korea also experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds from Lingling, causing damage to crops and infrastructure.

After impacting the Korean Peninsula, Lingling continued northward and weakened as it moved over cooler waters. The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the Sea of Japan before dissipating completely.

Typhoon Lingling caused significant economic losses and disruption across the affected regions. Damage was primarily attributed to wind damage to structures, flooding, and agricultural losses. There were reports of injuries and, unfortunately, some fatalities as a result of the storm. The typhoon prompted widespread evacuations and travel disruptions.