1939 Pacific typhoon season

[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line.

It tracked steadily westward until February 7 when it stalled about 200 miles (320 km) east of the Philippine island of Mindanao.

The system produced heavy rainfall in the Philippines, with extensive flooding reported in Surigao del Norte.

Early on May 3, after intensifying into a tropical storm the system struck Samar Island, and the next day it hit Masbate before turning northward.

While the typhoon was off the southern coast of Japan, a ship located 290 miles (470 km) south of Nagoya reported a minimum central pressure of 986.0 hectopascals (29.12 inHg).

The typhoon weakened as it paralleled about 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Japan, and was last observed on May 9 accelerating northeastward.

After initially moving to the northwest, the depression later turned to the northeast and quickly intensified to attain typhoon status by May 28 while located to the east of Hainan Island.

It moved to the northwest, and the next day a station in Ōshima reported winds in excess of 65 mph (105 km/h) and a pressure of 978.0 hectopascals (28.88 inHg) when the storm was nearby.

Based on the report, it is estimated it intensified into a typhoon, and after turning northeastward upon entering the Yellow Sea it struck North Korea.

Rainfall and flooding from the typhoon and several other storms during the month resulted in two deaths and considerable damage to private and public property in the Philippines.

[5] On July 22, a low pressure area formed into a tropical depression while located about halfway between the Philippines and the Marianas Islands.

After a brief turn to the north-northeast, the storm changed its motion to the northwest, and made landfall on southeastern Taiwan and later on China on July 20 about 120 miles (190 km) south of Shanghai.

Unfavorable conditions encountered the storm, and it rapidly dissipated over the open waters of the East China Sea on July 27.

It turned to the west, crossing the Yellow Sea and striking the Chinese province of Shandong before dissipating on July 25.

A ship sailing between Hong Kong and Shanghai, China reported a pressure of 995.0 hectopascals (29.38 inHg) and winds of around 35 mph (56 km/h).

[5] An area of low pressure organized into a tropical depression on July 25 over the open waters of the western Pacific Ocean.

Under varying steering currents, the typhoon executed a counterclockwise loop over the country, and exited from the southern coastline after turning eastward.

It tracked to the northwest, and quickly intensified into a typhoon a few hours after developing while located about 250 miles (400 km) south of the Ogasawara Islands.

On September 19, the storm made landfall on Vietnam about 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Da Nang, and subsequently dissipated.

[7] An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical depression on September 18 about 250 miles (400 km) west of Guam.

The depression slowly intensified as it moved generally northwestward, and by September 21 it attained typhoon status while located about east of Aparri on Luzon.

It quickly strengthened to typhoon status, and made landfall on eastern Vietnam just south of Da Nang on September 30.

Under unfavorable conditions the typhoon steadily weakened over the subsequent days, and dissipated on October 12 over the southern portion of the Taiwan Strait.

A ship en route to Hong Kong on October 15 recorded a pressure of 968.0 hectopascals (28.59 inHg) and winds of over 75 mph (121 km/h) while located to the east of Taiwan.

Reports from the country indicate it was potentially a typhoon, though meteorologists decided it was not due to relatively high pressures and lack of significant convection to the southwest of the center.

After accelerating east-northeastward, the depression was last observed on November 13 as a remnant low pressure area over the open western Pacific Ocean.

The typhoon maintained peak winds for about two days before quickly weakening to a remnant area of low pressure on December 11.

[9] While crossing over the Philippines, a station in Capiz on Panay Island recorded a pressure of 981.0 hectopascals (28.97 inHg) as well as winds in excess of 55 mph (89 km/h).

The heaviest rainfall occurred in rainbands ahead of the typhoon, with about 1.6 inches (41 mm) falling during a 1-hour time period.