An area of severe weather formed near Kwajalein Atoll on October 30, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began tracking it as a tropical depression on November 1.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center followed suit on November 5 after finding a closed circulation, and the depression received the name Emma.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds were reported on the islands, flooding the city of Naha and blocking access off to it due to landslides.

On October 30, 1959, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began tracking an area of severe weather south of Kwajalein Atoll.

[1] Both the JMA and the JTWC upgraded Emma to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC on November 6, with sustained winds of 85 km/h; 50 mph (45 kn) and a surface pressure of 990 hectopascals (29.2 inHg).

The JTWC ceased tracking the cyclone at 00:00 UTC on November 15,[6] and the JMA stopped 12 hours later,[2] where it was located west of Midway Atoll.

[8] As Emma passed through Guam as a tropical depression on November 6, a pressure of 995 hectopascals (29.4 inHg) and sustained winds of 56 km/h; 35 mph (30 kn) were recorded.

[9] In the Philippines, typhoon signal #3 was issued for northern Luzon,[10] and the storm delayed President Carlos P. Garcia's departure from Tagbilaran via ship late on November 12.

Nikkai Maru, a tanker carrying timber from the Philippines, was sunk by the storm on November 12, 800 kilometers (500 mi) east of Formosa.

[14] Due to concerns after the landslides caused by Typhoon Charlotte one month earlier,[17] 2,400 residents were evacuated from dangerous areas.

[17] The storm caused severe flooding in downtown Naha, with low-lying areas submerged under 2.4 meters (8 ft) of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground.

[18] One fisherman previously listed as missing and presumed dead on November 13, Kentoku Kayoda, was found washed ashore after ten days at sea.

He survived on rainwater and raw fish, and when he returned home he was able to join a meal of rice cakes which his wife had prepared for his funeral.

[14] Repairs for roads, culverts, and drainage ditches began in February 1960, using $100,000 (equivalent to $1,029,921 in 2023) of funding requested after the storm hit Okinawa.