 Krathon at peak intensity while entering the South China Sea on October 1 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 26, 2024 |
| Dissipated | October 4, 2024 |
| Violent typhoon | |
| 10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
| Highest winds | 195 km/h (120 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg |
| Category 4-equivalent super typhoon | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 240 km/h (150 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 927 hPa (mbar); 27.37 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 18 |
| Injuries | 731 |
| Missing | 1 |
| Damage | >$48.1 million (2024 USD) |
| Areas affected | Philippines, Taiwan |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Krathon, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Julian, was a powerful and erratic tropical cyclone which impacted Taiwan and the Philippines in late September and early October 2024. Krathon, which refers to the santol fruit, was the first storm to make landfall on Taiwan's densely populated western plains since Typhoon Thelma in 1977. It was also the first storm to hit Kaohsiung in October and the first since Tropical Storm Trami in 2001 to weaken into a tropical depression over Taiwan. Additionally, it was the wettest tropical cyclone in Basco, Batanes, bringing more than two months' worth of rainfall for September and surpassing the previous record set by Typhoon Ruth in 1991.
The eighteenth named storm and the second super typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Krathon developed into a tropical depression near Kadena Air Base, Japan, on September 26, and was classified as a tropical storm by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on September 28 as it moved southwestward along the southeastern periphery. Krathon reached minimal typhoon status on September 29 after developing a broad, ragged eye. The typhoon moved north-northwestward between two subtropical highs before shifting west-northwestward and passing near Sabtang, Batanes. Early on October 1, the JMA reported that the storm had reached its peak intensity, with ten-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) and a central pressure of 915 hPa (27.02 inHg). It subsequently peaked as a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with one-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). As Krathon moved into the northern South China Sea, an eyewall replacement cycle began, which was evident in radar imagery, with the secondary eyewall nearly encircling the inner eye. Once the eyewall replacement cycle was complete, Krathon began warming cloud tops and displayed a weakened cloud-filled eye feature that caused upwelling and a decrease in ocean heat content. On October 3, Krathon made landfall near Siaogang District in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with its spiral bands of deep convection gradually weakening as it moved north-northeastward into central Taiwan, near the western edge of the Central Mountain Range. After making landfall, the system rapidly slowed down and deteriorated, exhibiting minimal convective activity. The JMA continued to monitor the system as it emerged over the South China Sea before dissipating on October 4.
Ahead of the storm, a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal was issued for various areas in the Philippines, with a red alert for Calayan and Santa Ana in Cagayan. Krathon resulted in at least five deaths, three people missing, and eight injured in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued maritime warnings for the Bashi Channel, leading to the evacuation of more than 11,000 people and the mobilization of nearly 40,000 soldiers for rescue efforts; at least 13 people were killed across the island, including nine from the Antai Tian-Sheng Memorial Hospital fire in Pingtung County. Overall, 18 people were killed, 731 were injured and one was missing by Krathon, leaving at least US$48.1 million in damages.