|name=. Remove this parameter; the article title is used as the name by default. Typhoon Keith at peak intensity on November 1 as it neared the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 26, 1997 |
| Extratropical | November 11, 1997 |
| Dissipated | November 8, 1997 |
| Violent typhoon | |
| 10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
| Highest winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 910 hPa (mbar); 26.87 inHg |
| Category 5-equivalent super typhoon | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 285 km/h (180 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 878 hPa (mbar); 25.93 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 total |
| Damage | $15 million |
| Areas affected | Japan, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1997 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Keith was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone and the tenth of a record eleven super typhoons to develop during the unusually intense 1997 Pacific typhoon season. Originating from a near-equatorial trough on October 26, the precursor depression to Keith slowly organized into a tropical storm. After two days of gradual strengthening, the storm underwent a period of rapid intensification on October 30 as winds increased to 195 km/h (121 mph). On November 1, the storm further intensified into a super typhoon and later attained peak winds of 285 km/h (177 mph). The following day, the powerful storm passed between Rota and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. After fluctuating in strength over the following few days, a steady weakening trend established itself by November 5 as the typhoon accelerated towards the northeast. On October 8, Keith transitioned into an extratropical cyclone and was last noted early the following day near the International Dateline.
Despite Typhoon Keith's close passage to the islands of Rota and Tinian as a powerful storm, neither island received sustained winds over 160 km/h (99 mph). However, these winds resulted in significant damage across the island chain. More than 800 homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm and losses amounted to $15 million (1997 USD). There were no reports of fatalities in relation to the storm; however, one person was injured.