Typhoon Ruby (1964)

Typhoon Ruby (Yoning)

Nimbus 1 satellite image of Typhoon Ruby (Yoning) on September 5 after the typhoon moved inland over southeastern China
Meteorological history
Formed	September 1, 1964
Dissipated	September 6, 1964
Violent typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds	195 km/h (120 mph)
Lowest pressure	960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg
Category 4-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	220 km/h (140 mph)
Lowest pressure	972 hPa (mbar); 28.70 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	≥ 758 fatalities, 14 missing
Damage	Unknown
Areas affected	Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, South China
Part of the 1964 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Ruby, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yoning,^[1] was a strong tropical cyclone that struck Hong Kong, Macau, and southern China in early September 1964. The precursor disturbance to Ruby was first identified on August 29 over the Philippine Sea, and this system organised into a tropical cyclone by September 1. Ruby intensified as it moved west, becoming a typhoon the next day and subsequently passing over the Babuyan Islands of the Philippines. After reaching the South China Sea, Ruby turned northwest and intensified further, attaining peak ten-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (121 mph) before making landfall at the peak intensity near Hong Kong on September 5. The typhoon weakened after moving inland and dissipated on September 6 over southeastern China.

Despite brushing Philippines as a typhoon, no impacts were recorded. Ruby was one of the strongest typhoons to hit Hong Kong in the city's history. The storm produced a peak wind gust of 268 km/h (167 mph) at Tate's Cairn and a gust of 230 km/h (140 mph) on Waglan Island; the latter was the strongest gust observed for that site. The storm sank 314 fishing vessels and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes. Rain-triggered landslides and wind-blown debris caused 300 injuries. Among locales in Hong Kong, Tai Po was most seriously affected. A total of 38 fatalities were attributed to Ruby in Hong Kong, though another 14 people remained unaccounted for. A wind gust of 211 km/h (131 mph) generated by Ruby in Macau was the strongest gust measured there on record; at least 20 fatalities were reported in Macau. The typhoon caused serious flooding along the mouth of the Pearl River in Guangdong Province in South China, where at least 700 people were killed.