Typhoon Ora (1972)
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| Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Typhoon Ora on June 23, 1972 |
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| Formed | June 22, 1972 | |
| Dissipated | June 27, 1972 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 970 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $15 million (1972 USD) $68.4 million (2005 USD) |
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| Fatalities | 131 direct | |
| Areas affected |
Philippines, China | |
| Part of the 1972 Pacific typhoon season |
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Typhoon Ora (designated as Typhoon Konsing by PAGASA) was a June 1972 Category 1 typhoon that left 131 people dead and $15 million (1972 USD, $68.4 million 2005 USD) in damage.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave embedded in a trough formed on June 20 and moved westward without development. By June 23, the disturbance had strengthened, and became Tropical Storm Ora about 330 miles east of the Philippines.
Although poorly organized, Ora continued strengthening, becoming a Category 1 typhoon before encountering a high pressure system.
The area of high pressure forced the storm to make landfall on Luzon on June 25, emerging over the South China Sea later that day. Ora then continued its northwest track, turning northeast near Hainan Island and making landfall in southern China as a tropical storm. Ora then weakened and dissipated after moving inland.
[edit] Unusual characteristics
When Typhoon Ora crossed the South China Sea, Hurricane Hunter crews reported typhoon force winds on the southeast quadrant of the storm. However, this area is usually the weakest area of a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere.
[edit] Impact
Ora made landfall in the Philippines and again in southern China. The first landfall brought 115 mph gusts and 9.3 inches (236.2 mm) of rain in a 24 hour period to Luzon. Flashfloods from Ora damaged homes and businesses, and the storm surge caused many ships offshore to run aground. A sailboat capsized near Rapu Rapu during the storm, causing one fatality. Three others were declared missing. In the Philippines, Ora caused 131 deaths, left almost 400,000 people homeless and left behind $15 million (1972 USD, $68.4 million 2005 USD) worth of damage.
Oras second landfall was in southeastern China as a tropical storm on June 27, however deaths or damage during that landfall is unavailable.
The name Ora was not retired so it was used again to name future typhoons until a change in the naming list in 1979 prevented the further use of the name.
