1979 Pacific typhoon season

The 1979 Pacific typhoon season has no official limits; it ran year-round in 1979, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December.

1979 Pacific typhoon season

Season summary map
First storm formed	January 1, 1979
Last storm dissipated	December 23, 1979
Strongest storm	Tip most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded – 870 hPa (mbar), 305 km/h (190 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Total storms	23
Typhoons	14
Super typhoons	4
Total fatalities	Unknown
Total damage	Unknown
Pacific typhoon seasons 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

28 tropical depressions formed this year in the Western Pacific, of which 23 became tropical storms. 14 storms reached typhoon intensity. Four of these reached super typhoon strength.

Typhoon Alice

Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	January 1 – January 14
Intensity	205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min),  930 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Alice began as a tropical disturbance on January 1. Alice then on the 9th started to turn northward and began to weaken. Alice then dissipated rapidly on January 14.

Typhoon Bess (Auring)

Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	March 19 – March 25
Intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min),  958 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Cecil (Bebeng)

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	April 10 – April 20
Intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min),  965 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Dot (Katring)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	May 9 – May 16
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min),  984 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 05W (Diding)

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	May 18 – May 24
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min),  998 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Ellis (Etang)

Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	June 29 – July 6
Intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (1-min),  955 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Faye (Gening)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	July 1 – July 6
Intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min),  998 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 8W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	July 23 – July 25
Intensity	35 km/h (25 mph) (1-min),  1004 mbar (hPa)

Super Typhoon Hope (Ising)

Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	July 25 – August 3
Intensity	240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min),  900 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Hope was a powerful typhoon that hit Hong Kong On August 2 killing 112.

Tropical Storm Gordon (Herming)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	July 26 – July 29
Intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min),  980 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 11W (Luding)

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	August 3 – August 6
Intensity	45 km/h (30 mph) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Irving (Mameng)

Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 8 – August 17
Intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min),  954 mbar (hPa)

Super Typhoon Judy (Neneng)

Category 4 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	August 16 – August 26
Intensity	250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min),  887 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 14W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	August 18 – August 20
Intensity	35 km/h (25 mph) (1-min),  1006 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Ken (Oniang)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 1 – September 4
Intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min),  985 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Lola

Category 2 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 2 – September 8
Intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min),  950 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Mac (Pepang)

Category 1 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 15 – September 24
Intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min),  984 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Nancy

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 18 – September 22
Intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min),  993 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Owen (Rosing)

Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	September 22 – October 1
Intensity	205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min),  918 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Pamela

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 24 – September 26
Intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min),  1002 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Roger (Sisang)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 2 – October 7
Intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min),  985 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Sarah (Trining-Uring)

Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	October 4 – October 15
Intensity	205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min),  929 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Sarah was a strong tropical cyclone that formed in the monsoon trough on October 4. Sarah then struck Vietnam causing many deaths and damage to crops.

Super Typhoon Tip (Warling)

Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	October 4 – October 19
Intensity	305 km/h (190 mph) (1-min),  870 mbar (hPa)

Main page: Typhoon Tip

Typhoon Tip was the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded.

Super Typhoon Vera (Yayang)

Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	November 2 – November 7
Intensity	260 km/h (160 mph) (1-min),  915 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Wayne (Ading)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	November 8 – November 13
Intensity	95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 26W

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	November 30 – December 2
Intensity	55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min),  998 mbar (hPa)

Typhoon Abby (Barang)

Category 3 typhoon (SSHS)
Duration	December 1 – December 14
Intensity	205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min),  951 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Ben (Krising)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	December 20 – December 23
Intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)

1979 storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1979 was named Alice and the final one was named Ben. The name Alice was retired after this season and replaced by Andy.

Alice 1W Bess 2W Cecil 3W Dot 4W Ellis 6W Faye 7W Gordon 10W Hope 9W Irving 12W Judy 13W Ken 15W Lola 16W Mac 17W Nancy 18W Owen 19W Pamela 20W Roger 21W Sarah 22W Tip 23W Vera 24W Wayne 25W

Abby 27W Ben 28W Carmen Dom Ellen Forrest Georgia Herbert Ida Joe Kim Lex Marge Norris Orchid Percy Ruth Sperry Thelma Vernon Wynn

Alex Betty Cary Dinah Ed Freda Gerald Holly Ike June Kelly Lynn Maury Nina Ogden Phyllis Roy Susan Thad Vanessa Warren

Agnes Bill Clara Doyle Elsie Fabian Gay Hazen Irma Jeff Kit Lee Mamie Nelson Odessa Pat Ruby Skip Tess Val Winona

Other websites

• Japan Meteorological Agency
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center Archived 2006-11-18 at the Wayback Machine.
• China Meteorological Agency Archived 2012-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
• National Weather Service Guam