Tropical Storm Nock-ten (2011)

Severe Tropical Storm Nock-ten, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Juaning, was a strong tropical storm which made a total of four landfalls in Southeast Asia, killing more than 100 people and causing damage estimated at US$126 million. It was the eighth named storm and the fourth severe tropical storm of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season.

The depression formed on July 24. Though it was one of the deadliest tropical storms of 2011, its anticipated landfall was well-publicized and appropriate preparations were made. (cf.: Conson)
Its peak intensity was measured at on the SSHS east of the Philippines. At initial landfall, the storm killed 75, leaving 9 missing, and causing damage around US$65.73 million. The storm exited land and started strengthening again as it moved into the South China Sea. The system turned towards China's Island province of Hainan where a yellow alert was issued and heavy to very heavy rainfall was predicted. Fourteen flights from Hainan's provincial capital Haikou were cancelled and rail ferry service to China was suspended. Some 27,700 people were evacuated from Hainan's low-lying area. Nock-ten claimed 2 lives and caused widespread damage worth US$58 million in Hainan. The system again exited land and strengthened as it curved towards Vietnam. On approaching land, the system and its remnants affected Laos and Thailand. The storm poured extremely heavy rainfall flooding the Yom River and the Nan River. 650,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas as some 6,200 acres of rice and other crop fields were reported completely submerged. Damages were expected to be US$2.33 million and the death toll was put at 42.

The name "Nock-ten" was contributed by Laos and is refers to the kingfisher

Meteorological history

Early on July 22, an area of low pressure formed to the east of the Philippines. The system gradually drifted west over the next few days and late on July 24, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center started monitoring the system as a Tropical Depression. Early the next day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the area of low pressure into a Tropical Depression. A few hours later, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) started monitoring the system as a Tropical Depression and named it 'Juaning'. The system continued to drift westwards and strengthened rapidly. On midnight that day, the JMA further upgraded the system into a Tropical Storm, naming it Nock-ten.

Early on July 27, JMA reported that Nock-ten continued to strengthen and upgraded it to a Severe Tropical Storm. Nock-ten moved east of the Polillo Islands as it moved towards Aurora. A few hours later, the JTWC reported that Nock-ten rapidly intensified to a category 1 typhoon and made landfall over the town of Casiguran, Aurora while developing an eye feature and started weakening after land interaction with the Sierra Madre mountain range. Nock-ten affected multiple areas in Central Luzon as it traveled through the landmass of Luzon. Later the same day, JMA reported that Nock-ten had exited Luzon island at Candon, Ilocos maintaining severe tropical storm strength. Overnight, the storm weakened and became disorganized as the Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded it to a minor tropical storm the next day. On July 29, the storm gradually regained strength while traveling through the South China Sea and approached the Chinese province Qionghai. Later that day, the storm strengthened over land and headed north towards Hainan's provincial capital region Haikou. The storm weakened rapidly and at midnight that day, the JMA, issuing their final warning, downgraded it to a tropical low over Vietnam.

Preparations and impact

Philippines

The provinces of Albay