Typhoon Pongsona
Typhoon Pongsona
Typhoon Pongsona was a powerful Pacific typhoon in December 2002. It was the last named storm of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season and, after Hurricane Lili, one of the costliest U.S. disasters that year. The name Pongsona was contributed by North Korea and refers to the garden balsam in Korean.
Meteorological history
- Pongsona formed on December 2, 2002, from a disturbed area of weather east-southeast of Pohnpei.
- It strengthened into a tropical storm on December 3 and became a typhoon on December 5.
- The storm moved generally westward, then turned northwest, and underwent rapid intensification.
- It reached peak intensity on December 8 near Guam, with winds around 240 km/h (150 mph) for 1-minute sustained winds (Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson scale) and a central pressure near 910 hPa. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded 10-minute winds around 165–175 km/h.
- Pongsona made landfall near Guam on December 8, with the eyewall crossing the island. It weakened after interacting with dry air and a nearby mid-latitude system, and became extratropical by December 11, around 1,400 km northwest of Wake Island.
Preparations
- As Pongsona intensified, warnings and watches were issued across the Mariana Islands and nearby areas.
- Guam opened shelters; several schools were used as evacuation centers.
- Authorities declared disaster status on Guam and prepared federal aid responses. Shelter space was organized on Guam, Rota, Saipan, and Tinian.
- Media outlets, including the Guam press, prepared to provide continuous updates during the storm.
Impact
Guam
- Pongsona produced a well-defined, very large eye and strong winds; sustained winds reached around 232 km/h (144 mph) with gusts higher.
- The entire island lost electricity, and communications were severely disrupted.
- About 1,300 homes were destroyed, and many more were damaged.
- Damage to power infrastructure included thousands of poles and transformers; about $52 million in electrical damage was reported.
- Water systems were heavily affected, with roughly 65% of wells out of service.
- The storm caused extensive flooding from heavy rainfall (with record river flows on the Pago and Asan Rivers) and a storm surge that reached up to about 6 meters (20 feet) in some areas.
- A total of around $700 million in damages (2002 USD) was recorded for Guam, placing Pongsona among the island’s costliest typhoons. There were 193 injuries reported and one indirect death from flying glass.
Northern Mariana Islands
- On Rota, Pongsona produced sustained winds of 126 km/h (78 mph) and gusts to 137 km/h (85 mph). The storm caused significant damage to housing and infrastructure, including a large storm surge of about 6.7 meters (22 feet) at Songsong.
- On Rota, about 200 families were left homeless; damage totaled over $30 million (2002 USD).
- Tinian and Saipan saw smaller levels of damage, including several homes damaged or destroyed and power outages.
- Overall impact in the Northern Mariana Islands included property damage, crop losses, and injuries, with substantial economic costs.
Aftermath
- President George W. Bush declared Guam a major disaster area, triggering federal assistance.
- Shelters housed thousands of residents in the storm’s aftermath. Federal agencies and the American Red Cross supplied food, shelter, and other aid.
- Debris removal, emergency protective measures, and recovery programs were funded, with long-term assistance including loans from the Small Business Administration.
- A gasoline tank fire occurred on Cabras Island during the storm’s height, causing additional damage and hindering firefighting efforts.
- In the wake of Pongsona, disaster relief and recovery efforts continued for months, involving multiple agencies and coordination with local governments.
Retirement
- Due to the damage and impact, the name Pongsona was retired in 2005 by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee and was replaced with the name Noul.
Overview
- Pongsona was the last typhoon of the 2002 season and one of the most costly storms to affect the United States that year.
- The storm demonstrated strong winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, and significant damage across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, leading to a substantial and prolonged recovery effort and the retirement of the name Pongsona.
This page was last edited on 29 January 2026, at 11:55 (CET).