The 1988-1989 Bulphan Ocean cyclone season was a near-average season in tropical and/or subtropical cyclone development in the Bulphan Ocean. The season had a total of ten tropical storms, five cyclones, and three major cyclones, the strongest of which was Category 5 Cyclone One, peaking with winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 907 mb. Despite its average level of activity, the season was the costliest in Bulphan Ocean history, mostly because of Cyclone One, which made a catastrophic pass by the Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories in early January; over $1 billion in damages were reported during the season. The season was also very deadly, killing over 2,000 people and leaving thousands homeless.
The season officially started on November 1 and ended on May 31. Despite this, the first storm, Cyclone One, did not develop until December 29. A few notable cyclones developed throughout the season. Cyclone One, the deadliest and most damaging cyclone of the season, developed on December 29 and rapidly intensified as it trekked southward towards the Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories, causing catastrophic damage. One continued southeastward before turning westward and dissipating on January 9. Cyclone Two was a low-end Category 1 and made landfall in Kanenta during January, delivering heavy rainfall and killing 14. Tropical Storm Three formed in late January and became a strong tropical storm out to sea and away from land, however a few Bulphan vessels experienced minor damage during the passage of Three. Tropical Storm Four was relatively weak and delivered some rainfall to western Kanenta. Five became a high-end Category 3 cyclone and struck the Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories only 6 weeks after the passage of Cyclone One; as such, reparations were severely hindered and 11 more lives were lost on the islands as a result. Cyclone Six developed in late February and rapidly intensified into a Category 2 cyclone before making landfall in Kanenta, the second storm to make landfall and the third to deliver some type of impacts to the nation during the season. Because of Six's unexpected intensification, poor government preparations, and lingering damage from previous storms, the cyclone resulted in a total of 28 fatalities. Cyclone Seven was the only system to develop in March, the statistical peak of seasonal activity, and became a major cyclone out to sea; no deaths have been attributed to the storm. Tropical storms Eight and Nine formed in early April, both of which made landfall and delivered some minor impacts to the areas they affected. The rest of April was quiet, and the final storm of the season, Ten, formed in early May and peaked as a weak tropical storm before dissipating northwest of Bulphi.
Season summary[]
Systems[]
Cyclone One[]
| Category 5 tropical cyclone | |
  | |
| Duration | December 29, 1988 – January 9, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 295 km/h (185 mph) (1-min) 907 hPa (mbar) |
A tropical wave emerged off the western coast of Cabokus on December 22 and remained steady in development for several days. On December 26, the wave slowed down in forward motion, and began to quickly develop north of the Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories. On December 29th, the wave was designated by the Finolian Meteorological Centre a Tropical Depression One, becoming the first tropical cyclone of the season. The depression continued southwestward at around 3 mph (5 km/h), and was upgraded to a tropical storm on December 30th. At this point in time, the Finolian Meteorological Centre anticipated gradual intensification and tropical storm watches were issued for both of the Bulphan Ocean Territories. On December 27, the storm attained cyclone intensity, after Finolian aircraft discovered 65 knot (75 mph) winds in the storm. Cyclone One began a period of rapid intensification, attaining Category 2 strength early the next day. On December 28, intensification continued and the cyclone reached major cyclone status as cyclone warnings were promptly issued for the islands nearby. Later that day, winds of 140 knots (160 mph) were discovered in the storm, and was thus upgraded to Category 5 intensity. The storm passed in between the two islands of the Bulphan Ocean Territories, however avoided landfall on either of the islands. Cyclone One reached its peak intensity of 185 mph on December 31, becoming one of the most intense Bulphan Ocean cyclones ever recorded.
One underwent an eyewall replacement cycle on January 1, beginning its gradual process of weakening. The cyclone increased its forward speed as it moved eastward as a Category 4 cyclone, where one ship had reportedly capsized due to the intense nature of the storm. On January 3, One weakened to Category 3 intensity as its convection continued to wane. One remained a Category 3 cyclone as it made a southwestward turn, where it briefly attained Category 4 intensity once again, before weakening as it entered an area of significantly cooler sea surface temperatures. The cyclone became extratropical on January 7, where it brought rain to areas of western Bulphi later that week.
Cyclone One caused extensive and widespread damage on the Bulphan Ocean Territories of Finolia. Reports of flooding of up to 6 feet were documented on the Eastern Island of the terroritories, where 98 people lost their lives. On the Western Island, 12 additional fatalities were reported. There was a total of $891 million ($1.19 billion Finolian Argenties) in damage and 110 fatalities after the passing of the storm, and it remains one of the deadliest and costliest Bulphan Ocean cyclones in recorded history.
Cyclone Two[]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone | |
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| Duration | January 16 – January 26 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 km/h (80 mph) (1-min) 986 hPa (mbar) |
A slow-moving tropical wave developed in the northern area of the basin on January 13, and stalled for several days in its place. On January 16, the wave developed enough to be designated as a tropical depression, and was upgraded to a tropical storm later that day. The system continued its slow movement eastward where it continued to intensify. On January 17, the tropical storm slowed down and began to fire convection around it center, and was declared a hurricane late on the 17th. The Finolian Meteorological Centre forecast the storm to continued moving westward and eventually make a turn to the southeast, however Cyclone Two made a turn to the north instead. On January 19, Two weakened below hurricane intensity and began a period of gradual weakening, attaining winds of 60 mph at its lowest. Several days later, Two retained cyclone intensity and was poised to make landfall at such intensity. Two continued to intensify up until landfall, where it reached its peak intensity of 80 mph and 986 millibars. The storm weakened fairly quickly as it continued inland, however the area's humid and flat environment likely slowed down its rate of deintensification. Cyclone Two dissipated on January 26, several hundred kilometres inland.
Cyclone Two delivered torrential rainfall in areas affected by the storm, and this flooding led to the deaths of 14 people and up to 64 million dollars in damage.
Tropical Storm Three[]
| Tropical storm | |
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| Duration | January 21 – January 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min) 991 hPa (mbar) |
Another tropical wave developed over the northeastern Bulphan Ocean on January 18, partially influenced by the outflow of Cyclone Two. This tropical wave moved westward and became the third tropical depression of the season on January 21, in the north central Bulphan Ocean. This tropical depression became a tropical storm only a day later, and continued moving generally west-soutwestward, struggling to intensify. The Finolian Meteorological Centre expected Three to become a significant cyclone, anticipating favorable conditions for the system. Three, however, suffered with dry air and wind shear, remaining a low-end tropical storm up until January 27. In the evening of January 27, reconnaissance aircraft discovered 70 mph winds near the storm's center, likely influenced by the interaction with a cold front dragging it southward. On January 28, Three made a turn to the southeast and briefly weakened before undergoing an extratropical transition late in the day. The extratropical remnants of the system were absorbed by a larger extratropical system on the 30th, which induced severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in areas of southern Bulphi, killing three.
No deaths, injuries, or notable damages were directly associated with Three, however and extratropical storm associated with Three brought thunderstorms, some of them severe, which caused minor damage and three deaths after tornadoes touched down in southern Bulphi.
Tropical Storm Four[]
| Tropical storm | |
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| Duration | February 6 – February 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min) 996 hPa (mbar) |
On February 2, the FMC began monitoring and area of low pressure in the central Bulphan Ocean. The system struggled to organize, fighting wind shear and very dry air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere. As it traveled eastward, the low pressure system was designated as Tropical Depression Four on February 6. Despite hostile conditions, Four became a tropical storm later that day. Four steadily intensified to attain a peak intensity of 60 mph and a pressure of 996 mb, unexpectedly battling the unseasonably dry air it found itself surrounded in. On February 8, Four began to stall as it maintained its strength. Four later made a southward turn while encountering stronger wind shear, which began to weaken Four. On February 9, Four turned westward, where it began to feel the effects of strong shear and dry air. For over a day, Four nearly became a naked rotation with sporadic convective activity, and this continued until its dissipation on February 11. No deaths or reports of damage have been attributed to the system.
Cyclone Five[]
| Category 3 tropical cyclone | |
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| Duration | February 15 – February 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min) 958 hPa (mbar) |
A potent tropical wave formed north of the Bulphan Ocean Territories on February 11. This wave produced heavy rainfall over the Western Island on February 13, where flooding became widespread and fatal, killing three. On February 15, the wave became the fifth tropical depression of the year. As it slowly moved southward, a recon mission into the storm discovered gale-force winds within Five, and it was upgraded to a tropical storm later that day. Five steadily intensified, becoming a hurricane only a day and a half after attaining tropical storm intensity. It moved southeastward for several days, where it become a Category 2 hurricane on February 17, and eventually a Category 3 on February 18. Five peaked with winds of 125 mph and a pressure of 958 millibars a day later, making it the second major hurricane of the season. It began to steadily weaken as it interacted with a cold front, moving the system to the south and east. As it encountered cold waters and strong wind shear, Five quickly weakened and became an extratropical cyclone on February 21.
Despite not directly affecting any land, the remnants and precursor of Five is reported to have killed 11 people in total, mostly due to flooding. In the Bulphan Ocean Territories, the Finolian Ministry of Interior Development reported 6 deaths and an estimated total of FAR$400 million (value in 1989). The Bulphan government reported an additional 5 deaths attributed to the system.
Cyclone Six[]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone | |
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| Duration | February 28 – March 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min) 966 hPa (mbar) |
The remnants of a mesoscale convective vortex meandered over the eastern Bulphan Ocean for several days. On February 28, the system was declared a tropical depression by the Finolian Meteorological Centre. This depression was expected to gradually strengthen over the coming days as it neared Kanenta. Later that day, the depression attained gale-force winds and subsequently became Tropical Storm Six. Six began to strengthen, and turned southeastward on March 1. On March 2, Six began to rapidly intensify unexpectedly, going from tropical storm intensity to Category 2 intensity in just 12 hours. During this time, Six peaked in intensity with winds of 105 mph and a pressure of 966 mb, and made landfall in northern Kanenta, becoming one of the costliest cyclones to affect the nation on record. As Six continued inland, it slowly weakened and delivered very heavy rainfall to much of central and southern Kanenta. The cyclone dissipated on March 4 over land and just north of the Gulf of Kanentulphi.
Cyclone Six was deadly, killing 28 and becoming the second-deadliest storm of the season. Most of these deaths were directly attributed to flooding caused by the torrential rainfall produced by Six. To make matters worse, the Kanentan government failed to provide immediate support to communities affected, and thousands of Kanentan citizens became homeless following the passage of Six. Cyclone Six was a major reason the Kanentan federal government began a disaster preparedness and recovery program in 1991.
Cyclone Seven[]
| Category 3 tropical cyclone | |
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| Duration | March 26 – April 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min) 969 hPa (mbar) |
A tropical wave developed several hundred kilometers northeast of the Bulphan Ocean Territories. On March 26, the FMC designated the low a Tropical Depression Seven. The depression continued southwestward as it became a tropical storm. On March 28, after a period of rapid intensification, Seven became a cyclone, and Cyclone Warnings were issued for the eastern Bulphan Ocean Territories. Seven continued to gradually intensify, becoming a Category 2 cyclone on March 29. Cyclone Seven peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with 115 mph winds on March 30. After this, Seven began to gradually weaken as it struggled with dry air. Seven had some slight variations in intensity for several days, briefly strengthening into a Category 2 cyclone, before reaching its peak intensity of 115 mph winds and 969 mb on April 3. On April 4, Seven continued to speed southeastward as it interacted with a southwesterly cold front, becoming extratropical on April 5.
Seven stayed away from land and did not cause any deaths or damage. Furthermore, Seven was the second and final major cyclone of the season.
Tropical Storm Eight[]
| Tropical storm | |
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| Duration | April 1 – April 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min) 1000 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical storm Nine[]
| Tropical storm | |
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| Duration | April 6 – April 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min) 999 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Storm Ten[]
| Tropical storm | |
  | |
| Duration | May 7 – May 9 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min) 1002 hPa (mbar) |
On May 6, a mesoscale convective system off the coast of northwestern Bulphi began a period of tropical organization. On May 7, the system was found to have a well-developed low-level circulation and was declared a tropical depression by the FMC. This depression, designated as Tropical Depression Ten, was expected to be short-lived because of hostile upper-level conditions ahead of the system. Later that day, Ten attained gale-force winds and became a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Ten meandered eastward for about a day before succumbing to very strong wind shear and colder-than-average sea surface temperatures. On May 9, Ten became devoid of convection and dissipated later that day. Although no casualties or damages were reported, Ten delivered some rain to areas in the far northwestern Bulphi, causing some disruption.
Season effects[]
| Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 |
| Storm name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) |
Min. press. (mbar) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | December 29, 1988 — January 9, 1989 | Category 5 hurricane | 185 (295) | 907 | Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories, Bulphi | $891 million | 110 (16) | |||
| Two | January 16 – 26th | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | 986 | Kanenta, Bulphi | $64 million | 14 | |||
| Three | January 21 — 28th | Tropical storm | 70 (110) | 991 | Bulphi | Minimal | (3) | |||
| Four | February 6 – 11th | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 996 | Kanenta | None | None | |||
| Five | February 15 — 21st | Category 3 hurricane | 125 (205) | 958 | Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories, Bulphi | Minimal | 11 | |||
| Six | February 28 — March 4th | Category 2 hurricane | 105 (165) | 966 | Kanenta | $24 million | 28 | |||
| Seven | March 26 — April 5th | Category 3 hurricane | 115 (185) | 969 | Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories | Minimal | None | |||
| Eight | April 1 — April 5th | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 1000 | Kanenta | Minimal | None | |||
| Nine | April 6 — April 12 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 999 | Putani, Marcoros | $52 million | 3 | |||
| Ten | May 7 — May 9 | Tropical storm | 40 (65) | 1002 | Bulphi, Kanenta | Minimal | None
| |||
| Season aggregates | ||||||||||
| 10 systems | December 29, 1988 – May 9, 1989 | 185 (295) | 907 | Finolia, Finolian Bulphan Ocean Territories, Bulphi, Kanenta, Putani, Marcoros | $1.03 billion | 166 (19) | ||||