animation of the storm made by sandy!!!
| Violent typhoon (JMA scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS) | |
 Lala shortly after reaching peak intensity | |
| Formed | November 10, 2023 |
| Dissipated | November 29, 2023 |
| (Extratropical after November 27) | |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph) 1-minute sustained: 305 km/h (190 mph) Gusts: 370 km/h (230 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 886 hPa (mbar); 26.16 inHg |
| Fatalities | 1415 |
| Damage | $17.9 billion (2023 USD) |
| Areas affected | Japan |
| Part of the 2023 Pacific hurricane and typhoon seasons | |
This article is about the typhoon in 2023, for the tropical storm in 1985 see Tropical Storm Lala.
Typhoon Lala, known in Japan as Reiwa 4 Bōsō Peninsula Typhoon (令和4年 房総半島台風, Reiwa shi Bōsō-hantō taifū), and Hurricane Lala while in the Central Pacific, was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, with a minimal pressure of 875 hPa (25.84 inHg). It was the first storm of typhoon strength to strike the Kantō region since Typhoon Hagibis in 2019. It lasted abnormally long as a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, and tracked extremely far from its formation to dissipation. Almost all of Lala's damage was concentrated in Japan, where the typhoon struck as a category 2 storm, much weaker than peak intensity. However, the region that Lala made landfall in is extremely populated and thus effects were catastrophic in the Tokyo Metro area. Lala played a major role in the Tokyo Riots of early 2024, where several hundred people that were living in poor conditions rioted in the streets of Tokyo; which prompted the government to alleviate more of its funding to relief efforts after the storm struck.
The system would begin from a large and disorganized area of thunderstorm activity well-southeast of Hawaii. As the system tracked west through favorable conditions, a tropical depression formed from within the cluster, and begun to strengthen as it moved towards the Western Pacific. Shortly after, the storm received the name Lala from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC). The storm would meander around open Pacific waters while slowly gaining strength, and eventually intensifying into a hurricane. Though, shortly after, the system began to weaken due to a complex interaction as it crossed the International Date Line and entered the Northwestern Pacific. Eventually it regained typhoon status, and steadily intensified over a few days, then rapidly intensified to become the fourth most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded; tied with Typhoon June and Typhoon Nora.
Due to the system moving into cooler waters as it moved north, it substantially weakened rather quickly after its peak intensity was reached, and its eye became less defined as it weakened. However, it eventually struck Japan shortly after midnight November 27 as a category 2 equivalent typhoon, causing catastrophic damage mainly in the Tokyo Metro area and Hokkaido as an extratropical cyclone. This cyclone continued northeast for several days before losing its identity as it was absorbed by a more powerful extratropical cyclone. This cyclone would later go on to impact the Pacific Northwest. Lala is commonly regarded as being one of the worst typhoons in Japanese history, causing extreme flooding and power outages.
Meteorological synopsis[]
| Typhoon | Season | Pressure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hPa | inHg | |||
| 1 | Tip | 1979 | 870 | 25.7 |
| 2 | Patricia | 2015 | 872 | 25.75 |
| 3 | Zenobia | 2042 | 873 | 25.77 |
| 4 | June | 1975 | 875 | 25.8 |
| Nora | 1973 | |||
| Lala | 2023 | |||
| 7 | Forrest | 1983 | 876 | 25.9 |
| 8 | Ida | 1958 | 877 | 25.9 |
| 9 | Rita | 1978 | 878 | 26.0 |
| 10 | Kit | 1966 | 880 | 26.0 |
| Vanessa | 1984 | |||
| 12 | Nancy | 1961 | 882 | 26.4 |
| Wilma | 2005 | |||
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale.
.png){kind=link}
Lala inland shortly before turning extratropical on November 27
Lala at its initial peak intensity in the Central Pacific ocean.
The system would begin from a large and disorganized area of thunderstorm activity well-southeast of Hawaii. Organization of the system was expected, and thus the system was marked as an area of interest by the CPHC early on the 9th of November. Around a day later, an Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) pass confirmed that a closed circulation was present in the low, and thus it was designated Tropical Depression Four-C shortly after. Further strengthening ensued, and eventually the CPHC classified the system as having 1-minute sustained winds of 40 mph, which prompted the agency to assign the name Lala to the storm. Afterwards, the storm would move generally northwest, eventually developing a disorganized eye as its Central Dense Overcast (CDO) expanded. Shortly after on November 12, a reconnaissance mission found evidence of hurricane-force winds in the center of the storm, and thus it was upgraded to Hurricane Lala at the CPHC's next routine advisory. After a few days, an interaction with a nearby system caused Lala to weaken as it crossed the International Dateline. Thus, the CPHC stopped issuing advisories for the system, as it had entered RSMC Tokyo's responsibility.
Its convection steadily decreased, with the JMA reclassifying it as a tropical depression, though despite this other agencies found clear evidence of tropical storm force winds in the system. While atmospheric conditions were not great for development, the weakened Lala eventually entered an extremely favorable environment with warm sea surface temperatures, and low wind shear aloft. At approximately 21:00 UTC on November 17, Lala re-intensified into a typhoon according to the JTWC, and later the next day at 17:00 UTC it had further intensified into a category 2-equivalent typhoon. Subsequent strengthening occurred as the storm's eye became better defined. Late on November 20, Lala reached category 4 typhoon status according to the JTWC as it passed Wake Island. After this, the storm entered areas ripe for rapid intensification - warm sea surface temperatures, unusually low wind shear, and relatively moist air. While the system initially failed to rapidly intensify, Lala began to rapidly build up strength midday on November 21, and it reportedly reached category 5 status - with winds more than 160 mph just 12 hours later. After this, the eye of the system became extremely defined and the storm exhibited several of the same features seen in other powerful cyclones as it drifted westward. In a span of 24 hours during November 22, the minimum central pressure near the eye dropped 20 mbar, and winds increased rapidly in the system; with the JMA placing the wind estimate for the time at 140 mph (10-min). However, due to dry air intrusion, the system began to weaken after its extremely powerful peak intensity, and its eye became ill-defined and larger. The storm weakened to a category 4 storm near 12:00 UTC on November 24, and eventually it had waned to a category 3 storm at the end of the day.
| Rank | Typhoon | Season | Damage (2021 USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mireille | 1991 | $19.1 billion |
| 2 | Lala | 2023 | $17.9 billion |
| 3 | Hagibis | 2019 | $15.9 billion |
| 4 | Jebi | 2018 | $14 billion |
| 5 | Songda | 2004 | $13.3 billion |
| 6 | Fitow | 2013 | $12.1 billion |
| 7 | Faxai | 2019 | $10.6 billion |
| 8 | Saomai | 2000 | $9.91 billion |
| 9 | Lekima | 2019 | $9.84 billion |
| 10 | Prapiroon | 2000 | $9.66 billion |
Its forward speed quickly excelled on November 25 as it moved northwards, prompting warnings to be issued in Japan. As it moved due northeast, it eventually weakened to a category 2 typhoon, and made landfall near Hitachinaka at midnight November 26. The system quickly moved across the Tōhoku region, eventually transitioning into a typhoon-force extratropical cyclone at 12:00 UTC. The system's wind-field expanded as it weakened and passed over Hokkaido. Lala continued northeast for several days before losing its identity as it was absorbed by a more powerful extratropical cyclone. This cyclone would later go on to impact the Pacific Northwest.
The Japan Meteorological Agency released a new analysis on Lala in February 2024, changing its peak intensity to be higher than initially thought, upping its peak pressure from 882 mbar to 875 mbar. After it had dissipated, it was highly regarded as the worst storm to effect Japan in almost 30 years, and one of the deadliest on record to hit the area.
Preparations[]
Japan[]
| Name | Number | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Marie | T5415 | Tōya Maru Typhoon (洞爺丸台風) |
| Ida | T5822 | Kanogawa Typhoon (狩野川台風) |
| Sarah | T5914 | Miyakojima Typhoon (宮古島台風) |
| Vera | T5915 | Isewan Typhoon (伊勢湾台風) |
| Nancy | T6118 | 2nd Muroto Typhoon (第2室戸台風) |
| Cora | T6618 | 2nd Miyakojima Typhoon (第2宮古島台風) |
| Della | T6816 | 3rd Miyakojima Typhoon (第3宮古島台風) |
| Babe | T7709 | Okinoerabu Typhoon (沖永良部台風) |
| Faxai | T1915 | Reiwa 1 Bōsō Peninsula Typhoon (令和元年房総半島台風) |
| Hagibis | T1919 | Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon (令和元年東日本台風) |
| Lala | T2334 | Reiwa 4 Bōsō Peninsula Typhoon (令和4年房総半島台風) |
During the typhoon's approach towards populated land, numerous precautionary measures were put into place. A typhoon warning was issued for the Kanto region 36 hours prior to landfall. The Japan Railway System was temporarily suspended in Tokyo and its surrounding areas to prevent people from being flooded by waters. Numerous grocery stores had their shelves almost completely sold out, with several closing down due to lack of products for selling. Strong gusts of wind and large ocean waves were expected to occur within the Tokyo Bay area, and thus precautions were erected in that area. Its forward speed quickly excelled on November 25 as it moved northwards, prompting warnings to be issued in Japan. However, its exact area where it would impact land was under question at the time as it had been influenced by a nearby extratropical cyclone, though inevitably it ended up traveling on its projected track.
President Naruhito released a statement preceding the typhoon's landfall in the area approximately 36 hours before it inevitably made landfall to alert citizens on the dangers imminent.
This speech has been translated from Japanese to English. Some translation errors may exist.
| “ | "Japanese citizens, listen carefully. Due to the oncoming approach of Typhoon Lala, we are alerting our people of the dangers provided. Please take precautionary measures and evacuate as possible. We will try our absolute best to provide relief to those effected by the typhoon after it passes. Thank you for listening." | ” |
—Naruhito | ||
Widespread panic ensued in several cities in the vicinity of Tokyo. Recreational areas closed down in order for evacuation orders to be put in place. School systems closed down due to the transport of students to school buildings was deemed unsafe. Upwards of 40,000 people evacuated in the Kanto region alone. It was advised that several lakes and reservoirs had the potential to break in the area, and thus many people evacuated out of the areas close to the water bodies, though Lake Kitaura was heavily overlooked which would prove to be an extremely bad mistake.
Northern Mariana Islands[]
As Lala approached the island chain, it was noted that the outer sector of the storm would likely impact the islands, and thus a hurricane warning was issued for the area. Citizens were alerted of the danger and measures were put into place to protect people. Governor Arnold Indalecio Palacios noted that he will "protect the Mariana Islands from danger as to his best ability", proper protection was installed.
Impact[]
Japan[]
See also: January 2024 Tokyo Riots
Heavy flooding in suburbs outside Tokyo on November 27.
Extremely fast winds snapped this cherry tree in half, causing it to fall over.
Lala made landfall near Hitachinaka on November 26. However, effects were very noticeable almost a half-day before the storm's center actually struck mainland. Storm surge rattled the low-lying areas by the coast, and several buildings were damaged due to high winds in the area. Metal billboards were either heavily damaged or thrown off their poles, and many trees snapped or fell down due to torrential winds and rainfall. Several highway routes were closed due to the threat of flooding in the area.
Several news channels around the world covered and tracked the storm, such as CNN. Many people around the world expressed their concern for the Japanese people as it made landfall. In some areas, historic flooding occurred, especially in the Tokyo Bay area. In Hitachinaka, near where it made landfall, fifteen people died when a bus was submerged underwater and rescue efforts failed. Across the rest of Japan, upwards of 1,400 people died, making it one of the most deadly typhoons in Japanese history. Damage totals were estimated at ¥2.3 trillion (US$17.9 billion) in total, and over 300,000 houses lost power across the country. Several small tornadoes were also reported during the system's passage.
In Tsukuba, a woman's cat was impaled with a glass shard due to a nearby window shattering. Several wooden panels broke across neighborhoods in the area, which caused lots of structural damage and leaks to occur in the houses. Arguably the worst town to be hit was Mito, which over 25% of all its buildings were severely damaged, with some of them even being damaged beyond repair. Strong storm surf caused an extremely high amount of damage in Oarai, smaller buildings being inundated by floodwaters. This also caused Lake Kitaura to breach its boundaries, releasing an extremely high amount of water causing unprecedented destruction near the area, and killing an estimated 490 people. This water would flow downstream until devastating Choshi and numerous buildings were swept out to sea.
As a request from the government of Japan, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center requested the name Lala to be retired due to its catastrophic effects in Japan. It was replaced with Leia for its next use in 2046.
Lala's impact caused Tokyo Riots of early 2024, where hundreds of people that were living in poor conditions due to the storm rioted in the streets of Tokyo; which prompted the government to alleviate more of its funding to relief efforts after the storm struck, which was eventually done.
Northern Mariana Islands[]
WIP
Records[]
Lala's existence broke numerous records, it was the earliest forming 29th tropical storm in the 2023 Pacific hurricane season, though only due to the virtue of being the first ever 29th storm to form in a single year. When the storm crossed the International Dateline, it was the first storm to do so since Hurricane Hector of 2018. Lala was also one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, with its lowest barometric central pressure measured at 875 mb. Lala was also the strongest storm ever recorded in November worldwide.