Super Typhoon Kent, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gening, was a powerful Category 4 equivalent typhoon that formed in late August during the 1995 Pacific typhoon season. The twelfth tropical cyclone, fourth typhoon and first super typhoon of the 1995 season, Kent formed on August 24 in the Western Pacific Ocean and moved westward where it reached typhoon status on August 26 east of the Philippines. Kent then rapidly strengthened into a super typhoon with winds reaching peak intensity of 150 mph as it brushed past the northern Philippines and southern Taiwan before making landfall in eastern People's Republic of China on August 31. After making landfall, Kent weakened and dissipated the following day. A strong and destructive typhoon, Kent left 52 fatalities and $418.9 million in damage in the Philippines, Taiwan and China.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave was detected by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on August 24. 24 hours later while northwest of Palau, the disturbance intensified to be classified as a tropical depression by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on August 25. The Japan Meteorological Agency also upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression at 1340 UTC. and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration named the depression Gening from its list of pacific typhoon names. Moving northwest, the depression continue to organize and forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center began to issue a tropical cyclone formation alert on the disturbance at 1130 UTC. On August 26, the tropical depression intensified into a tropical storm and was named Kent by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Kent then quickly intensified into a typhoon on August 27 as it drifted slowly west-northwest. As the storm strengthened, a banding type eye appeared as Kent reached maximum intensity of 150 mph on August 29 which is Supertyphoon status by JTWC classifications and equivent to a strong Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm also reached a low barometric pressure of 945 millibars. The JMA also assessed they typhoon attaining a 10-min peak of 100 mph Continuing west-northwest, the eye of Typhoon Kent passed over the Philippine island of Basco at 0100 UTC, radar imagery showed the storm undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle as it brushed past. Kent also weakened below super typhoon status as it accelerated towards China. Kent made landfall in China on August 31 50 miles northeast of Hong Kong. After landfall, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued its final warning on September 1 as Kent dissipated. The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued its final advisory on Kent.
Preparations
In Hong Kong, forecasters at the Royal Observatory issued a Stand by signal number one on August 30 and advised residents to take shelter as Kent neared mainland China. On August 31, the forecasters issued a gale warning as the storm neared closer.
Impact
Philippines and Taiwan
The center of Typhoon Kent brushed past the Philippine island of Basco where a weather station reported a barometric pressure of 945 millibars and 1 minute sustained winds of 135 mph. Kent caused moderate damage in Basco amounting to $2 million. In Itbayat, the typhoon caused $50,000 dollars in damage. In Luzon the typhoon inflicted the most damage as heavy rainfall caused severe flash flooding that forced 65,000 people to evacuate. The heavy rainfall also caused mudslides that flowed down the sides of Mount Pinatubo that buried small villages. The floodwaters and mudslides forced residents onto rooftops where they were rescued. Five people died in Luzon and over 178,000 people were affected by the flooding brought by Typhoon Kent. The Philippine Government provided relief efforts after the storm. In Taiwan, Kent caused one fatality and caused moderate flood damage.
South China
In Hong Kong, the outer rainbands of Kent brought heavy rains and gale-force winds as the storm approached. Two weather stations in Star Ferry and Lau Fau Shan reported winds of 47-50 mph. The RO headquarters reported a barometric pressure of 992 millibars. The Royal Observatory also reported rainfall of 5.31 inches over a two-day period. Another weather station reported a two-day rainfall total up to 8.31 inches, the highest rainfall total was near Kwai Chung where a weather station recorded 8.6 inches of rain. The heavy rainfall brought by Kent caused severe flash flooding across southern China. In Guangdong, flood waters damaged or destroyed 40,000 homes, inundated 3,000 km² of farmland and left 30 people dead. Damage there amounted to 3.2 billion 1995 RMB. The typhoon also killed 17 people in Hainan Island. In Hong Kong, the typhoon caused moderate tree damage and heavy rains caused numerous flood and landslides that blocked roads resulting in numerous road accidents that left five people injured.
