Hurricane–Typhoon Paka facts for kids
| Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Super Typhoon Paka on December 15
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| Formed | November 28, 1997 |
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| Dissipated | December 23, 1997 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h) 1-minute sustained: 185 mph (295 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 901 mbar (hPa); 26.61 inHg |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | $580 million (1997 USD) |
| Areas affected | Marshall Islands, Guam, Mariana Islands |
| Part of the 1997 Pacific hurricane season | |
Typhoon Paka was a super strong storm that happened in 1997. It was one of the most powerful typhoons ever seen in the Pacific Ocean during December. Paka is a Hawaiian name, meaning "Pat." This storm caused a lot of damage, especially on the islands of Guam and Rota. Luckily, no deaths were reported.
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What Was Typhoon Paka?
Typhoon Paka started on November 28, 1997. It began as a storm system far southwest of Hawaii. Over time, it grew bigger and stronger. It was the very last tropical cyclone of the 1997 Pacific hurricane and typhoon season.
Paka's Journey Across the Pacific
For most of its life, Typhoon Paka moved west across the ocean. On December 7, it crossed into the western Pacific. The storm's strength changed a lot during its journey. On December 10, it officially became a typhoon as it passed over the Marshall Islands.
Paka kept getting stronger. On December 16, it hit Guam and Rota. Its winds were incredibly fast, about 230 kilometers per hour (145 miles per hour). After leaving these islands, Paka became even more powerful. It reached its strongest point on December 18 over the open ocean. After that, it slowly began to weaken. By December 23, Typhoon Paka had completely disappeared.
How Paka Affected Islands
Typhoon Paka caused significant damage to several islands. It brought heavy rain and very strong winds.
Impact on the Marshall Islands
The first place Typhoon Paka hit was the Marshall Islands. The storm brought a lot of rain there. It caused about $80 million in damage. This money was used to fix buildings and roads.
Impact on Guam and Rota
Paka then passed just north of Guam. The strong winds were devastating. They destroyed about 1,500 buildings. Another 10,000 buildings were badly damaged. About 5,000 people lost their homes because of the storm. The entire island of Guam lost all its electricity. The total damage on Guam was around $500 million.
Impact on the Northern Mariana Islands
Typhoon Paka also caused some damage in the Northern Mariana Islands. However, the damage there was not as severe as on Guam. Across all affected areas, no deaths were reported due to Typhoon Paka.
Why Was Paka's Name Retired?
Because Typhoon Paka caused so much damage, especially on Guam, its name was officially "retired." This means that the name "Paka" will never be used again for another Pacific typhoon. Storm names are retired when a storm is very deadly or causes a lot of destruction. This helps people remember the storm and its impact.
