# 1976 Pacific typhoon season

The 1976 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1976, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1976 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.

## Systems

25 tropical storms formed this year in the Western Pacific. 14 storms reached typhoon intensity, of which 4 reached super typhoon strength.

### Typhoon Kathy

Typhoon Kathy was a Category 1 typhoon that stayed at sea for its entire life.

### Tropical Depression Asiang

Asiang was a Tropical Depression. It was named by PAGASA.

### Tropical Depression Biring

Biring was also named by PAGASA.

### Tropical Storm Lorna

Lorna was a weak tropical storm with wins of 65 km/h.

### Typhoon Marie (Konsing)

This category 4 typhoon affected the Philippines; but mostly stayed out to sea. Marie did not reach super typhoon status; but recorded a strong pressure of 930 millibars. Marie was the first category 4 of the season.

### Severe Tropical Storm Nancy

Nancy stayed at sea.

### Typhoon Olga (Didang)

The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression east of the Philippines on May 10. It tracked generally westward, reaching tropical storm status on the 13th while remaining poorly organized. On the 14th Olga relocated to the southeast, and regained tropical storm strength after weakening. The storm headed to the northwest, and looped in response to the approach of a long wave trough. After returning to a westward movement Olga, despite unfavorable wind shear, strengthened to a typhoon on the 20th. It rapidly intensified that night, and hit eastern Luzon early on the 21st as a 115 mph (185 km/h) typhoon. It drifted across the island, and turned northward in the South China Sea. Olga moved rapidly to the northeast, and on the 28th Olga was absorbed by a subtropical disturbance. Olga brought torrential flooding, at some points as much as 50 inches (1,300 mm) of rain. Because of this, 374 people were killed and thousands were left homeless. Olga also destroyed many of the sets used during the filming of Apocalypse Now.

### Super Typhoon Pamela

The near equatorial trough produced a tropical depression on May 14 north of Chuuk. It moved southwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 15th. Pamela slowly looped to the northwest, and reached typhoon status on the 16th. On the 18th and 19th, Pamela rapidly intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) super typhoon, and slowly weakened as it continued its northwest movement. On May 21 the typhoon crossed Guam with sustained winds of 140 mph (230 km/h). After slowly crossing the island, Pamela turned to the north, and weakened until becoming extratropical on the 26th. Pamela was the strongest typhoon to hit Guam since Super Typhoon Karen in 1962. Though Karen was much stronger, Pamela's slow crossing caused much more damage, amounting to $500 million (1976 USD, $1.7 billion 2005 USD). Well-executed warnings allowed for only one death in Guam. Before Typhoon Pamela hit Guam, ten people died in a landslide in Truk (Chuuk) from its heavy rains.

### Tropical Depression Gloring

Named by PAGASA.

### Typhoon Ruby (Huaning)

The monsoon trough spawned Tropical Depression 7W on June 20. It headed westward, slowly organizing into a tropical storm on the 23rd. Ruby turned to the northwest, and reached typhoon strength just before hitting Luzon on the 25th. It crossed the island, weakening to a tropical storm before turning to the northeast in the South China Sea. Ruby again became a typhoon on the 28th, and on July 2, the typhoon reached a peak of 140 mph (230 km/h) winds while south of Japan. The typhoon turned to the east, and became extratropical on the 3rd. 16 people were killed from the typhoon.

### Typhoon Sally (Isang)

Typhoon Sally formed on June 24. The storm was a Category 4 typhoon with 130 miles per hour of 1-minute sustained wind and 925 millibars of central pressure which did not threaten land.

### Super Typhoon Therese

Typhoon Therese, which developed on July 8, explosively deepened on the 12th and 13th to a 155 mph (249 km/h) super typhoon. Therese weakened as it continued to the northwest, and struck southwest Japan on the 19th as a tropical storm. It looped to the west, and dissipated on the 21st. Therese caused heavy flooding, killing 3 people and causing millions in damage. The storm was a Category 4 typhoon at peak, with 1-minute sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour and a central pressure of 905 millibars.

### Severe Tropical Storm Violet (Lusing)

Tropical Storm Violet struck Hong Kong and Hainan Island killing 2 people.

### Severe Tropical Storm Wilda

Tropical Storm Wilda hit Japan. The storm had a maximum 1-minute sustained wind speed of 50 miles per hour and a central pressure of 985 millibars.

### Typhoon Anita (Maring)

Anita hit Japan.

### Typhoon Billie (Nitang)

When 105 mph (169 km/h) Typhoon Billie hit eastern Taiwan and China, it caused heavy flooding and wind damage, amounting to 4 casualties (with 8 missing and 41 drownings) and $2.6 million in damage (1976 USD).

### Severe Tropical Storm Clara

Clara hit China.

### Tropical Storm Dot (Osang)

Dot hit China and Japan.

### Tropical Storm Ellen (Paring)

Tropical Storm Ellen struck Hong Kong killing 27 people and left 3 missing. Eighteen people were killed in one landslip in Sau Mau Ping, Hong Kong.

### Super Typhoon Fran (Reming)

An area of disturbed weather organized into Tropical Depression 17W on September 2. It tracked northwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 4th and a typhoon on the 6th. Fran rapidly intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) super typhoon on the 7th, and weakened as it turned northward. After stalling and drifting to the west, Fran continued its northward movement, hit southwestern Japan on the 12th, and became extratropical in the Sea of Japan on the 13th. The storm caused heavy flooding and wind damage, causing 133 fatalities (with 32 missing) and $572 million in damage (1976 USD, $1.9 billion in 2005 USD), the worst Japanese typhoon in over 10 years.

### Tropical Storm Georgia

Georgia moved north away from land.

### Typhoon Hope

Hope did not come near land.

### Tropical Depression Seniang

Seniang was short-lived.

### Typhoon Iris (Toyang)

Iris meandered over the South China Sea and struck South China.

### Typhoon Joan

Joan recurved east of Japan.

### Typhoon Louise (Welpring)

Louise was the strongest typhoon of the season, becoming a Super Typhoon, bringing minor impacts to the Philippines and Japan.

### Typhoon Marge (Yoning)

Marge was a strong tropical storm.

### Severe Tropical Storm Nora (Aring)

Nora brushed the Philippines.

### Tropical Storm Opal (Basiang)

Opal was a minimal tropical storm.

### Tropical Depression Kayang

The depression lasted a day.

## Storm names

Western North Pacific tropical cyclones were named by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The first storm of 1976 was named Kathy and the final one was named Opal.
| Agnes Bonnie Carmen Della Elaine Faye Gloria Hester Irma Judy Kit Lola Mamie Nina Ora Phyllis Rita Susan Tess Viola Winnie | Alice Betty Cora Doris Elsie Flossie Grace Helen Ida June Kathy 1W Lorna 2W Marie 3W Nancy 4W Olga 5W Pamela 6W Ruby 7W Sally 8W Therese 9W Violet 10W Wilda 11W | Anita 12W Billie 13W Clara 14W Dot 15W Ellen 16W Fran 17W Georgia 18W Hope 19W Iris 20W Joan 21W Kate 22C Louise 23W Marge 24W Nora 25W Opal 26W Patsy Ruth Sarah Thelma Vera Wanda | Amy Babe Carla Dinah Emma Freda Gilda Harriet Ivy Jean Kim Lucy Mary Nadine Olive Polly Rose Shirley Trix Virginia Wendy |
One Central Pacific system developed, Hurricane Kate. The policy at the time was to use Western Pacific names the Central Pacific.

### Philippines

| Asiang | Biring | Konsing | Didang | Edeng |
| Gloring | Huaning | Isang | Lusing | Maring |
| Nitang | Osang | Paring | Reming | Seniang |
| Toyang | Unsang | Welpring | Yoning | |
| Auxiliary list |||||
| | | | | Aring |
| Basiang | Kayang | Dorang (unused) | Enang (unused) | Grasing (unused) |
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones in their area of responsibility. PAGASA assigns names to tropical depressions that form within their area of responsibility and any tropical cyclone that might move into their area of responsibility. Should the list of names for a given year prove to be insufficient, names are taken from an auxiliary list, the first 6 of which are published each year before the season starts. Names not retired from this list will be used again in the 1980 season. This is the same list used for the 1972 season. PAGASA uses its own naming scheme that starts in the Filipino alphabet, with names of Filipino female names ending with "ng" (A, B, K, D, etc.). Names that were not assigned/going to use are marked in gray.

## Season effects

This table will list all the storms that developed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean west of the International Date Line and north of the equator during 1976. It will include their intensity, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, missing persons (in parentheses), and damage totals. Classification and intensity values will be based on estimations conducted by the JMA, however due to lack of information around this time sustained winds were recorded by the JTWC. All damage figures will be in 1976 USD. Damages and deaths from a storm will include when the storm was a precursor wave or an extratropical low.
| Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Peak intensity | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths | Refs |
| Name | Dates | Category | Wind speed | Pressure | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths | Refs |
| Kathy | January 27 – February 2 | Typhoon | 155 km/h (95 mph) | 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| Asiang | January 28 – February 1 | Tropical depression | 55 km/h (35 mph) | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | Philippines | None | None | |
| TD | February 1 – 5 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) | Mariana Islands | None | None | |
| Biring | February 8 – 11 | Tropical depression | 55 km/h (35 mph) | 1010 hPa (29.83 inHg) | Philippines | None | None | |
| Lorna | February 27 – March 1 | Tropical storm | 65 km/h (40 mph) | 998 hPa (28.47 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| Marie (Konsing) | April 2 – 14 | Typhoon | 215 km/h (135 mph) | 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) | Palau | None | None | |
| Nancy | April 25 – May 2 | Severe tropical storm | 100 km/h (60 mph) | 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Olga (Didang) | May 11 – 27 | Typhoon | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | Philippines, Ryukyu Islands | Unknown | 374 | |
| Pamela | May 14 – 27 | Typhoon | 240 km/h (150 mph) | 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) | Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands | $500 million | 11 | |
| TD | May 14 – 15 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1002 hPa (29.59 inHg) | Palau | None | None | |
| Gloring | June 14 – 21 | Tropical depression | 55 km/h (35 mph) | 1002 hPa (29.59 inHg) | Philippines, Ryukyu Islands | None | None | |
| TD | June 16 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Ruby (Huaning) | June 21 – July 4 | Typhoon | 220 km/h (135 mph) | 935 hPa (27.61 inHg) | Philippines, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands | Unknown | 16 | |
| TD | June 21 – 22 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) | South China | None | None | |
| Sally | June 23 – July 3 | Typhoon | 215 km/h (135 mph) | 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| Therese | July 9 – 21 | Typhoon | 250 km/h (155 mph) | 905 hPa (26.72 inHg) | Mariana Islands, Japan | Unknown | 3 | |
| TD | July 17 – 18 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| TD | July 18 – 21 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Violet (Lusing) | July 19 – 27 | Severe tropical storm | 100 km/h (60 mph) | 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) | South China | None | 0 2 | |
| Wilda | July 21 – 24 | Severe tropical storm | 85 km/h (55 mph) | 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) | Japan | None | None | |
| Anita (Maring) | July 21 – 27 | Typhoon | 120 km/h (75 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | Japan | Unknown | None | |
| TD | July 24 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| TD | July 26 – 27 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1002 hPa (29.59 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| TD | July 30 – August 2 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1002 hPa (29.59 inHg) | Ryukyu Islands | None | None | |
| TD | July 30 – August 1 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1002 hPa (29.59 inHg) | Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan | None | None | |
| Billie (Nitang) | August 1 – 12 | Typhoon | 120 km/h (75 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, East China | $2.6 million | 48 | |
| TD | August 1 – 2 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Clara | August 2 – 7 | Severe tropical storm | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) | South China | Unknown | Unknown | |
| TD | August 2 – 3 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1002 hPa (29.59 inHg) | South China | None | None | |
| Dot (Oyang) | August 17 – 23 | Tropical storm | 95 km/h (60 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | Japan, East China, South Korea | None | None | |
| Ellen (Paring) | August 20 – 25 | Tropical storm | 85 km/h (55 mph) | 992 hPa (28.29 inHg) | Philippines, South China | Unknown | 27 | |
| TD | August 31 – September 2 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1012 hPa (29.89 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Fran | September 3 – 14 | Typhoon | 240 km/h (150 mph) | 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) | Mariana Islands, Japan | $660 million | 169 | |
| Georgia | September 8 – 16 | Tropical storm | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| TD | September 9 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Iris (Toyang) | September 13 – October 1 | Typhoon | 140 km/h (85 mph) | 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) | Philippines, South China | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Hope | September 13 – 18 | Typhoon | 130 km/h (80 mph) | 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Seniang | September 13 – 14 | Tropical depression | 45 km/h (30 mph) | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| TD | September 17 – 18 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | Mariana Islands | None | None | |
| Joan | September 18 – 24 | Typhoon | 130 km/h (80 mph) | 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| TD | September 19 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| TD | September 26 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1008 hPa (29.77 inHg) | Ryukyu Islands | None | None | |
| TD | September 29 – October 1 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) | None | None | None | |
| Undang | September 29 – October 2 | Tropical depression | 45 km/h (30 mph) | 1002 hPa (29.53 inHg) | Ryukyu Islands | None | None | |
| Louise (Welpring) | October 28 – November 8 | Typhoon | 260 km/h (160 mph) | 895 hPa (26.43 inHg) | Caroline Islands, Philippines | None | None | |
| Marge (Yoning) | November 4 – 11 | Typhoon | 110 km/h (70 mph) | 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) | Caroline Islands, Ryukyu Islands | None | None | |
| TD | November 21 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| TD | November 28 − 30 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) | Philippines | None | None | |
| Nora (Aring) | December 2 – 7 | Severe tropical storm | 85 km/h (55 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | Philippines | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Opal (Barang) | December 7 – 10 | Tropical storm | 65 km/h (40 mph) | 996 hPa (29.41 inHg) | Caroline Islands | None | None | |
| Kayang | December 28 – 30 | Tropical depression | 45 km/h (30 mph) | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | Philippines | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Season aggregates |||||||||
| 51 systems | January 27 – December 30, 1976 | | 260 km/h (160 mph) | 895 hPa (26.43 inHg) | | >$1.16 billion | >650 | |