page_title: Meteorological history of Typhoon Durian
section_title: Background and origins
hierarchical_section_title: Meteorological history of Typhoon Durian / Background and origins
caption_attribution_description: English: Track map of the five successive typhoons that struck the Philippines between September and December 2006. The points show the location of the storm at 6-hour intervals. The color represents the storm's maximum sustained wind speeds as classified in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (see below), and the shape of the data points represent the nature of the storm, according to the legend below. Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Tropical depression&lt;39 mph&lt;63 km/h Category 3111–129 mph178–208 km/h Tropical storm39–73 mph63–117 km/h Category 4130–156 mph209–251 km/h Category 174–95 mph119–153 km/h Category 5&gt;156 mph&gt;251 km/h Category 296–110 mph154–177 km/h Unknown Storm typeTropical cycloneSubtropical cycloneExtratropical cyclone / Remnant low / Tropical disturbance
context_page_description: Typhoon Durian's meteorological history began with its origins as a tropical disturbance near Chuuk State on November 23, 2006, and lasted until its dissipation off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, India, on December 9. Durian formed as a tropical depression on November 25 near Chuuk State. Situated south of a ridge, the system tracked west-northwest over a region characterized by low wind shear and good upper-level divergence. Late on November 26, the depression intensified into a tropical storm and was named Durian. Steady strengthening took place over the following two days as the system approached the Philippines. After attaining typhoon status on November 29, Durian underwent a period of rapid intensification, culminating with it attaining peak winds of 195 km/h and a barometric pressure of 915 mbar. Durian brushed the southern coast of the Catanduanes at this intensity, where a record gust of 320 km/h was observed.
  Slight weakening took place before the storm made landfall in the Bicol Region. Land interaction precipitated further degradation of storm, though it retained typhoon status upon emerging over the South China Sea on December 1.
context_section_description: The 2006 Pacific typhoon season was characterized by a large number of intense typhoons despite a near-normal number of named storms. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the year featured seven super typhoons, the third-highest since reliable records began in 1970. This was partially attributed to the presence of an El Niño, especially toward the latter half of the season. Though not a strong ENSO event, it peaked during November and coincided with a series of powerful typhoons impacting the Philippines. Meteorologist Gary Padgett regarded the event as, "a veritable parade of intense [and] destructive typhoons." The first of these storms was Typhoon Xangsane in late September which explosively intensified shortly after its formation near Samar Island. The storm killed more than 200 people in the country and inflicted 5.9 billion PHP (US$150 million) in damage. In late October, Typhoon Cimaron became one of the most intense storms to strike Luzon; however, it impacted a sparsely populated region and relatively few casualties took place. Less than three weeks later, a Typhoon Chebi followed a similar path to Cimaron, though its small size contributed to relatively limited damage. Typhoon Durian would become the fourth of these powerful storms to impact the country. The final typhoon in the "parade" was Utor in December, which was the weakest of the five and followed a more southerly track.
  The origins of Typhoon Durian can be traced to a tropical disturbance that developed near Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia on November 23. Initially, the system featured a broad low- to mid-level circulation and good outflow. Situated within an area of moderate wind shear, development was initially inhibited; however, following a decrease in shear on November 25, organization improved. On November 25, a tropical wave – an elongated area of low air pressure moving from east to west – interacted with the system and triggered tropical cyclogenesis. Post-storm modeling determined that this wave was an essential factor in the storm's formation and had it not formed, Durian would not have become a tropical cyclone. With convection wrapping into the storm's circulation, the JTWC classified it as a tropical depression around 1200 UTC. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) followed suit three hours later. Situated south of a mid-level ridge, the system tracked generally west-northwest toward the Philippines. The depression gradually organized and gained strength, reaching tropical storm status late on November 26. At that time, the JMA assigned it the name Durian.
caption: Tracks of the five typhoons that struck the Philippines between September and December 2006
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