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Source: Typhoon Toraji (2024)

Typhoon Toraji, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Nika, was a fairly strong tropical cyclone that impacted the Philippines in early November 2024. It was the fourth tropical cyclone in a series to impact the Philippines, following Tropical Storm Trami and Typhoons Kong-rey, Yinxing, Usagi, and Man-yi which had occurred just a few days earlier. Additionally, it was the first time since records began in 1951 that four storms—named Yinxing, Toraji, Usagi, and Man-yi—had existed simultaneously in November.
The twenty-third named storm and tenth typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Toraji, developed into a low-pressure area and later into a tropical depression north of Yap on November 8. It moved into the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and PAGASA named the depression Nika the following day. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) then upgraded the system to a tropical storm, naming it Toraji. Satellite imagery shows that Toraji was undergoing rapid intensification, with a small system displaying an elongated, compact central dense overcast feature, measuring around 81–92 miles (130–148 km) in diameter. On November 10, the JMA upgraded the system to a typhoon. The agency reported that by 18:00 UTC, the system had reached its peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) and a central pressure of 975 hPa (28.79 inHg). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) indicated that the system peaked at Category 1-equivalent intensity on the Saffir–Simpson scale, with 1-minute sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph). The following day, Toraji made landfall on Dilasag, Aurora, on Luzon Island, before moving inland over mountainous terrain, resulting in significant weakening. Later that evening, Toraji emerged over the South China Sea, with satellite imagery revealing a tightly wrapped low-level circulation and fragmented deep convection beginning to reorganize over the northern semicircle. Satellite imagery showed a weakening of deep convection at the storm's center, with low-level cloud banding around the center and along the southern edge of the circulation, resulting from strong southerly vertical wind shear as it became embedded in the low-level northeasterly flow associated with a cold surge. The JMA continued to monitor the system until it was last noted at 06:00 UTC on November 15.
As the storm approached the northern Philippines, evacuation orders were issued for residents in 2,500 villages. PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals for several areas, and classes were suspended in various regions due to the storm's effects. A red alert warning was issued for Aurora, while officials in Aurora and Isabela reported fallen trees and power lines as the main impacts, blocking major roads. In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory raised Signal 8 on the latest calendar date ever recorded, surpassing the previous record set by Typhoon Pamela in 1972. At least four people were killed by the storm, while two others were injured. Damages from the storm amounted to US$7.76–61.1 million.