1987 Western Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Lynn 1987
Typhoon Lynn caused severe flooding in Taiwan in October 1987 even though its core remained offshore. The storm had already affected the Mariana Islands and northern Philippines during its long westward passage.
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161 mph
Oct 20, 1987 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
From the Marianas to the Luzon Strait
Lynn developed near the Marshall Islands and moved west-northwest. It passed near Guam and Tinian while strengthening, causing power outages and leaving families homeless in the Marianas. Regional damage was estimated at US$2 million in 1987 values.
The archive records peak one-minute winds of 140 kt on 20 October. Lynn then weakened while approaching the Luzon Strait. Its center remained offshore, but the Philippines reported seven deaths and extensive housing damage.
Severe flooding in Taiwan
Lynn passed south of Taiwan and brought destructive rain. Nine children died after being swept away during a field trip. In Taipei, 13 people died and more than 2,200 were rescued as floodwater affected the city.
Taiwan reported 42 deaths and widespread power outages. Lynn continued weakening under wind shear and dissipated late in October, with its remnants later bringing rain to China. The archive ends on 28 October.
Further reading
QUICK ANSWERS
Lynn in brief
What was Typhoon Lynn's highest wind speed?
161 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Oct 20, 1987, 12:00 AM UTC.
What category was Typhoon Lynn?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on Oct 20, 1987, 12:00 AM UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Typhoon Lynn's lowest pressure?
920 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Oct 20, 1987, 06:00 AM UTC.
When did Typhoon Lynn occur?
The archived track runs from Oct 14, 1987, 06:00 PM UTC to Oct 28, 1987, 06:00 AM UTC, with the tropical stage from Oct 14, 1987, 06:00 PM UTC to Oct 28, 1987, 03:00 AM UTC.
Where did Typhoon Lynn form?
In the Western Pacific basin, in the 1987 season. Its first archived position is 12.8°N, 167.7°E on Oct 14, 1987, 06:00 PM UTC.
Did Typhoon Lynn make landfall?
No archived position places Typhoon Lynn's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA's IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive's pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth's 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm's center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology