N. TYPHOON DINAH (14—21 OCTOBER 1959)
As previously mentioned in Section IV, forecasters of the JIWC have found the Stidd Diagram a valuable tool in first detecting tropical cyclones. The Stidd Diagram, included as page 30, shows the initial stages of development of Typhoon DINAH. DINAH first became a suspect area on 13 October in light of the higher than normal surface winds and multiple layers of clouds at Iniwetok, and the large 24-hour pressure falls at Ponape. As is evident from the Stidd Diagram, DINAH passed north of Ponape at approximately 1800Z on the 14th. Because of previous reconnaissance commitments on Typhoon CHARLOTTE, the first reconnaissance fix on DINAH was not made until 142230Z. The fix positioned DINAH approximately 600 miles southeast of Guam, and surface winds of 50 knots near the center were observed. Subsequent fixes indicated that DINAH was steadily intensifying, and. at 151800Z DINAH was upgraded to a typhoon.
DINAH continued to intensify, and the maximum surface winds near the center were 125 knots as she passed 120 miles to the south of Agana, Guam at 161000Z. At that time, although intense, DINAH was still small area-wise. It was therefore not surprising that the maximum gust recorded on Nimitz Hill (the site of FWC/JTWC) was 42 knots. For the next 36 hours after passing Guam, DINAH moved to the west-northwest while gradually decelerating. Early on the 18th, at 15N - 135E, DINAH turned sharply northward and, at an average speed of 10 knots, moved almost due north until reaching
140
