Typhoon Agnes originated from an isolated area of convection located near the equator on October 28.

Satellite imagery indicated a possible low pressure area near 149° E. Although the disturbance was not
attached to the monsoon trough, an upper-level anticyclone became situated aloft, providing the system
with strong ventilation.[1] Midday on October 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started
tracking the system,[2] with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgrading the system to a tropical
depression on the same day.[nb 1][4] Late on October 31, shower activity increased drastically in both
coverage and organization as the disturbance tracked northwest. Early the next day, the JTWC issued a
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert. Shortly thereafter, a Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated the system
and found winds of 95 km/h (60 mph); these winds were significantly higher than intensity estimates
from the Dvorak technique. At 06:00 UTC on November 1, the JTWC issued its first warning on the
system, upgrading it to a tropical storm and naming it Agnes.[1] The JMA also classified Agnes as a
tropical storm at this time.[nb 2][6]

Although Agnes initially continued to track northwest,[1] passing through the Caroline Islands,[7] by the
evening of November 1, Agnes moved northward enough to feel the effects of a subtropical ridge
anchored to its north, causing the storm to turn west-northwest. Despite its asymmetric structure,[1]
the JTWC classified Agnes as a typhoon midday on November 2.[2] The storm began to rapidly intensify
on November 3, with the JMA upping Agnes to a severe tropical storm at 00:00 UTC, and to a typhoon
six hours later. Meanwhile, the JTWC elevated the intensity to 185 km/h (115 mph), which would make
it a Category 3 hurricane on the United States-based Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). That
afternoon, however, the typhoon began to level off in strength.[6] Around this time, the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also monitored the storm
and assigned it with the local name Undang.[8] After developing a small 10 km (6 mi) wide eye, at 18:00
UTC on November 4, the JTWC increased the winds to 225 km/h (140 mph), equal to Category 4
intensity on the SSHWS, its peak intensity.[1] At the same time, the JMA estimated peak intensity of 195
km/h (120 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 925 mbar (27.3 inHg).[4]

Shortly after attaining maximum intensity, the typhoon continued west-northwest and made landfall 10
km (6.2 mi) south of Borongan on Samar Island. Land interaction resulted in a weakening trend as it
crossed the archipelago; however, due to its brisk forward motion, the JTWC reported that Agnes was
still a typhoon when it emerged into the South China Sea,[1] though the JMA estimated it weakened into
a severe tropical storm over land.[6] Over water, Agnes re-intensified, with the JMA designating it a
typhoon again on the morning of November 6.[4] Later that day, the agency estimated the storm
attained its secondary peak intensity of 135 km/h (85 mph). Meanwhile, the JTWC estimated that the
storm regained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), an intensity that the storm would maintain until Agnes
made its second landfall on November 7 40 km (25 mi) north of Qui Nhơn in Vietnam. Rapid weakening
occurred over land, and at 00:00 UTC on November 8, the JTWC ceased following Agnes[1] as it had
tracked into Thailand.[7] Thirty hours later, the JMA followed suit.[4]

Impact
Typhoon Agnes just before its first landfall

Philippines

Philippine Airlines suspended all southbound flights from Manila during the storm's passage, but by
November 5, all flights resumed except those to Tacloban, where the airport sustained severe damage.
[9] In the Iloilo province, several rivers overflowed their banks, resulting in 1.8 m (6 ft) deep water along
streets.[10] A total of two hundred thirty people were killed,[11] including three from drownings, with
four others injured. There, 21 homes were destroyed while 1,326 people were listed as homeless.[10]
Damage in the province was at least $5 million.[12] Offshore, 32 fisherman were feared dead.
Approximately 20% of the rice crop was destroyed, with the worst effects coming along the Jaro river.
[13] Nearby, in the town of Pilar, 38 people died.[14] In the neighboring Aklan province, 24 lives were
lost.[15]

Most of Roxas, population 100,000, was underwater due to the storm. Around 80% of houses there
were damaged,[14] 40–50% homes were destroyed,[16] and 100 people were killed.[14] Throughout
the surrounding Capiz province, 265 people were killed[15] and many towns were underwater.[13] In
that province and Illoilo, damage totaled $40 million,[15] with property damage in just Capiz amounting
to $25 million.[17] Throughout Panay Island, 448 fatalities were reported[18] and at least eight people
were injured.[12] Island-wide, the storm destroyed five bridges and thirty-five schools. It also wrecked
dozens of fishing boats, and uprooted trees.[19] There, 4,014 homes were demolished, resulting in more
than 24,000 individuals losing their homes.[20] Elsewhere, 41 people were killed in Leyte Island and
Samar Island.[17] In the former, two ships capsized that resulted in two drownings[13] and property
damage totaled $40 million.[21] In the Antique province, authorities reported five deaths. In the
Romblon province, five casualties occurred.[17] On Cebu Island, six people died.[15] Within the vicinity
of the island nation, 38 children died aboard a ferry boat after it sank, though the adults on the boat
swam to safety.[22]

Nationwide, 895 people perished, with 272 people reported missing and 2,526 others hurt.[23] Eighteen
fishing boats sunk in offshore waters.[11] Based on reports from the Philippines Welfare Ministry,
491,968 people were evacuated to shelter in 27 provinces,[24] most of whom were homeless.[25] In all,
201,014 homes were destroyed,[26] which led to roughly 600,000 people losing their homes.[7]
Furthermore, 163,056 homes were damaged. Damage was estimated at $90.7 million,[nb 3] with $19.1
million from crops, $56.9 million from public infrastructure, and $14.8 million from private
infrastructure.[26] Agnes marked the final of several tropical cyclones to hit the nation that season, after
June,[27] Ike,[28] and Warren.[29][1] The United Press International noted it was the first time in living
memory that Philippines was deluged with three catastrophic storms.[18]