of Guam on November 2. The system slowly organized, becoming a tropical depression on November 4. Remaining nearly stationary, the depression intensified into a tropical storm late in the day. The cyclone then turned westward, becoming a typhoon by November 7. Late in the day, Dale passed south of Guam bringing winds as high as and high seas which overtopped cliffs high. Damage on the island totaled US$3.5 million (1996 dollars.) Continuing to intensify, Dale became a supertyphoon in the Philippine Sea on November 9. On November 10, Dale turned north, recurving east of the Philippines. On November 14, Dale accelerated east-northeast at more than as it became an extratropical cyclone. Tropical Storm Ernie (Toyang) In the Philippines, Ernie killed 24 people, left 12 others missing and caused $5.1 million in damages. Tropical Depression 38W Tropical Storm 38W existed from November 4 to November 12. Tropical Depression 39W Tropical Depression 39W developed on November 6. It struck Luzon on November 8 and then dissipated two days later. Tropical Depression 40W Tropical Depression 40W developed on November 25. It struck Mindanao several hours before dissipating on November 30. Tropical Depression 41W Tropical Depression 41W existed over the South China Sea from December 14 to December 20. Severe Tropical Storm Fern A tropical depression formed on December 21, when a low-level circulation center began to produce deep convection. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm the next day, and was given the name Fern by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The storm slowly intensified into a Category 1 typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, according to JTWC. Fern peaked north of Yap on December 26, with JTWC assessing winds of 150 km/h (90 mph), while the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) assessed peak winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), just below typhoon strength. The storm soon became sheared and weakened slowly. Fern continued to weaken to a tropical depression on December 30. Both agencies stopped advisories later on the same day. Tropical Depression Greg Two active monsoon troughs that also developed Typhoon Fern and Southern Hemisphere Cyclones Ophelia, Phil, and Fergus spawned Tropical Depression 43W in the South China Sea on December 21. Due to the troughs' nature, the depression headed east-southeastward, where it strengthened into the final tropical storm of the year on the 24th; Greg. After reaching a peak of winds it crossed the northern