 The initial tropical disturbance formed south of Majuro on November 27 . The small system developed quickly , becoming a tropical depression later that day , a tropical storm on November 28 , and a typhoon on November 29 . Kim turned northwest later the day due to a weakness in the subtropical ridge , before a strengthening high pressure system to its north forced a more westerly track by December 2 , with Kim becoming a super typhoon soon afterward . The cyclone moved just north of Saipan , knocking out all electricity and water . Damage on the island totalled US $ 15 million ( 1986 dollars ) . Retaining super typhoon intensity into December 3 , the system weakened and turned northwest on December 4 due to another weakness in the subtropical ridge . The high pressure system to its north restrengthened , turning Kim back to the west on December 5 . On December 8 , Kim made a cyclonic , or counter clockwise , loop due to a strong surface high building to its north , which was completed on December 11 . During the loop , Kim weakened back into a tropical storm , with tropical depression status regained by December 12 as Kim moved northwest . The system recurved east of Taiwan , dissipating by December 14 . 
