The 2026 Pacific typhoon season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation in the western Pacific Ocean. The season runs throughout 2026, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The first named storm of the season, Nokaen, developed on January15, marking the first named storm to develop in the month of January since Tropical Storm Pabuk in 2019.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean north of the equator between 100°E and the 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, two separate agencies assign names to tropical cyclones, which can result in a system having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA)[nb 1] names a tropical cyclone when it is estimated to have 10-minute sustained winds of at least 65km/h (40mph) anywhere in the basin. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration(PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones that move into or form as a tropical depression within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), defined as the area between 135°E–115°E and 5°N–25°N, regardless of whether the JMA has already named the system. Tropical depressions monitored by the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center(JTWC)[nb 2] are given a numerical designation with a "W" suffix, which means "west", a reference to the western Pacific region.[nb 3]
During the year, several national meteorological services and scientific agencies forecast how many tropical cyclones, tropical storms, and typhoons would form during the season and/or how many tropical cyclones would affect a particular country. These agencies included the Tropical Storm Risk(TSR) Consortium of University College London, PAGASA, Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) and Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA).
The first outlook was released by PAGASA on December15, 2025, in its monthly seasonal climate outlook, covering the first half of 2026. The agency forecast that zero to three tropical cyclones were expected to form or enter the PAR between January and March, while two to five were expected to form or enter the PAR between April and June.[3] PAGASA also mentioned that the short-lived and weak La Niña, which began during the fourth quarter of 2025, would persist for a month or two, with a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) transition between January and March.[3]
The year began with a weak La Niña cycle that developed in 2025.[4] According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) forecast, the ENSO state was likely to return to neutral by mid-year and potentially transition to an El Niño phase during the second half of the year.
Seasonal summary
Early season activity
The season began with the formation of Tropical Storm Nokaen (locally known as Ada), which was named on January15, although it originally formed two days earlier as a tropical depression. Nokaen became the first tropical cyclone to form in January since Tropical Storm Pabuk in 2019. The storm then moved northwestwards, affecting nearby parts of Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region. It then shifted northeastwards, where Nokaen started its gradual weakening as a result of the increasing surge of the northeast monsoon before dissipating on January 22.
On January13, the JTWC started monitoring a low-pressure area that developed 170 nautical miles (310km) south of Palau, with satellite imagery indicating a disorganized low-level circulation center (LLCC).[5] The JMA later followed suit, identifying the same system as a tropical depression.[6] The following day, at 08:00PHT (00:00UTC), PAGASA also classified the system, assigning it the name Ada.[7] Later that day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for Ada as it continued to intensify.[8] At 15:00UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression, designating it as 01W.[9] At 06:00UTC on January15, the JMA recognized 01W as a tropical storm and named it Nokaen.[10] Despite being in a favorable environment, Nokaen maintained its intensity while remaining stationary along the southern periphery of a subtropical high.[11] It then shifted northeastward slowly as it moved over marginal conditions.[12] On January19, PAGASA noted that Nokaen weakened into a tropical depression;[13] the system further weakened into a remnant low on January21[14] and dissipated on January22.[citation needed]
Within the northwest Pacific Ocean, both the JMA and PAGASA assign names to tropical cyclones that develop in the region, which can result in a tropical cyclone having two names.[19] The JMA's RSMC Tokyo–Typhoon Center assigns international names to tropical cyclones on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization's Typhoon Committee should they be judged to have 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 65km/h (40mph).[20] PAGASA names tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their PAR, located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N and 25°N, even if the cyclone has had an international name assigned to it.[19] Should the list of names for the region be exhausted, then names will be taken from an auxiliary list, the first ten of which are published each season. Unused names are marked in gray. The names of significant tropical cyclones will be retired by both PAGASA and the Typhoon Committee in the spring of 2027.[20]
A tropical cyclone is assigned a name once it reaches 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 65km/h (40mph). The JMA selects the names from a list of 140 contributed by the 14 members nations and territories of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee.[21] Retired names, if any, will be announced by the WMO in 2027, with replacement names to be announced in 2028. The next 28names on the naming list are shown below, along with their international numeric designations if they are used. All the names in the list are the same, except for Nokaen, Penha, Peilou, Narra, Gaenari, and Bang-Lang, which replaced Phanfone, Vongfong, Linfa, Molave, Goni, and Vamco after the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The name Nokaen was used for the first time this season.
PAGASA uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones that develop within or enter their self-defined area of responsibility.[22] During this season, PAGASA uses the following list of names, which was last used during 2022 and is scheduled to be used again in 2030, with replacements for any retired names.[22] All of the names are the same except Ada, Francisco, Kiyapo, and Pilandok, which replaced the names Agaton, Florita, Karding, and Paeng after they were retired.[22] The name Ada was used for the first time this season.
Ada (2601)
Basyang(unused)
Caloy(unused)
Domeng(unused)
Ester(unused)
Francisco(unused)
Gardo(unused)
Henry(unused)
Inday(unused)
Josie(unused)
Kiyapo(unused)
Luis(unused)
Maymay(unused)
Neneng(unused)
Obet(unused)
Pilandok(unused)
Queenie(unused)
Rosal(unused)
Samuel(unused)
Tomas(unused)
Umberto(unused)
Venus(unused)
Waldo(unused)
Yayang(unused)
Zeny(unused)
Auxiliary list
Agila(unused)
Bagwis(unused)
Chito(unused)
Diego(unused)
Elena(unused)
Felino(unused)
Gunding(unused)
Harriet(unused)
Indang(unused)
Jessa(unused)
Season effects
This table summarizes all tropical systems that developed within or moved into the Western Pacific basin during 2026, defined as the region west of the 180th meridian. It also provides an overview of each system's intensity, duration, affected land areas, and any associated deaths or damage.
↑The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy–United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the western Pacific Ocean and other regions.[1]
↑A super typhoon is an unofficial category used by the JTWC for a typhoon with winds of at least 240km/h (150mph).[2]
↑Frequently Asked Questions (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. August 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
12The Typhoon Committee (February 21, 2013). "Typhoon Committee Operational Manual 2013"(PDF). World Meteorological Organization. pp.37–38. Archived(PDF) from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
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