Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | May 19,2023 |
Extratropical | June 2,2023 |
Dissipated | June 3,2023 |
Violent typhoon | |
10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
Highest winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 900 hPa (mbar);26.58 inHg |
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 305 km/h (190 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 891 hPa (mbar);26.31 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 6 total |
Injuries | 10 |
Missing | 5 |
Damage | $4.3 billion (2023 USD) |
Areas affected | Federated States of Micronesia,Northern Mariana Islands,Guam,Philippines,Taiwan,Japan |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season |
Typhoon Mawar,known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Betty,was one of the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones on record in the month of May,and the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2023. [1] The name "Mawar" means Rose in Indonesia. The second named storm,the first typhoon and the first super typhoon of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season,Mawar originated from an area of low pressure south-southwest of Chuuk Lagoon that developed into a tropical depression on May 19. It fluctuated in intensity and became a tropical storm,after which it intensified into a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. It then underwent an eyewall replacement cycle,then reintensified to attain 1-minute sustained winds of 305 km/h (190 mph) according to the JTWC,becoming a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon. Mawar weakened slightly as it moved around the southwestern edge of the subtropical high that made it steer north of the Philippines and then east of Taiwan. Mawar traversed the Okinawa Islands as a tropical storm,then transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it moved northeastward out to sea,where it later dissipated east of Kamchatka Peninsula.
Typhoon Mawar passed north of Guam as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon on May 24,bringing hurricane-force winds and heavy rain marking as the strongest storm to affect the island since Typhoon Pongsona in 2002. [2] [3] U.S. President Joe Biden declared Guam a major disaster area on May 27,enabling the distribution of federal funds. Two men are presumed dead after going missing in the waters off Guam;additionally,one death related to the storm has been reported in Taiwan. Mawar caused one death,one minor injury,and damage worth ₱201,696 (US$3,584) as it passed close to the eastern Philippines. [4] Heavy rain in parts of Japan killed two people and left four people missing. [5] At least 8,900 homes experienced power outages in Japan. Total damages from Mawar are estimated to reach US$4.3 billion. [6]
On May 17, a weak low-level circulation (LLC) located 865 km (535 mi) south of Guam was marked by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) as Invest 97W. Global forecast models such as the Global Forecast System and Navy Global Environmental Model indicated that the disturbance would gradually intensify into a tropical cyclone in the upcoming days. [7] The atmospheric convection broadened over the LLC the following day. [8] Later the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the disturbance after thunderstorms became very wide and organization had improved. [9] The Japan Meteorological Agency also began tracking the system, marking it as a low-pressure area [10] shortly before upgrading it to a tropical depression on May 19. [11] The system steered northward due to the weak trade winds. [12] The JTWC followed suit on May 20 after the depression had strengthened from warm sea surface temperatures and poleward and westward outflow, designating it 02W. [13] The same day, the depression upgraded to a tropical storm after a scatterometer pass revealed winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) in the southwest quadrant, as it formed a central dense overcast. [14] The JMA in response, assigned the name Mawar to the storm. [15] The JMA further upgraded the storm to severe tropical storm status at 00:00 UTC of May 21, [16] as the deep convection in the CDO completely obscured the LLCC. [17] Both the JMA and JTWC upgraded Mawar to a typhoon on May 21. [18] [19] An eye formed under the CDO on May 22, [20] as rainbands wrapped around the circulation center of the system. [21]
On May 23, Mawar rapidly intensified to winds of 215 km/h (130 mph), equivalent to Category 4 strength on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). Furthermore, Mawar underwent an eyewall replacement cycle. [22] But despite usually causing the storm to weaken, the typhoon strengthened even further into a super typhoon, the highest classification of strength from the JTWC, after reaching winds of 250 km/h (155 mph). [23] On May 24, the center of Mawar passed just off the northern tip of Guam and Andersen Air Force Base as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon with maximum sustained winds up to 140 mph with gusts up to 165 mph around 9 p.m. local time, then slightly weakened. [24] [25] [26] On May 25, the aforementioned eyewall replacement cycle had been completed, and a uniform eye had appeared. Initially cloud-filled, the storm quickly cleared it out and continued strengthening slowly as it moved west-northwestward. [27] By the next day, Mawar reached its peak intensity, attaining 1-minute sustained winds of 305 km/h (190 mph) according to the JTWC, which is equivalent to Category 5 strength on the SSHWS. [28] It also had 10-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph) and a minimum central barometric pressure of 900 hPa (26.58 inHg) which was assessed by the JMA. [29] While being large and symmetrical, Mawar again went through another eyewall replacement cycle, [30] resuming its weakening trend from the process. However, its concentric eye still remained large throughout the procedure. [31] By 18:00 UTC of May 26, Mawar entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and PAGASA hence assigned it the name Betty. [32]
On May 27, Mawar slightly weakened under the influence of dry air while moving west along the southern edge of a subtropical high. [33] The structural degradation continued as Mawar's convection fragmented at the northern side of the storm. During that time, Mawar was situated in an area where the sea surface temperatures were 28 °C (82 °F), indicating a cooling trend as the storm's outflow became impacted by it. [34] The CDO shrank from the dry air on May 29, [35] while the convective decay continued on Mawar's northwest quadrant while steering north-northeastward from a subtropical ridge to the northwest and east of the storm. [36] The eye was no longer detected on satellite imagery on May 30 as yet another weak eyewall replacement cycle commenced. [37] As a result, Mawar weakened into a severe tropical storm as the JMA reported on May 31, [38] before exiting the PAR on June 1. [39] Mawar continued to further weaken into a tropical storm on June 2 whilst moving towards Okinawa Island. [40] [41] [42] The following day, Mawar became an extratropical cyclone south of Honshu, as it moved towards the open Pacific. [43]
A typhoon watch was in effect for the Mariana Islands by May 21; [44] [45] a flood watch was also issued for the islands as the storm neared. [46] Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson (commander of Joint Region Marianas) set the Condition of Readiness at level 3 (COR 3) on May 21 while Mawar was a tropical depression some 660 mi (1,060 km) south-southeast of Guam. Military installations on Guam began to secure facilities in response to the anticipated storm. [47] The United States Coast Guard evacuated two of its vessels stationed on the islands out to sea. [46] COR 2 was declared at 8 p.m. ChST later that day, prompting the closure of courts and public schools as the Government of Guam suspended nonessential services. [48] [44] Hospitals and clinics on Guam also curtailed services in response to the COR 2 issuance. [49] Other neighboring islands, such as Rota and Saipan, also closed establishments in preparation for Mawar. [50] [51] All public schools on the Northern Marianas Islands were closed beginning on May 22. [52] Flights to Guam were cancelled between May 22–24. [53] The SCLC caging playoffs were also suspended due to the incoming tempest. [54]
Leon Guerrero declared a state of emergency for Guam on May 22, stating that Mawar presented an "imminent, credible and significant threat to the health, safety and welfare of Guam." [55] President Joe Biden approved emergency declarations for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands the same day, enabling the allocation of federal resources to the threatened islands [56] [57] COR 1 was placed in effect for Guam at 1 p.m. ChST on May 23. [58] Leon Guerrero issued an evacuation order for the Guam's low-lying coastal districts, ordering residents to evacuate to higher ground by 6 p.m. ChST later that day. [59] Villages subject to the evacuation order included Hågat, Humåtak, Malesso, and Talo'fo'fo. The evacuation order also directed the Guam National Guard to assist evacuations. [60] The Guam Department of Education opened emergency shelters at 12 schools at 8 a.m. ChST on May 23. [61] [60] By 9 p.m. ChST, 862 people were housed in government-operated shelters. [62] The evacuation of people on military installations in threatened areas was also authorized by Nicholson. [63]
Ahead of the storm, PAGASA has issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 for the eastern part of Cagayan, including the islands of Babuyan and Camiguin, as well as the eastern portion of Isabela. [64] The agency also began raising Signal No. 2 warnings in parts of Northern Luzon. [65] A total of 689,885 family food packages have been pre-positioned nationwide by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in preparation of possible landfall of Mawar. [66] [67] The NDRRMC has activated its emergency preparedness and response protocols. [68] The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has begun preparing staff and equipment for the potential effects of Mawar. [69] President Bongbong Marcos said that funds and food supplies have been set up, and emergency teams are on standby. [70] Classes were also suspended in some areas on May 26. [71] Five Aurora towns had their tourism activities suspended by local authorities. [72] According to the NDRRMC, 5,990 people were preemptively evacuated. [4]
In Taiwan, a sea warning was issued by the Central Weather Bureau. [73] Heavy rain was anticipated in northern and eastern Taiwan. [74] The Ministry of Transportation and Communications reported that over 25 ships on six different routes, including ferries traveling from Keelung, Taipei, Chiayi, and Pingtung County to the Matsu Islands and Penghu as well as Orchid and Green Islands, ceased operation on May 30. [74] Due to the storm, 28 domestic flights were canceled and one was delayed. [75] Residents of Japan's southern Sakishima Islands group, which includes the Okinawa Islands, were already preparing for the storm. [76]
The US military, which has approximately 20,000 troops stationed in several facilities on Okinawa, will take precautionary measures as the storm approaches, depending on the necessity. [76] Flood warnings were issued by the JMA for the Okinawa island chain, as well as areas of Shikoku and Honshu islands, with 350 mm (14 in) of rain anticipated for western Honshu. [77] Additionally, the nearby city of Yokohama received warnings of heavy rain and mudslides. [78] According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, about 1.3 million people were urged to evacuate across Japan. [77] The Ministry of Transport reported that around 300 flights and 52 ferries had been canceled on June 2. [77]
Power outages began affecting parts of Guam on May 22 as winds from Mawar intensified up to 140 mph (230 km/h) sustained, with gusts approaching 165 mph (266 km/h). [79] During the evening of May 24, the eye of Typhoon Mawar passed through the northern coast of Guam as it traversed the Rota Channel and Andersen Air Force Base. [80] The local National Weather Service office issued an extreme wind warning at 5:22 p.m in effect until 6:45 p.m., but then was later extended to 10:45 p.m. for May 24th for the northern half of Guam. [81] Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport had also recorded winds up to 104.7 miles per hour (168.5 km/h) as Mawar impacted the island when the Extreme Wind Warning was still in effect, but the office later lost its wind sensors before the height of the storm around 9 pm. [82] [83] The Weather Prediction Center reported that multiple locations in Guam received at least 20 inches (510 mm) of rain during Typhoon Mawar, with most of it falling in just three hours. [84] A United States Geological Survey rain gauge in Dededo, Guam measured the most rainfall at 28.42 inches (722 mm). [85]
Despite being the strongest storm to strike the island in over 20 years, overall structural damage was relatively limited. [86] However, the typhoon's powerful winds did defoliate and uproot trees, topple billboards, and tear tin roofing from buildings. [87] Floodwaters in Yona were reported to be waist-deep. [86] Guam Memorial Hospital suffered some damage as typhoon shutters gave out, walls collapsed, and windows broke. Torrential rains pouring through damaged areas of the building caused staircases to flood with water. The hospital's kitchen caught fire during the storm, leaving it useless. [88] Four piers operated by Mobil were damaged at the Port of Guam. [89] Along Piti Channel, three barges, two mobile crane barges, and a derelict vessel were grounded. Two tugboats sank during the storm, forcing crew members to abandon ship. A dry dock at Cabras Island sank. The Sumay Cove Marina at Naval Base Guam suffered damage. Navy Rescue 21 Search and Rescue towers were rendered inoperable. [90] Two men were swept out to sea off Guam in separate incidents on May 25. [91] Efforts to locate them would have no results by May 27 and the two men are presumed dead. [92]
On the afternoon of May 26, 41.4% of Guam Power Authority substations had been energized and 3.8% of system load for customers had been restored. Additionally, the Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) reported that 50% of operable water wells were online, with connections yet to be restored to Navy-supplied sources in Sånta Rita-Sumai and Nimitz Hill Annex. [93] Eight public water tanks from the GWA were set up across Guam by May 28 as water service was slowly restored. A boil water advisory remained in place for residents with access to tap water. [94] Telecommunication providers Docomo Pacific, GTA Teleguam (GTA), and IT&E worked to restore service. Docomo suspended data caps and distributed generators to keep services running. GTA reported repair work would not begin until power was restored. IT&E's fiber-optic network was damaged in southern Guam. [95] As of May 30,2023 [update] , the FCC reported that 163 cell towers remained offline: seven due to damage, but the remainder due to a lack of power. Another 120 towers were operating on backup power. [96] A lack of power and fuel for generators, along with damage to studios and transmission facilities, kept radio and television stations off the air after the storm, too. [97] [98] Approximately 3,000 Korean tourists were stranded on the island as the island's international airport remained shut down due to damage caused by Typhoon Mawar. [99] The Guam Visitors Bureau provided them with meal vouchers and refunds. [100] Damages from Mawar to businesses were estimated to be US$111.8 million, [101] The Guam Memorial Hospital's reported damages were at least US$12 million, [102] and The Port Authority of Guam has estimated US$8.2 million in damages, excluding the assessments of fuel piers. [103] A prison in Guam sustained US$2 million. [104]
President Joe Biden declared Guam a major disaster area on May 27, enabling the distribution of federal funds. A total of 150 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel were on the island by this point. [105] Guam Delegate James Moylan penned a request to FEMA for the distribution of supplies from a warehouse containing over 1 million units of water and 900,000 meals. [106] The Port of Guam reopened on May 28, with three United States Coast Guard Sentinel-class cutters and the Matson, Inc. cargo ship Maunawili docking with emergency supplies and food. The USCGC Sequoia (WLB-215) and Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit Five conducted sweeps around the port entrance to ensure no debris would hinder maritime traffic. [107] Carrier Strike Group 11 with the flagship USS Nimitz was directed to Guam to assist in relief efforts. An HC-130 Hercules aircraft was sent from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii with supplies. [90] Gas station lines reached 1 mi (1.6 km) long at times as residents flocked to refuel their cars. [108] Supplies of fuel were available but distribution was hampered by damaged fuel piers at the Port of Guam. The Guam Police Department coordinated with fuel companies to escort fuel trucks to gas stations. [89] The Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport opened one runway on May 28 to allow cargo planes carrying supplies and personnel to land. [109] On May 30, more than 180 trained Red Cross disaster workers from all over the United States are on the islands, distributing relief supplies, supporting feeding efforts in community-run shelters, and assessing residential damage to help and support people affected by Mawar. [110]
During the passage of Mawar, it had damaged a NEXRAD site in Barrigada. Initially being restored back into operation, the installment had suffered ongoing issues and as of April 24, 2024, as NOTAMS reporting it as "unservicable". [111]
North of Guam, Rota suffered some damage from the storm. Trees and debris littered roadways and many residents were left without power. By May 27, only 21 people remained in shelters and were allowed to return home that day. The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation reported water service was restored by May 27. The company also offered 50 US gal (190 L) to all residents while still advising them to boil water. Roadways were cleared within a few days of the storm. The local chapter of the Red Cross planned to distribute emergency supplies. [112] The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flew in to Rota conduct damage assessments on May 27. [113]
In the Philippines, Mawar caused a warehouse to collapse which is the only reported damage, there was one person who suffered a minor injury was reported. [114] [115] The NDRRMC reported 104,305 affected people. [4] In addition, 11 houses were destroyed and 91 others were damaged. [4] [116] A storm surge caused by Mawar destroyed parts of the coastal town of Baler, Aurora, causing some residents to lose their homes. [117] Mawar caused power outages in parts of Cagayan. [114] Over 40 nipa huts from the Aeta village in San Luis, Aurora, were destroyed by the strong winds. [114] Some tourists are stranded on the island of Batanes. [118] A man died from a lightning strike on May 31 while fishing off the coast of Nabas, Aklan. [4] Agricultural damages are estimated by the NDRRMC at ₱133,000, [4] : 64 with infrastructural damages estimated at ₱68,696. [4] In total, the NDRRMC estimates at least ₱201,696 (US$3,584) in damages. [4]
In Taiwan, A 13-year-old boy was found dead, and a 12-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man were swept out to sea. The man made it back to land while the 12-year-old is still missing. [119] 330 travelers were stranded on Green Island and 478 on Orchid Island, according to the MOTC. [120] Several rivers were near the tops of their banks by mid-afternoon, and flooding was reported in Shizuoka Prefecture. [121] A total of 8,900 homes experienced power outages. [121]
In Okinawa's southern prefecture, one person suffered a serious injury and seven others were injured. [121] Mawar killed two people and left four people missing. [5] At least nine people were hospitalized with storm-related injuries in the southern prefecture of Okinawa on June 2. [122]
Typhoon Neoguri, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ambo, was the earliest tropical cyclone on record to strike China. The first named storm in the 2008 Pacific typhoon season, named after the Korean word for raccoon dog, it formed from a low pressure area on April 13 to the east of the Philippine island of Mindanao, and after crossing the island it intensified into a tropical storm in the South China Sea. Environmental conditions allowed for quick strengthening, with Neoguri attaining typhoon status on April 16. The typhoon reached its peak intensity on April 18 as it approached the island of Hainan, and subsequently it turned northward. Due to increased wind shear and cooler waters, Neoguri rapidly weakened and made landfall as a minimal tropical storm in southern China on April 19.
The 2012 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly above average season that produced 25 named storms, fourteen typhoons, and four intense typhoons. It was a destructive and the second consecutive year to be the deadliest season, primarily due to Typhoon Bopha which killed 1,901 people in the Philippines. It was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones form in the western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout 2012, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The season's first named storm, Pakhar, developed on March 28, while the season's last named storm, Wukong, dissipated on December 29. The season's first typhoon, Guchol, reached typhoon status on June 15, and became the first super typhoon of the year on June 17.
The 2013 Pacific typhoon season was the most active Pacific typhoon season since 2004, and the deadliest since 1975. It featured Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms and one of the strongest landfalling tropical cyclones in history. It was an above-average season with 31 named storms, 13 typhoons, and five super typhoons. The season's first named storm, Sonamu, developed on January 4 while the season's last named storm, Podul, dissipated on November 15. Despite the activity, most of the first seventeen named storms before mid-September were relatively weak, as only two of them reached typhoon intensity. Total damage amounted to at least $26.41 billion (USD), making it at the time the costliest Pacific typhoon season on record; it is currently the fifth costliest, behind the 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024 seasons.
The 2015 Pacific typhoon season was a slightly above average season that produced twenty-seven tropical storms, eighteen typhoons, and nine super typhoons. The season ran throughout 2015, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and November. The season's first named storm, Mekkhala, developed on January 15, while the season's last named storm, Melor, dissipated on December 17. The season saw at least one named tropical system forming in each of every month, the first time since 1965. Similar to the previous season, this season saw a high number of super typhoons. Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) during 2015 was extremely high, the third highest since 1970, and the 2015 ACE has been attributed in part to anthropogenic warming, and also the 2014-16 El Niño event, that led to similarly high ACE values in the East Pacific.
The 2016 Pacific typhoon season is considered to have been the fourth-latest start for a Pacific typhoon season since reliable records began. It was an average season, with a total of 26 named storms, 13 typhoons, and six super typhoons. The season ran throughout 2016, though typically most tropical cyclones develop between May and October. The season's first named storm, Nepartak, developed on July 3, while the season's last named storm, Nock-ten, dissipated on December 28.
The 2019 Pacific typhoon season was the costliest Pacific typhoon season on record, just ahead of the previous year and 2023. The season featured fairly above-average tropical cyclone activity for the second consecutive year, producing 29 named storms, 17 typhoons, and five super typhoons, also, it was the final season of the Western Pacific's consecutive active typhoon seasons that started in 2013. The season's first named storm, Pabuk, reached tropical storm status on January 1, becoming the earliest-forming tropical storm of the western Pacific Ocean on record, breaking the previous record that was held by Typhoon Alice in 1979. The season's first typhoon, Wutip, reached typhoon status on February 20. Wutip further intensified into a super typhoon on February 23, becoming the strongest February typhoon on record, and the strongest tropical cyclone recorded in February in the Northern Hemisphere. The season's last named storm, Phanfone, dissipated on December 29 after it made landfall in the Philippines.
Typhoon Francisco, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Urduja, was a powerful typhoon that strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The 25th named storm and the 10th typhoon of the 2013 Pacific typhoon season, Francisco formed on October 16 east of Guam from a pre-existing area of convection. With favorable conditions, it quickly intensified into a tropical storm before passing south of Guam. After stalling to the southwest of the island, Francisco turned to the northwest into an environment of warm waters and low wind shear, becoming a typhoon. The JTWC upgraded it to super typhoon status on October 18, while the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) estimated peak 10-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (121 mph). Gradual weakening ensued, and after the typhoon turned to the northeast, Francisco deteriorated into a tropical storm on October 24. Passing southeast of Okinawa and mainland Japan, the storm accelerated and became extratropical on October 26, dissipating later that day.
Typhoon Dolphin was a powerful tropical cyclone that produced the first typhoon-force winds on Guam since Typhoon Pongsona in 2002. The seventh named storm of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season, Dolphin formed on May 6 in the vicinity of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Moving eastward at first, the storm slowly organized before beginning a north and west-northwest trajectory. Dolphin intensified into a typhoon before passing between Guam and Rota on May 15, producing typhoon-force winds on both islands. It later rapidly intensified as it curved to the north. The American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) designated Dolphin as a super typhoon, while the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) estimated 10 minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph). Dolphin turned to the northeast and weakened, becoming extratropical on May 20 and exiting the western Pacific basin on May 24.
Typhoon Chan-hom, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Falcon, was a large, powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone that affected most countries in the western Pacific basin. The ninth named storm of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season, Chan-hom developed on June 29 from a westerly wind burst that also spawned Tropical Cyclone Raquel in the southern hemisphere. Chan-hom slowly developed while moving to the northwest, aided by warm waters but disrupted by wind shear. The storm meandered near the Northern Marianas Islands, passing over the island of Rota before beginning a steady northwest track. While near the island, the storm dropped heavy rainfall on neighboring Guam, causing flooding and minor power outages. Chan-hom intensified into a typhoon on July 7, and two days later passed between the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako-jima. There, strong winds left 42,000 people without power, while 27 people were injured. Around that time, the storm caused a surge in the monsoon trough, in conjunction with Tropical Storm Linfa, which caused flooding and killed 16 people in the Philippines.
Typhoon Soudelor, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Hanna, was the third most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2015 after Hurricane Patricia and Cyclone Pam as well as the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season. Soudelor had severe impacts in the Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan, and eastern China, resulting in 40 confirmed fatalities. Lesser effects were felt in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. The thirteenth named storm of the annual typhoon season, Soudelor formed as a tropical depression near Pohnpei on July 29. The system strengthened slowly at first before entering a period of rapid intensification on August 2. Soudelor made landfall on Saipan later that day, causing extensive damage. Owing to favorable environmental conditions, the typhoon further deepened and reached its peak intensity with ten-minute maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph) and a central atmospheric pressure of 900 hPa on August 3. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed one-minute sustained winds at 285 km/h (180 mph), making Soudelor a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon. Steady weakening ensued thereafter as the storm moved generally west-northwest. Soudelor made landfall over Hualien, Taiwan, late on August 7 and emerged over in the Taiwan Strait early the next day. The typhoon soon moved inland over eastern China and degraded to a tropical depression by August 9.
Typhoon Dujuan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Jenny, was the second most intense tropical cyclone of the Northwest Pacific Ocean in 2015 in terms of ten-minute maximum sustained winds, tied with Noul. The twenty-first named storm and the thirteenth typhoon of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season, Dujuan brought extremely powerful winds throughout the Yaeyama Islands and Taiwan in late September, causing 3 deaths in Taiwan. The typhoon also caused over ¥2.5 billion (US$392.9 million) damage in East China.
Typhoon Nepartak, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Butchoy, was the third most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2016. Nepartak severely impacted Taiwan and East China, with 86 confirmed fatalities. It caused 3 deaths and NT$678 million of damage in Taiwan. Moreover, Nepartak also had disastrous effects in Fujian, China, causing 111 deaths and ¥9.99 billion of damage. After the season, total damages exceeded up to ¥12.65 billion.
Typhoon Meranti, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Ferdie, was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record. Impacting the Batanes in the Philippines, Taiwan, as well as Fujian Province in September 2016, Meranti formed as a tropical depression on September 8 near the island of Guam. Tracking to the west northwest, Meranti gradually intensified until September 11, at which point it began a period of rapid intensification. Continuing to rapidly intensify, it became a super typhoon early on September 12, as it passed through the Luzon Strait, ultimately reaching its peak intensity on September 13 with 1-minute sustained winds of 315 km/h (195 mph). Shortly afterwards, it passed directly over the island of Itbayat. Meranti passed to the south of Taiwan as a super typhoon, and began weakening steadily as a result of land interaction. By September 15, it struck Fujian Province as a Category 2-equivalent typhoon, becoming the strongest typhoon on record to impact the province. Upon moving inland, rapid weakening ensued and Meranti became extratropical the next day, dissipating shortly afterwards after it passed to the south of the Korean Peninsula.
The 2021 Pacific typhoon season was the second consecutive season to have below average tropical cyclone activity, with twenty-two named storms, and was the least active since 2011. Nine became typhoons, and five of those intensified into super typhoons. This low activity was caused by a strong La Niña that had persisted from the previous year. The season's first named storm, Dujuan, developed on February 16, while the last named storm, Rai, dissipated on December 21. The season's first typhoon, Surigae, reached typhoon status on April 16. It became the first super typhoon of the year on the next day, also becoming the strongest tropical cyclone in 2021. Surigae was also the most powerful tropical cyclone on record in the Northern Hemisphere for the month of April. Typhoons In-fa and Rai are responsible for more than half of the total damage this season, adding up to a combined total of $2.02 billion.
The 2023 Pacific typhoon season was the fourth and final consecutive below-average season and became the third-least active typhoon season on record in terms of named storms, with just 17 named storms developing, only ahead of 2010 and 1998. Despite the season occurring during an El Niño event, which typically favors activity in the basin, activity was abnormally low. This was primarily due to a consistent period of negative PDO, which typically discourages tropical storm formation in this basin. The season was less active than the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season in terms of named storms, the fourth such season on record, after 2005, 2010 and 2020. The season's number of storms also did not exceed that of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season. Only ten became typhoons, with four strengthening further into super typhoons. However, it was very destructive, primarily due to Typhoon Doksuri which devastated the northern Philippines, Taiwan, and China in July, becoming the costliest typhoon on record as well as the costliest typhoon to hit mainland China, and Typhoon Haikui in September, which devastated China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The season was less active in Southeast Asia, with no tropical storm making landfall in mainland Vietnam.
Typhoon Maria, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Gardo, was a powerful tropical cyclone that affected Guam, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and East China in early July 2018. Developing into the eighth named tropical storm of the 2018 Pacific typhoon season and passing the Mariana Islands on July 4, Maria strengthened into the fourth typhoon of the season and underwent rapid intensification the next day amid favorable environmental conditions. The typhoon reached its first peak intensity on July 6; subsequently, Maria weakened due to an eyewall replacement cycle, but it reintensified and reached a second, stronger peak intensity on July 9 with 10-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (121 mph) and a minimum pressure of 915 hPa. Over the next three days, it started to gradually weaken due to another eyewall replacement cycle and decreasing sea surface temperatures. After crossing the Yaeyama Islands and passing north of Taiwan on July 10, Maria ultimately made landfall over Fujian, China, early on July 11, before dissipating the next day.
Tropical Storm Sanba, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Basyang, was a weak tropical cyclone that affected southern and central parts of the Philippines in mid-February 2018. Sanba developed as a tropical depression in the open Pacific Ocean on February 8. The system moved generally westward while slowly developing, finally attaining tropical storm status on February 11. Soon after, wind shear caused the system to lose organization and remain as a minimal tropical storm through February 11 and 12. During this time, Sanba moved westwards then west-northwestwards, making landfall over northeastern Mindanao on February 13. The system weakened into a tropical depression before making another landfall in southeastern Negros later that day. After traversing the Philippine Islands, Sanba failed to reorganize significantly in the Sulu Sea and dissipated two days later west of Palawan.
Typhoon Wutip, known in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Betty, was the most powerful February typhoon on record, surpassing Typhoon Higos of 2015. The third tropical cyclone, second tropical storm, and the first typhoon of the 2019 Pacific typhoon season, Wutip originated from a low-pressure area on February 16, 2019, that generally tracked westward, passing just south of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), before organizing into a tropical depression on February 18. The depression was later classified a tropical storm a day later, attaining the name Wutip from the Japan Meteorological Agency. The storm gradually intensified as it turned northwest, before it underwent rapid intensification on February 23, while passing to the southwest of Guam, and reached its first peak intensity. With winds of 270 km/h (165 mph) estimated by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Wutip became the first Category 5-equivalent super typhoon on record in the month of February. Wutip underwent an eyewall replacement cycle shortly afterward and weakened. The storm finished its cycle on February 24, rapidly intensifying once again. Wutip reached a secondary peak intensity the following day, again attaining Category 5-equivalent winds. Thereafter, Wutip rapidly weakened for the rest of its lifespan from strong vertical wind shear, before dissipating over the Philippine Sea on March 2.
Typhoon Surigae, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Bising, was the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone to form before the month of May, one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record and the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2021. The second named storm, first typhoon and first super typhoon of the 2021 Pacific typhoon season, Surigae originated from a low-pressure area south of the Micronesian island of Woleai that organized into a tropical depression on April 12. At 18:00 UTC that day, it strengthened to a tropical storm and was named Surigae by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The formation of an eye and increasing winds prompted the JMA to upgrade the system to a severe tropical storm on April 13. The storm continued to gradually strengthen, and late on April 15, Surigae became a typhoon. Very favorable environmental conditions then allowed Surigae to begin a bout of rapid intensification; Surigae became a super typhoon the next day, and by April 17, the storm reached its peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), 1-minute sustained winds of 315 km/h (196 mph), and a minimum pressure of 895 hPa (26.4 inHg). This made it the strongest pre-May typhoon on record. Afterward, the storm's weakening outflow and an eyewall replacement cycle caused Surigae to gradually weaken as its track shifted north-northwestward in the Philippine Sea. Following the eyewall replacement cycle, Surigae became an annular tropical cyclone on April 19, and restrengthened slightly. On April 22, the storm began to rapidly weaken as it accelerated northwestward into unfavorable environmental conditions, transitioning into a subtropical storm the next day. The subtropical system subsequently underwent extratropical transition, which it completed by April 24. Afterward, Surigae's extratropical remnant accelerated northeastward. On April 27, Surigae's remnant explosively intensified into a bomb cyclone near the Aleutian Islands, attaining hurricane-force winds. Afterward, the system gradually weakened as it turned eastward, slowing down in the process, before crossing the International Date Line on April 30 and fully dissipating on May 2.
Typhoon Bolaven was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Northern Mariana Islands in mid-October 2023. The fifteenth named storm of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season, Bolaven originated on October 6 near the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and moved to the northwest.