Typhoon Merbok (2022)

• Alaska

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 00:00 UTC of September 9, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began tracking a weak tropical depression that had developed west of Wake Island. The JMA downgraded the system to a low-pressure area shortly thereafter. ^[1] However, on the next day, the JMA re-upgraded the system to a tropical depression. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) followed suit and began issuing advisories, assigning it the designation 15W. ^[2] In its fifth bulletin, the JTWC stated that 15W turned into a tropical storm when it reached 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn) one-minute sustained winds. ^[3] The JMA named the system Merbok on September 12, due to it having achieved 10-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph). ^[4] Later that day, Merbok reached severe tropical storm status. ^[5] The next day, the JTWC reported that Merbok became a Category 1 typhoon, reaching sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph; 65 kn). ^[6] On September 15, the JTWC gave its final bulletin on Merbok, noting that it had moved away from habitable areas. ^[7]

After transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, the system tracked generally northeastward and continued to deepen as it encountered record warm waters near the western Aleutian Islands. ^[8] It crossed the islands, entering the Bering Sea late on September 15 (HDT) as it maintained hurricane-force winds and reached its minimum central barometric pressure of 937 mbar (27.67 inHg) early the next day.

Impact

The storm track generated a large dynamic fetch across the Bering Sea, which contributed to a dangerous storm surge that inundated at least 35 communities across 1,300 miles of coastline in western Alaska. ^[9] Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state of emergency in the region before the cyclone hit. ^[10] Water levels in Unalakleet peaked at around 12.5 ft (3.8 m), which was among its largest peaks on record. In Golovin, the 1913 record of flooding was broken. Significant flooding and gale force winds were widely reported across the west coast of Alaska. Homes floated off their foundations, major erosion, subsistence infrastructure damage, and power outages were reported in Hooper Bay, Nome, Shaktoolik, Newtok, and Kotlik among others. ^[11] The typhoon also destroyed 1,000 mi (1,600 km) of coastline, devastating multiple fish camps in western Alaska. ^[12] Despite the widespread coastal flooding, no injuries were reported.

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal
• Alaska portal

• Other storms of the same name
• List of Alaska tropical cyclones

References

1. "Bulletin released of Typhoon Muifa, tropical depression 15W and tropical depression Issued 10/1800Z". Japan Meteorological Agency. September 10, 2022. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
2. "Tropical depression 15W (Fifteen) Warning #01 Issued 10/2100Z". JTWC. September 10, 2022. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
3. "Tropical storm 15W (Fifteen) Warning #05 Issued 11/2100Z". JTWC. September 11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
4. "Bulletin released of Typhoon Muifa, tropical storm Merbok and tropical depression Issued 12/0300Z". Japan Meteorological Agency. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
5. "Bulletin released of typhoon Muifa, severe tropical storm Merbok and tropical depression Issued 12/0900Z". Japan Meteorological Agency. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
6. "Typhoon 15W (Merbok) Warning #13 Issued 13/2100Z". JTWC. September 13, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
7. "Typhoon Merbok 15W Warning #18 Final bulletin Issued 15/0300Z". JTWC. September 15, 2022. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
8. Thoman, Rick (September 19, 2022). Morford, Stacy (ed.). "Typhoon Merbok, fueled by unusually warm Pacific Ocean, pounded Alaska's vulnerable coastal communities at a critical time". The Conversation. doi:10.64628/AAI.tha6usm5m.
9. Hayden, Maya (May 20, 2022). "USGS aids storm response to Extratropical Typhoon Merbok in Alaska". USGS.
10. Fernando, Christine; Thornton, Claire (September 17, 2022). "'Angry sea': Huge storm floods roads, homes in Alaska as governor declares disaster". USA Today. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
11. Erickson, Caroline; Thoman, Rick. Merbok: A Bering Sea storm & coastal flooding event (PDF) (Report). Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy.
12. Alaskan typhoon damages 1,000 miles of coastline, creates deep generational loss of culture, Great NW News, October 5, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2025

Further reading

• Monet, Jenni; O'Harra, Ariana Crockett; Haecker, Diana (October 11, 2025). "Region prepares for ex-typhoon Halong". The Nome Nugget. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
• Rosen, Yereth (October 18, 2025). "Typhoon disaster in Western Alaska raises questions around the region's future". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
• Schwing, Emily (December 29, 2023). "Subsistence gear lost during Typhoon Merbok still litters the tundra in Western Alaska". KYUK. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
• White, Ava (September 25, 2023). "Western Alaskans remember Typhoon Merbok a year later". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved December 15, 2025.

• Media related to Typhoon Merbok (2022) at Wikimedia Commons

Typhoon Merbok

Merbok near peak intensity over the West Pacific on September 14

IBTrACS

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2022 Pacific typhoon season
	TD TD TD 01W VSTY Malakas TS Megi TD TD TY Chaba TS Aere TD TD TS Songda TS Trases TD 08W TS Mulan TS Meari TD TD STS Ma-on TY Tokage TD TD VITY Hinnamnor TD Gardo VSTY Muifa TY Merbok VITY Nanmadol TS Talas VSTY Noru STS Kulap TD TD TY Roke TD Maymay TD 21W TS Sonca TY Nesat TS Haitang TD Obet STS Nalgae TS Banyan TS Yamaneko TS Pakhar
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