Pacific typhoon season Facts for Kids

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between 1980 and 2005. The vertical line to the right is the Prime Antimeridian, which corresponds in part to the International Date Line.

A Pacific typhoon season is a time of year when many powerful storms called typhoons form in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. These storms are like giant spinning weather systems. They bring strong winds and heavy rain.

Typhoon seasons happen in a specific area. This area is north of the equator. It stretches from the 100th meridian east to the 180th meridian, also known as the International Date Line.

Understanding Typhoons
Typhoon Seasons Through the Years
See also
- Other Storm Regions

Understanding Typhoons

What is a Tropical Cyclone?

A tropical cyclone is a rotating storm system. It forms over warm ocean waters. Depending on where they form, these storms have different names. In the Pacific, they are called typhoons. In the Atlantic, they are called hurricanes.

Different Strengths of Storms

Scientists classify these storms by their strength.

Tropical depressions are the weakest. They are just starting to form.
Tropical storms are stronger. They have faster winds and get a name.
Typhoons are very strong. Their winds are even faster.
Super typhoons are the most powerful. They have extremely high winds.

How Typhoons Get Their Names

Typhoons are given names to help people track them. Once a storm becomes a tropical storm, it gets a name from a special list. If a typhoon causes a lot of damage or deaths, its name might be "retired." This means that name will not be used again for another storm. This helps remember how serious that storm was.

Typhoon Seasons Through the Years

Here's a look at some past typhoon seasons. We'll see how many storms formed. We'll also see some of the most powerful or impactful ones.

Typhoons in the 1940s

The 1940s saw many typhoons. The first official records for this region started in 1945.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
1945	26	13	–	Typhoon Ida	This was the first official season in the West Pacific typhoon database.
1949	22	14	1	Typhoon Patricia	Several names were retired this year.

Typhoons in the 1950s

The 1950s had many strong storms. Some years saw many super typhoons.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
1952	29	20	6	Super Typhoon Wilma	Several names were retired this year.
1956	26	18	5	Super Typhoon Wanda	This storm caused many deaths and damage.
1959	25	18	8	Super Typhoon Joan	Typhoon Vera was the strongest to hit Japan.

Typhoons in the 1960s

The 1960s were also very active. The Philippines started naming tropical cyclones in 1963.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
1963	25	19	8	Super Typhoon Judy	This was the first year PAGASA named storms.
1964	39	26	7	Super Typhoon Sally	This was the busiest tropical cyclone season ever recorded globally.
1965	35	21	11	Super Typhoon Bess	A record 11 super typhoons formed this year.

Typhoons in the 1970s

The 1970s included some very deadly and costly typhoons.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
1975	21	14	3	Super Typhoon June	This was the deadliest typhoon season ever recorded.
1979	24	12	4	Super Typhoon Tip	Typhoon Tip was the largest and most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded.

Typhoons in the 1980s

The 1980s had some notable storms. One typhoon intensified very quickly.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
1983	23	10	4	Super Typhoon Forrest	Forrest was the fastest-intensifying tropical cyclone ever recorded.
1986	29	19	3	Super Typhoon Peggy	Typhoon Wayne was the longest-lived tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific.

Typhoons in the 1990s

The 1990s saw some very costly typhoons. There were also seasons with many powerful storms.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
1991	29	17	5	Super Typhoon Yuri	Typhoon Mireille was the costliest typhoon on record at the time.
1997	28	16	11	Super Typhoon Ivan	This season had the most Category 5 storms ever. Two Category 5 typhoons happened at the same time.
1999	20	5	1	Super Typhoon Bart	This year had the lowest number of typhoons ever recorded.

Typhoons in the 2000s

The 2000s brought new naming rules. Some typhoons were very close to the equator.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
2000	23	13	4	Very Intense Typhoon Bilis	This was the first year using names from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
2001	25	16	3	Very Intense Typhoon Faxai	Tropical Storm Vamei was the closest tropical cyclone to the equator.
2003	21	14	5	Very Intense Typhoon Maemi	Maemi was the most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea.
2009	22	13	5	Very Intense Typhoon Nida	Morakot was the deadliest typhoon to hit Taiwan.

Typhoons in the 2010s

The 2010s included some of the costliest and deadliest seasons.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
2010	14	7	1	Very Intense Typhoon Megi	This was the least active Pacific typhoon season on record.
2012	25	14	4	Very Intense Typhoon Sanba	This was the fifth costliest season ever recorded.
2013	31	13	5	Very Intense Typhoon Haiyan	This was the deadliest season since 1975 and fourth-costliest.
2018	29	13	7	Very Intense Typhoon Kong-rey	This was the third-costliest season on record.
2019	29	17	5	Very Intense Typhoon Halong	This was the earliest start for a tropical storm ever and the costliest season on record.

Typhoons in the 2020s

The 2020s have already seen some record-breaking storms.

Year	Tropical storms	Typhoons	Super typhoons	Strongest storm	Notes
2020	23	10	2	Very Intense Typhoon Goni	Typhoon Goni was the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone ever recorded.
2021	22	9	5	Very Intense Typhoon Surigae	Surigae was the most intense typhoon ever recorded in April.
2022	25	10	3	Very Intense Typhoon Nanmadol	This year had the most retired names ever by the JMA.
2023	17	10	4	Very Intense Typhoon Mawar	Typhoon Doksuri was the costliest typhoon on record.

Pacific typhoon season facts for kids

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