| 2006 Pacific typhoon season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | January 20, 2006 |
| Last system dissipated | December 20, 2006 |
| Strongest storm | |
| By maximum sustained winds | Shanshan |
| • Maximum winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 919 hPa (mbar) |
| By central pressure | Yagi |
| • Maximum winds | 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 910 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 40, 3 unofficial |
| Total storms | 23, 1 unofficial |
| Typhoons | 15 |
| Super typhoons | 6 (unofficial)[nb 1] |
| Total fatalities | 3,886 total |
| Total damage | $14.4 billion (2006 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 2006 Pacific typhoon season was a destructive and deadly season, although it was near-average in terms of activity with a total of 23 named storms, 15 typhoons, and six super typhoons. Compared to the previous season, more typhoons inflicted damage across several countries, particularly China and the Philippines, some of which made landfall at higher intensities. The ratio of intense typhoons to all typhoons is at 0.73, the highest since 1970.[1]
The season ran throughout 2006, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The season's first named storm, Chanchu, developed on May 9, while the season's last named storm, Trami, dissipated on December 20.
China was hit by several storms, with Tropical Storm Bilis and Typhoon Saomai being the most notable. Bilis became the costliest and second-deadliest typhoon of the season, causing $4.4 billion (2006 USD) in damages and killing at least 800 people. Saomai became the most powerful typhoon to strike the country in 50 years, and was responsible for 456 deaths and $2.5 billion worth of damages. The Philippines got hit by a total of six typhoons – the highest since 1974 – the most significant being Typhoons Xangsane and Durian. Xangsane was the strongest to affect Manila in 11 years, while Durian became the deadliest typhoon of the season, causing at least 1,000 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Japan also had its share of destructive typhoons; Typhoon Shanshan hit the country in mid-September, resulting in 11 deaths and damages amounting to $2.5 billion. This season also featured Typhoon Ioke, the strongest Central Pacific hurricane, which also entered the basin and hit Wake Island; damages were estimated to be at $88 million.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator between 100°E and 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, there are two separate agencies that assign names to tropical cyclones which can often result in a cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) will name a tropical cyclone should it be judged to have 10-minute sustained wind speeds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) anywhere in the basin, whilst the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N–25°N regardless of whether or not a tropical cyclone has already been given a name by the JMA. Tropical depressions that are monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a number with a "W" suffix.
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- ^ Saunders, Mark; Lea, Adam (January 10, 2007). Summary of 2006 NW Pacific Typhoon Season and Verification of Authors' Seasonal Forecasts (PDF) (Report). Tropical Storm Risk Consortium.