2010 Pacific typhoon season

2010 Pacific typhoon season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedJanuary 18, 2010
Last system dissipatedDecember 20, 2010
Strongest storm
NameMegi
 • Maximum winds230 km/h (145 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure885 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions29
Total storms14 (record low)
Typhoons7
Super typhoons1 (unofficial)
Total fatalities384 total
Total damage$2.95 billion (2010 USD)
Related articles
Pacific typhoon seasons
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

The 2010 Pacific typhoon season, with 14 named storms, was the least active Pacific typhoon season on record. Seven of them strengthened into typhoons while one reached super typhoon intensity. All of the 14 named storms developed west of 150°E.

The season ran throughout 2010, though most tropical cyclones tend to develop between May and October. The season's first named storm, Omais, developed on March 24 while the season's last named storm, Chaba dissipated or became extratropical on October 30. During the season only three storms were notable. Typhoon Kompasu was the strongest storm to make landfall over in South Korea in 15 years. In September, Typhoon Fanapi struck Taiwan and China, causing heavy damage in the two countries. No storms made landfall in mainland Japan, only the second such occurrence since 1988. During October, Typhoon Megi reached its peak intensity with a minimum barometric pressure of 885 hPa, making it one of the most intense typhoons ever recorded. In addition, a rare subtropical storm had developed during December and intensified into Tropical Storm Omeka where it crossed the basin.

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.