List of Pacific typhoons

RSMC Tokyo's Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Category Sustained winds
Violent typhoon ≥105 knots
≥194 km/h
Very strong typhoon 85–104 knots
157–193 km/h
Typhoon 64–84 knots
118–156 km/h
Severe tropical storm 48–63 knots
89–117 km/h
Tropical storm 34–47 knots
62–88 km/h
Tropical depression ≤33 knots
≤61 km/h

The Northwest Pacific basin covers a vast area in the Pacific Ocean, located north of the equator, between 100°E and 180°E.[1] Several weather agencies monitor this basin, however it is officially monitored by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA, RSMC Tokyo), who is responsible for forecasting, naming and issuing warnings for tropical cyclones.[1] Unofficially, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also monitors the basin, however these warnings measures 1-minute sustained wind speeds, comparing their scale to the Saffir–Simpson scale.[2] The JMA uses a simpler scale on classifying tropical cyclones adapted by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee measuring 10-minute sustained wind speeds, ranging from a tropical depression, tropical storm, severe tropical storm and typhoon.[3] Furthermore, the JMA divides the typhoon category into three sub-categories for domestic purposes – a strong typhoon, very strong typhoon and violent typhoon.[3]

This article covers lists of all typhoons, including systems classified by JTWC and their predecessors as only typhoon before 1977, which refers to tropical cyclones with the strength between 65 and 129 knots.[4]


  1. ^ a b WMO/ESCP Typhoon Committee (2019). Typhoon Committee Operational Manual Meteorological Component 2019 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. pp. 1–7, 33–34. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008-03-31). "What are the description labels used with tropical cyclones by JTWC?". Joint Typhoon Warning Center – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  3. ^ a b Typhoon Committee (2015). Typhoon Committee Operational Manual 2015 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference FAQ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).