List of the most intense tropical cyclones

Winds are often used to measure intensity as they commonly cause notable impacts over large areas, and most popular tropical cyclone scales are organized around sustained wind speeds. However, variations in the averaging period of winds in different basins make inter-comparison difficult. In addition, other impacts like rainfall, storm surge, area of wind damage, and tornadoes can vary significantly in storms with similar wind speeds. Pressure is often used to compare tropical cyclones because the measurements are easier and use consistent methodology. Tropical cyclones can attain some of the lowest pressures over large areas on Earth. However, although there is a strong connection between lowered pressures and higher wind speeds, storms with the lowest pressures may not have the highest wind speeds, as each storm's relationship between wind and pressure is slightly different.

In the most recent and reliable records, most tropical cyclones which attained a pressure of 900  hPa (mbar) (26.56 inHg) or less have occurred in the Western North Pacific Ocean. The strongest tropical cyclone recorded worldwide, as measured by minimum central pressure, was Typhoon Tip, which reached a pressure of 870 hPa (25.69 inHg) on October 12, 1979.

The data below are subdivided by basin. Data listed are provided by the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre, unless otherwise noted. On October 23, 2015, Hurricane Patricia attained the strongest sustained winds on record at 215 mph (345 km/h).

North Atlantic Ocean

The most intense storm in the North Atlantic by lowest pressure was Hurricane Wilma. The strongest storm by 1-minute sustained winds was Hurricane Allen.

Storms which reached a minimum central pressure of or less are listed. Storm information has been compiled back to 1851, though measurements were rarer until aircraft reconnaissance started in the 1940s, and inexact estimates were still predominant until dropsondes were implemented in the 1970s.

See List of Category 5 Atlantic Hurricanes for additional information on strong storms in the Atlantic basin.

See Notable non-tropical pressures over the North Atlantic for intense extratropical low pressure values over the North Atlantic.

Eastern Pacific Ocean

The most intense storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean by both sustained winds and central pressure was Hurricane Patricia. Its sustained winds of 345 km/h (215 mph) are also the highest on record globally.

Storms with a minimum central pressure of 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1949, and most storms since are only estimated because landfalls (and related reconnaissance) are less common in this basin.

See Category 5 Pacific Hurricanes for a full list of category 5 hurricanes in this basin.

Western North Pacific Ocean

The most intense storm by lowest pressure and peak 10-minute sustained winds was Typhoon Tip, which was also the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in terms of minimum central pressure.

Storms with a minimum pressure of 900 hPa (26.58 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1950.

North Indian Ocean

The most intense tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean by both sustained winds and central pressure was the 1999 Odisha cyclone, with 3-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and a minimum pressure of .

Storms with an intensity of or less are listed.

South-West Indian Ocean

The most intense tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean was Cyclone Gafilo. By 10-minute sustained wind speed, the strongest tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean was Cyclone Fantala.

Storms with an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1985.

Australian region

The most intense tropical cyclone(s) in the Australian Region were cyclones Gwenda and Inigo. By 10-minute sustained wind speed, the strongest were Cyclone Orson, Cyclone Monica and Cyclone Marcus.

Storms with an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1985.

South Pacific Ocean

A total of 16 cyclones are listed down below reaching/surpassing an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg), with most of them occurring during El Niño seasons. Tropical cyclones that have been recorded since the start of the 1969–70 Tropical Cyclone year and have reached their peak intensity to the west of 160E are included in the list. The most intense tropical cyclone in the south Pacific, Cyclone Winston of 2016, is also the most intense storm in the Southern Hemisphere.

Storms with an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) or less are listed.

South Atlantic Ocean

Until recently, it was not known that tropical cyclones could exist in the southern Atlantic. However, Hurricane Catarina in 2004, to date the only hurricane in the south Atlantic, brought additional review. A subsequent study found that there was an average of 1-2 subtropical or tropical cyclones per year in the Southern Atlantic in recent decades.
No official database of South Atlantic cyclones exists, but a partial list of notable tropical and subtropical systems is listed.

See also

* Atlantic hurricane season
* Australian region tropical cyclone
* List of wettest tropical cyclones
* North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone
* Notable non-tropical pressures over the North Atlantic
* Pacific hurricane
* Pacific typhoon season
* South Atlantic tropical cyclone
* South Pacific tropical cyclone
* South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone

Notes

References

External links

Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers

US National Hurricane Center
nbsp;– North Atlantic, Eastern Pacific

Central Pacific Hurricane Center
 – Central Pacific

Japan Meteorological Agency
nbsp;– North West Pacific

India Meteorological Department
nbsp;– North Indian Ocean

Météo-France – La Reunion
nbsp;– South-West Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E

Fiji Meteorological Service
nbsp;– South Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S

Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers

Indonesian Meteorological Department
nbsp;– South Indian Ocean from 90°E to 125°E, north of 10°S

Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane)
 – South Indian Ocean & South Pacific Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, south of 10°S


nbsp;– South Pacific west of 160°E, south of 25°S

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