Top 10 Most Powerful Super Typhoons in World History

The Pacific Typhoon season of 1975 was one of the deadliest recorded tropical storm seasons, causing nearly 230,000 deaths. Typhoon June was the most powerful storm of the season, though it never made landfall. At the time, June was associated with the strongest storm recorded, and a tropical cyclone worldwide, with a minimum central pressure of 875 millibars. Although Typhoon June never made landfall, it passed 230 kilometers west of Guam, causing severe flooding.

June had the second-lowest pressure among all tropical cyclones globally. It is also known as the first storm in history to have three eyes, an extremely rare phenomenon where two additional eyes form outside the primary eye (similar to a bull's-eye pattern). Since it never came near land, there were no reports of casualties or fatalities. While there were no fatalities, some buildings were destroyed by the strong winds in June, and flooding caused by the storm and crop damage was estimated at about $300,000.

These storms reached wind speeds of 185 mph, ranked as the sixth strongest storm (based on wind speed) along with Typhoon June: Typhoon Nora, 1973: 877 mb; Typhoon Wilma, 2005: 882 mb; Typhoon Megi, 2010: 885 mb; Typhoon Nina, 1953: 885 mb; Typhoon Gilbert, 1988: 888 mb; Labor Day Typhoon 1935: 892 mb;... Some notable storms caused flooding at the Banqiao Dam, resulting in around 229,000 deaths. Typhoon June was the strongest storm recorded with a pressure of 875 mb, until it was surpassed by Typhoon Tip in 1979 with 870 mb.

Formation: November 16, 1975

Dissipation: November 24, 1975

Basin: Western Pacific

Highest Sustained Winds (1 minute): 185 mph (298 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 875 millibars

Typhoon Tip, also known as Typhoon Warning (international name: T7920, JTWC designation: 23W) in the Philippines, remains the largest and most powerful tropical cyclone ever recorded. It was the 19th tropical storm and the 12th typhoon of the 1979 Pacific Typhoon season. On October 12, 1979, Tip reached a record-breaking low central pressure of 870 millibars, shortly after passing Guam and Japan. This makes it the largest tropical storm observed to date.

Typhoon Tip boasted an unprecedented size, with a diameter of 1,380 miles (2,220 km), nearly double the previous record set by Typhoon Marge, which measured 700 miles (1,130 km) in 1951. At its peak, Tip's size was almost half that of the United States. The temperature in its eye reached 30°C (86°F), which is exceptionally warm for a tropical cyclone. Additionally, Tip's sustained winds were recorded at 160 mph (260 km/h) over a 10-minute period, making it one of the strongest cyclones in the Japan Meteorological Agency's tropical cyclone rankings.

After passing Guam, Tip rapidly intensified, reaching winds of up to 190 mph (305 km/h) and a world-record-low pressure of 870 mb (hPa, 25.69 inHg) on October 12. It also set the record for the largest tropical cyclone with a diameter of 2,220 km (1,380 mi). Tip shares the fifth spot in terms of wind speed with two other storms: Typhoon Vera (1959), with 895 mb, and Hurricane Allen (1980), with 899 mb.

Formation: October 4, 1979

Dissipation: October 19, 1979

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds (1-minute): 190 mph (306 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 870 millibars

Typhoon Joan was the most powerful storm of the 1959 Pacific Typhoon season and one of the most intense typhoons ever recorded. It developed from a surface low-pressure system to the northeast of Guam on August 23. The Japan Meteorological Agency began monitoring it and classified it as a tropical depression the following day.

After reaching its peak intensity, Joan made landfall near Hualien, Taiwan, with sustained winds of 160 nautical miles per hour (180 mph). Six hours later, Joan struck Fujian, China, with winds of 95 nautical miles per hour (109 mph), weakening to a slower speed of 10 knots (12 mph). After the second landfall, Joan began to gradually weaken but maintained its hurricane strength for much of the day. It quickly crossed South Korea as a weak extratropical cyclone. By the evening of September 1, the remnants of Joan were seen in the Sea of Japan.

Joan was the most powerful and largest typhoon of the 1959 season, with a width exceeding 1,000 miles. It caused significant destruction in Taiwan, where 3,308 homes were destroyed, and agricultural losses amounted to 3 million USD. The storm claimed 11 lives and left 74 injured in Taiwan. In mainland China, it caused 60 casualties, including 3 fatalities. In South Korea, several rivers overflowed, leading to the deaths of 17 people and 21 injuries. Additionally, 7,000 people were displaced from their homes.

Formation: August 25, 1959

Dissipation: August 31, 1959

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds (1-minute): 195 mph (314 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 885 millibars

The surface pressure of Patricia reached a record low of 872 millibars on October 23, 2015, the lowest ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere and the second lowest globally, surpassed only by Typhoon Tip's 870 millibar reading in 1979. Patricia broke the previous Eastern Pacific basin record of 902 millibars set by Hurricane Linda in 1997.

Patricia made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 150 mph near Playa Cuixmala in Jalisco, southwestern Mexico, at 6:15 p.m. CDT on October 23. Although the strongest winds of Patricia affected a sparsely populated area north of Manzanillo, the storm still caused significant damage in a small region.

More than 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and approximately 100,000 acres of agricultural land suffered severe damage. The powerful winds uprooted most of the trees in the area, and concrete utility poles were toppled. Reports indicated that two small villages, Emiliano Zapata and Chamela, were the hardest hit. Patricia caused an estimated $325 million in damages. Coastal flooding lasted for several days from Jalisco to Guerrero, causing further damage to infrastructure and beach erosion. Severe flooding also occurred in the mountainous regions of southern Mexico.

Formation: October 20, 2015

Dissipation: October 24, 2015

Basin: Eastern Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds (1-minute): 200 mph (325 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 890 millibars

Ranked third in Southeastern Japan, Ida caused massive flooding and landslides, resulting in over 1,200 deaths. With a minimum central pressure of 877 millibars, Ida remains the third most powerful typhoon ever recorded based on central pressure. Despite Japan's frequent exposure to large storms, the heavy rains from Ida around the capital caused unprecedented flood damage.

Typhoon Ida, the sixth most dangerous storm to strike Japan, made landfall on September 20, 1958. The landslides triggered by this Category 5 storm damaged or destroyed 2,118 buildings and swept away 244 bridges, both road and rail. Over 120,000 acres of farmland were flooded. Rivers such as the Kano, Meguro, and Arakawa overflowed, inundating piers and destroying homes, religious temples, warehouses, and stores. In addition to the 1,269 lives claimed by Ida, it left 12,000 people homeless.

Super Typhoon Ida hit Kanagawa Prefecture on the island of Honshu. While wind damage was substantial, the majority of the destruction resulted from the heavy rainfall stretching from the Izu Peninsula to Tokyo, leading to widespread flooding and landslides. Today, if Ida were to strike again, it would cause an estimated insured loss of 2.86 trillion yen ($25.2 billion). Ida remains one of Japan’s most devastating flood-related disasters.

Formation: September 20, 1958

Dissipation: September 30, 1958

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds: 200 mph (325 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 877 millibars

Violet was first observed as a small circulation southwest of Marcus Island. On October 2, the system had organized enough to warrant further investigation. After a few days of observation, a report of tropical storm-force winds was sent back to the JTWC, and on October 4, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Violet. Violet took an unusual path, initially moving south after formation. After looping south of the mountain ranges, Violet quickly intensified into a hurricane.

For such a powerful storm, Violet surprisingly lasted only a short time. Within five days of its formation, it had intensified into a super typhoon equivalent to Category 5 with a central pressure of 886 millibars and winds exceeding 200 mph. A few days after reaching peak intensity, it dissipated.

Violet followed a smooth northward path, crossing Japan's Boso Peninsula near Tokyo. The fact that Violet weakened to a tropical storm by the time it made landfall in Japan minimized human casualties. Only two deaths were reported in Japan as a result of Violet's passage. The overall impact on Japan was minimal, partly due to early preparation.

Formation: October 2, 1961
Dissipation: October 10, 1961

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds: 207 mph (335 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 886 millibars

On September 12, 1961, the nations of Guam and Japan endured the destructive power of Nancy. This Category 5 super typhoon made landfall with winds reaching 215 mph. It holds the record for the longest-lasting Category 5-equivalent typhoon in the Northern Hemisphere and claimed the lives of 172 people, left 18 missing, and injured 3,184. Typhoon Nancy remained the strongest tropical cyclone (based on wind speed) for five decades, although its ranking has been contested. It is possible that wind speeds during reconnaissance flights were exaggerated.

The devastating statistics made Nancy the sixth strongest typhoon to impact Japan at that time. Timely warnings and adequate preparations were likely the reasons behind the relatively low death toll. Hundreds of thousands had their lives disrupted. Typhoon Nancy destroyed 11,539 homes, damaged 32,604, and flooded 280,078 homes. Over 1,056 ships, including fishing vessels, were sunk or swept ashore, with many others severely damaged.

The wind measurements from the 1940s to the 1960s may have been overestimated due to incomplete technology and a lack of understanding of hurricane dynamics at that time. Assuming that the wind speed data for Nancy is reliable, it could also claim another record: the longest-lasting Category 5-equivalent storm in the Northern Hemisphere, with sustained winds lasting for 5 and a half days. Nancy made landfall, though fortunately not at its peak intensity. Despite this, it caused $500 million in damages and claimed around 200 lives when it hit Japan.

Formation: September 7, 1961

Dissipation: September 22, 1961

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds: 213 mph (345 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 882 millibars

According to JTWC research, Amy was first identified as a tropical depression on the morning of April 29. It quickly strengthened into a tropical storm and then a full-blown typhoon by May 1. By May 2, it intensified rapidly into a Category 5 super typhoon with sustained winds of 280 km/h (175 mph), with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) estimating the lowest central pressure at 890mb. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported a slightly higher pressure of 895mb (26.43 inHg) and noted a small eye, just 10 nautical miles in diameter.

Although Amy weakened to a Category 4 super typhoon by May 3, it regained Category 5 intensity later that day, with sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and a central pressure of 900mb (26.58 inHg). The storm began to lose strength by May 4 and was last reported with tropical storm-force winds on May 7, before being absorbed by a frontal system. Amy remains one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in May.

On the coral island of Truk, now known as Chuuk, one fatality occurred when a coconut tree fell on a person. On May 18, the Federated States of Micronesia was declared a disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Weather stations and over 2,250 homes on the Namonto Atoll were destroyed. The 1971 hurricane season produced a total of 12 named tropical cyclones, five of which reached typhoon strength, including Amy.

Formation: April 27, 1971

Dissipation: May 7, 1971

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds: 172 mph (kph)

Lowest Central Pressure: 890 millibars

Typhoon Rita, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Kading, was the strongest tropical cyclone of the 1978 Pacific typhoon season and one of the most intense tropical storms ever recorded. This long-lasting and devastating system began its journey east of the Marshall Islands, then rapidly shifted westward and became a typhoon on October 20.

Rita originated from a tropical depression near the International Date Line east of the Marshall Islands. It intensified quickly, reaching super typhoon status. In addition to its impressive strength, Rita followed an unusual westward path, lingering in the region for nearly two weeks. It impacted Guam, the Philippines (equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane), and Vietnam, causing $100 million in damages and claiming over 300 lives. Rita made landfall in Luzon, causing severe damage and leaving 200,000 people homeless.

Formation: October 17, 1978

Dissipation: October 29, 1978

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds: 175 mph (281 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 880 millibars

The 1971 Pacific typhoon season had no official start and end dates, as tropical cyclones were observed year-round, but most of them formed between June and December in the northwestern Pacific. These months are traditionally considered the peak period for tropical cyclone formation in the region. Irma was the strongest storm of the season.

Irma was one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, though not the deadliest. Twenty-six of the 35 deadliest storms in history originated in the Bay of Bengal. Irma was the strongest storm of the season, with maximum winds reaching 285 km/h. The storm remained over the ocean, affecting shipping routes and causing minor damage to islands in the western Pacific. At the time, it held the record for the fastest intensity change in a 24-hour period, dropping from 980 mb to 885 mb.

Irma was unique because it is one of the few tropical cyclones on this list that stayed over the ocean, despite impacting several western Pacific islands. Notably, its rapid weakening was remarkable: Irma intensified by four millibars per hour during a 24-hour period from November 10 to November 11, 1971, reaching sustained winds of 180 mph, making it the seventh strongest storm by wind speed at that time (Typhoon Rita, 2005, had a central pressure of 895 mb).

Formation: November 10, 1971

Dissipation: November 11, 1971

Basin: Western Pacific

Maximum Sustained Winds: 180 mph (286 km/h)

Lowest Central Pressure: 884 millibars