The Ten Strongest Typhoons, Hurricanes, And Cyclones In History:

If you're fascinated by powerful storms, you probably already know that Hurricane Patricia in the East Pacific is regarded as the most powerful hurricane to ever be logged in the Western Hemisphere. But could Patricia have been one of the most powerful tropical cyclones the world has ever seen if it was that strong of a storm? Here is a comparison of Patricia's intensity to the top 10 storms on record worldwide, or rather, throughout the various hurricane basins. 

 

[Note: Storms are ranked according to the peak one-minute sustained surface wind speed that was recorded for them. Winds and wind gusts that are averaged together to get an approximated constant speed are referred to as "sustained" winds. The list only includes storms with core pressures under 900 millibars (mb).] 

 

Basin-Western Pacific

Maximum sustained winds of 172 mph for one minute (kph)

890 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

 

In terms of winds, these storms tie Amy for tenth-strongest storm status:

•    Typhoon Elsie in 1975: 895 mb

•    Typhoon Bess in 1965: 900 mb.

•    Typhoon Agnes in 1968: 900 mb

•    Typhoon Hope in 1970: 900 mb

•    Typhoon Nadine in 1971: 900 mb

Basin-West pacific

Maximum sustained winds of 173 mph (278 kph)

890 millibars is the lowest central pressure. 

 

The following three typhoons rank as the ninth-strongest storm (by winds):

•    Typhoon Wilda in 1964: 895 mb

•    Typhoon Tess in 1953: 900 mb

•    Typhoon Pamela in 1954: 900 mb.

 

Basin- West pacific

Maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (281 kph)

880 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

 

Rita was renowned for its power as well as the peculiar trait of following nearly due west for nearly two weeks. Guam, the Philippines (as a Category 4 equivalent), and Vietnam were all affected, with more than 300 people losing their lives and $100 million in damage.

 

Rita is tied with these three as the eighth-strongest storm (based on winds):

•    Typhoon Wynne in 1980: 890 mb

•    Typhoon Yuri, in 1991: 895 mb, 

•    Hurricane Camile, in 1969: 900 mb

 

West Pacific- basin

Maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (286 kph)

 

884 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

One of the few tropical cyclones on this list, Typhoon Irma is exceptional in that it remained at sea (although it did impact several islands in the West Pacific). Its quickening rate of depth is also interesting: Over the course of the 24 hours from November 10 to November 11, Irma grew by four millibars per hour.

 

As of 180 mph, the following storms are tied for seventh-strongest (by winds):

•    Hurricane Rita, in 2005: 895 mb

 

West Pacific- basin

Maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (298 kph)

875 millibars is the lowest central pressure. 

 

The second-lowest pressure for a tropical cyclone worldwide occurred in June. It was also noted for having triple eyewalls, which are highly rare storm features in which two extra eyewalls form outside the primary eyewall (like a bullseye pattern). It never got near to touching down on land, thus there were no recorded losses or fatalities.

 

These storms also had winds of 185 mph, which tied them for sixth-strongest storms in terms of winds:

•    1973's Typhoon Nora: 877 mb

•    2005's Hurricane Wilma, 882 mb

•    2010 typhoon Megi: 885 mb

•    1953 typhoon Nina: 885 mb

•    1988 hurricane gilbert,: 888 mb

•    1935 Labor Day Hurricane: 892 mb

•    1962 typhoon,karen : 894 mb

•    1957's Typhoon Lola: 900 mb

•    1967 typhoon carla : 900 mb 

 

West Pacific- basin

Maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (306 kph)

 

870 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

Despite Tip's mid-ranking in terms of wind speed, keep in mind that it is the strongest tropical storm to ever be seen on Earth in terms of central pressure. On October 12, 1979, just after reaching Guam and Japan, its lowest pressure peaked at an all-time low of 870 millibars. The largest tropical cyclone ever seen is named Tip. Its winds had a maximum diameter of 1,380 miles (2,220 km) at their strongest, this is about half the size of the contiguous United States. Tip and two other storms, one in the Atlantic and one in the Western Pacific, are tied for fifth-strongest storm (by winds):

 

•    Typhoon Vera in 1959: 895 mb

•    Hurricane Allen in 1980: 899 mb

 

West Pacific- basin

Maximum sustained winds of 195 mph (314 kph)

885 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

 

In terms of strength and magnitude, Joan was the most powerful storm of the 1959 typhoon season (it was more than 1,000 miles across). Joan hit both China and Taiwan, although Taiwan was more seriously impacted, with 11 fatalities and $3 million in agricultural damage as a result of its 185 mph gusts, which are comparable to strong Category 5 winds.

 

The following storms in the Western Pacific tie with Joan as the fourth-strongest storm (based on winds): 

•    Typhoon Haiyan, 2013: 895 mb

•    Typhoon Sally, 1964: 895 mb

 

Maximum sustained winds of 200 mph (325 kph)

Typhoon Ida in the Western Pacific and Hurricane Patricia, a recent arrival in the East Pacific, are tied for the third-strongest storms ever seen.

 

Ida, a Category 3 hurricane that struck southeastern Japan, caused widespread flooding and mudslides and more than 1,200 casualties. Ida is the third-strongest cyclone ever recorded in terms of central pressure with a minimum of 877 millibars.

 

Patricia has numerous records, much like Ida. It is the strongest hurricane to form in the Western Hemisphere in terms of pressure. When it comes to hurricanes with consistently measured winds, it is the strongest. The two-day period from October 22 to 23 saw Patricia lose 100 millibars of pressure (from 980 mb to 880 mb), shattering Ida's previous record for the fastest tropical storm to intensify, or "bomb out."

 

Patricia, became the second hurricane in the Pacific to make landfall at this intensity, made landfall north of Manzanillo, Mexico while still being a Category 5 hurricane. Because of the rugged topography along the Mexican coastline, which caused it to break apart, the storm largely affected rural areas and fell to a depression within 24 hours of coming onshore, limiting damage to about $200 million and fatalities to under 20. 

 

West Pacific- basin

Maximum sustained winds of 207 mph (335 kph)

886 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

 

Violet was remarkably brief for such a powerful storm. A Category 5 equivalent super-typhoon with a core pressure of 886 millibars and gusts exceeding 200 mph had developed within five days of its formation. It had all but vanished a few days after it peaked in severity. By the time Violet made landfall in Japan, it had already deteriorated to a tropical storm, limiting the damage and casualties. 

 

West Pacific- basin

Maximum sustained winds of 213 mph (345 kph)

882 millibars is the lowest central pressure.

 

For more than 50 years, Typhoon Nancy has maintained the top spot for the strongest tropical cyclone (based on winds), although its selection isn't without debate. The storm's wind predictions may have been exaggerated during aircraft reconnaissance flyovers. (Wind readings from the 1940s to the 1960s were probably exaggerated because of insufficient technology and a lack of knowledge about storms at the time.) With sustained winds lasting over five and a half days, Nancy could set a new record for the longest-lasting Category 5 equivalent hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere if her wind speed data is accurate.

 

Thankfully, Nancy did not make landfall at her strongest. Even yet, by the time it made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Japan, it had cost $500 million in damages and resulted in about 200 fatalities.