Notable Tropical Cyclones

Notable Tropical Cyclones

A quick glance at the notable recent tropical cyclones recorded below emphasizes the need for improved impact-based multi-hazard early warning systems, mitigation measures and working with those at risk to prepare them to take quick effective action to save lives.

Newspaper headlines on tropical cyclones/hurricanes/typhoons and the widespread devastation they leave behind have led many people to question whether climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such phenomena. Many question whether scientific observations show such trends and, if so, do scientists attribute the trend to climate change. It is important to address the question of how tropical cyclones could be affected by climate change, particularly in view of their socio-economic impacts on landfall. 

Most scientific climate models predict future decreases in global tropical cyclones numbers, however, increases are projected in the intensities of the strongest cyclones – globally, the proportion of Category 4 and 5 storms may increase by 0–25% – with increased related rainfall (see here). The models show that sea level rise is likely to contribute to increased storm surge risks. The vulnerability of coastal regions to tropical cyclone storm-surge flooding is, therefore, expected to increase with global-warming related sea-level rise. Coastal developments will also increased the population at risk. Confidence levels are generally lower for some other tropical cyclones projections, including projected changes in their tracks, and in their translation speed. In general, confidence in various tropical cyclones projections was lower for the individual basin scale than for the global average. (Read more: Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change Assessment)

 

Record of Top Ten Tropical Cyclones from 1970 to 2019

The soon to be released WMO Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes 1970-2019 states that in the past 50 years, three of the top 10 disasters worldwide in terms of deaths were attributed to tropical cyclones. The deaths recorded in these three events account for 43% of the combined deaths of the top ten disasters. In addition, the Atlas records that seven of the top ten disasters in terms of economic losses were attributed to tropical cyclones, which account for 82% of the total economic losses of the combined top ten disasters. Six of these disasters occurred in the USA.

Ranked as the third most costly tropical cyclone, Maria in 2017 impacted a number of countries, including Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe (FRA), Haiti, Martinique (FRA), Puerto Rico, United States of America, Virgin Island (US), and Virgin Island (UK). The losses in Dominica alone totaled to US$ 1.5 billion - estimated at over 200% of its Gross Domestic Product (IMF, 2019).

 

Top ten Tropical Cyclones in terms of death and economic losses (1970–2019)

 

Disaster Type

Year

Country

Number
of deaths

 

Disaster Type

Year

Country

losses in
US$ billion

1

Storm

1970

Bangladesh

300 000

1

Storm (Katrina)

2005

United States of America

163.61

2

Storm (Gorky)

1991

Bangladesh

138 866

2

Storm (Harvey)

2017

United States of America

96.94

3

Storm (Nargis)

2008

Myanmar

138 366

3

Storm (Maria)

2017

Puerto Rico

69.39

4

Storm

1985

Bangladesh

15 000

4

Storm (Irma)

2017

United States of America

58.16

5

Storm (Mitch)

1998

Honduras

14 600

5

Storm (Sandy)

2012

United States of America

54.47

6

Storm

1977

India

14 204

6

Storm (Andrew)

1992

United States of America

48.27

7

Storm (05B)

1999

India

9 843

7

Storm (Ike)

2008

United States of America

35.63

8

Storm

1971

India

9 658

8

Storm (Ivan)

2004

United States of America

24.36

9

Storm (Fifi)

1974

Honduras

8 000

9

Storm (Charley)

2004

United States of America

21.65

10

Storm (Haiyan)

2013

Philippines

7 354

10

Storm (Rita)

2005

United States of America

20.94

 

Recent Tropical Cyclone Events:

2020

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season had a record-breaking 30 named tropical storms, including 13 hurricanes and six major hurricanes, with direct impacts in many countries in the Atlantic basin, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.  There were five landfalling hurricanes in the Caribbean including two at category 4 strength that occurred in Nicaragua about two weeks apart.  There were also 12 landfalling storms in the continental United States

It was the sixth straight season with above average activity, and it caused hundreds of casualties and billions of dollars’ worth of damage.

South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean

Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold in early April that wreaked havoc in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga.

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Laura was a powerful category 4 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) that made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, USA, accompanied by a devastating storm surge of at least 5 metres (17 feet) above ground level.  It was responsible for 47 direct deaths, in the United States and on the Island of Hispaniola, and more than US$ 19 billion in damage.

Hurricanes Eta and Iota both made landfall less than two weeks apart during November 2020 in the same area of the Nicaraguan coast just south of Puerto Cabezas. The two powerful tropical cyclones caused extensive flooding in Nicaragua, Honduras and other adjacent Central American countries, resulting in at least 272 fatalities and damage losses of more than US$ 9 billion.

Two press releases on the 2020 hurricane season were published, which you may want to consult: Hurricane Committee discusses record-breaking 2020 season, plans for 2021 and WMO Hurricane Committee retires tropical cyclone names and ends the use of Greek alphabet

2019

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Dorian in August was a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and the strongest hurricane on record in the northwestern Bahamas. More than 200 lives were lost. Dorian caused catastrophic damage mainly in Abaco and eastern Grand Bahama Islands with total damage estimated at $3.4 billion (USD). More than 75 percent of all homes on the island were damaged. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), an agency which the government of the Bahamas asked to conduct a study following Dorian’s trail of destruction, stated that the hurricane left 29,500 people homeless and/or jobless.

North Indian Ocean

Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani developed near the equator (near 2.70°N and 88.70°E), a rare occurrence at such a low latitude. With a maximum sustained wind speed of 215 km/h, it was one the most intense cyclone to cross the Odisha coast. Since the advent of meteorological satellites (1965 onwards), Fani was the most intense cyclonic storm to cross the Odisha coast during the pre-monsoon season.

Cyclone Kyarr in late October was the strongest Arabian Sea Cyclone on record and second strongest in the North Indian Ocean.

Western North Pacific

Typhoon Hagibis in the Western Pacific Ocean in October caused more than US$ 15 billion direct economic loss in damage after making landfall in Japan.

South-West Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall on 14 March in the northern vicinity of Beira, Mozambique, with 165 km/h winds with gusts up to 230 km/h. It brought torrential rains and very high seas – wave heights exceeded 10 metres. It caused the death of more than 600 people and injured some 1 600. It affected more than 1.8 million people and caused estimated losses of US$ 773 million in damages to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture.

A few weeks later, the country suffered another unprecedented event. Tropical Cyclone Kenneth, with wind gusts of up to 220km/h, made landfall on 25 April in northern Mozambique. It became the strongest cyclone on record to hit the African continent, making landfall at a latitude rarely observed. Two storms of such intensity have never before struck Mozambique in the same season. Before making landfall in Mozambique, Kenneth impacted people in the Union of Comoros with consequences on health, education, housing, strategic infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, socio-economic life, etc.

2018

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Michael in October, with sustained winds of 249 km/h, was the third most intense hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous U.S. based on central pressure, and the fourth most intense based on wind speed. It caused US$ 25 billion in damages, and was the costliest tropical cyclone in 2018.

Western North Pacific

In September, Typhoon Mangkhut caused severe damage to the Philippines, China, including Hong Kong and Macao, and Viet Nam and affected Lao PDR and Thailand. It was highly destructive. Hong Kong issued the highest tropical cyclone warning, Signal No.10, for 10 hours on 16 September 2018 – that was the second longest duration of a No. 10 signal in Hong Kong since 1946. The cyclone left a total at least 134 fatalities and damages of US$ 3.77 billion in its path.

South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita (February) was the most significant cyclone to occur in the previous two seasons over this region. Gita reached Category 4 intensity before causing widespread damage on Tonga, the country most impacted by the cyclone with hundreds of homes and crops destroyed – estimated damages of US$356 million. There were also significant damages on Samoa, American Samoa, the southern Fijian islands and New Zealand, where a state of emergency was declared in the wake of the system.

2017

The North Atlantic experienced a very active hurricane season with 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and six major hurricanes – well above the 1981-2010 average of 12.1 named storms, 6.4 hurricanes, and 2.7 major hurricanes. The Caribbean was devastated by two Category 5 hurricanes – Irma and Maria – within a two-week period. The lack of El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific with La Niña conditions developing near the end of the season likely helped to boost the seasonal numbers. When the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is neutral and La Niña conditions are present, wind shear is typically less in the Atlantic Basin, creating favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development.

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Harvey made its final landfall in southwestern Louisiana on 30 August. Harvey’s centre was over or near the Texas coast for four days. Over that period, southeastern Texas recorded a historic amount of rainfall – more than 1524 mm – resulting in catastrophic flooding. Harvey is the second-most costly hurricane in U.S. history, after Katrina (2005). At least 68 people in Texas died in the storm, the largest number of direct deaths from a tropical cyclone in that state since 1919.

Hurricane Irma made landfall on Barbuda and St. Martin on 6 September and sustained its Category 5 intensity for 60 hours – the second longest period on record, behind the 1932 Hurricane of Santa Cruz, Cuba. It hit 16 countries and caused at least 134 deaths.

Hurricane Maria, the most intense hurricane on record to make landfall on Dominica, it traversed the island on 19 September then struck Puerto Rico on the 20th. Maria was the North Atlantic’s deadliest tropical cyclone of the year with over 3 000 casualties in Puerto Rico and Dominica alone. From 1883 to present, Dominica has experienced 10 major hurricanes – Maria was its first Category 5. Dominica, called the Nature Island, saw its vegetation practically eradicated and 95% of its housing, all of its agriculture and most of its infrastructure wrecked beyond repair.  The World Bank estimates Dominica’s damage and loss from Maria at US$1.3 billion or 224% of its Gross Domestic Product. NOAA estimates related damages in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands at US$ 90 billion, making it the third costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind Katrina (2005) and Harvey (2017). Maria is by far the most destructive hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in modern times, the previous costliest on record was Georges (1998) with damages estimated at US$ 5 billion (in 2017).

Hurricane Nate made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi in October causing an estimated US$ 225 million in damage.

North Indian Ocean

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Ockhi (29 November - 6 December) over the Bay of Bengal, with the life span of 162 hours, was the deadliest tropical cyclone of the year in the basin with 911 deaths recorded.

Western North Pacific

Typhoon Hato formed east of the Philippines on 19 August and caused severe damage in southern China, including Hong Kong and Macau, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. Typhoon Hato was the strongest tropical cyclones to have struck Macao since 1953. It was the first time that the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) hoisted the Hurricane Wind Signal No.10 in 18 years. The maximum mean winds at cross-sea bridge was 132 km/h, with record-breaking gusts of 217.4 km/h.

South-West Indian Ocean

Intense tropical cyclone Enawo in early March, the most violent event in Madagascar since Gafilo in 2004, caused more than 80 casualties.

South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean

Severe tropical cyclone Debbie was the most significant system to make landfall in the season. It caused widespread damage and flooding in parts of Queensland and New South Wales in late March.

Cyclone Donna (Category 5) in May was the strongest off-season event in the Southern Hemisphere. It directly impacted the Solomon Islands – 2 fatalities were recorded – Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Tropical cyclone Cempaka formed south of Java in late November. While the eye of the cyclone remained over water, storm force winds generated severe swells and heavy rainfall impacted much of Java and killing 19 people.

2016

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Haiti following hurricane Matthew

Hurricane Matthew in September was the strongest and deadliest hurricane of the season. Its winds exceeded 220 km/h. Its heavy rains caused torrential flooding and severe flash floods, mudslides and landslides. Matthew claimed 595 lives, mostly in Haiti, and left economic losses amounting to US$ 15.83 billion in its path. The strong winds, coastal flooding and rain caused heavy flooding and landslides in Haiti such that infrastructure, agricultural crops and natural ecosystems were destroyed, gravely setting back the struggling economy. The southeastern United States also experienced widespread devastation.

South-West Indian Ocean

Cyclone Fantala in April was amongst the top five most intense cyclones in the basin. Its life-span of almost 10 cyclone days is the new Accumulated Cyclone Energy record for the basin.

South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean

Cyclone Winston made landfall in Fiji in February as an intense Category 5 system with estimated 10-minute average winds of 296 km/h and gusts of 388 km/h. Winston’s intensely devastating winds hit Fiji, inundating coastal communities in the affected islands. A total of 44 lives were lost and damages to Fiji’s economy was estimated at US$ 1.4 billion.

2015

Western North Pacific

The costliest tropical cyclone in was Typhoon Mujigae, which made landfall in China on 4 October, causing US$ 4.25 billion economic losses.

Eastern North Pacific

Hurricane Patricia classified as Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale – an extremely intense hurricane. It reached maximum sustained winds of 342 km/h and gusts of 400 km/h on 23 October when it was 255 km south-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima (Mexico). It made landfall in Mexico in a sparsely populated area.

South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean

Cyclone Pam was the strongest system in the tropical cyclone season. It made landfall in Vanuatu on 14 March as a Category 5 tropical cyclone with estimated sustained winds of 268 km/h. It caused enormous damages to Vanuatu and resulted in 11 fatalities