E) Records relatifs aux cyclones tropicaux

E1) Which is the most intense tropical cyclone on record?
E2) Which tropical cyclone intensified the fastest?
E3) Which tropical cyclone has produced the highest storm surge?
E4) What are the largest rainfalls associated with tropical cyclones?
E5) Which are the largest and smallest tropical cyclones on record?
E6) Which tropical cyclone lasted the longest?

Subject E1) Which is the most intense tropical cyclone on record?

Contributed by Chris Landsea

Typhoon Tip in the Northwest Pacific Ocean on 12 October 1979 was measured to have a central pressure of 870 mb and estimated surface sustained winds of 85 m/s (165 kt, 190 mph) (Dunnavan and Diercks 1980). Typhoon Nancy on 12 September, 1961 is listed in the best track data for the Northwest Pacific region as having an estimated maximum sustained winds of 95 m/s (185 kt, 213 mph) with a central pressure of 888 mb. However, it is now recognized (Black 1992) that the maximum sustained winds estimated for typhoons during the 1940s to 1960s were too strong and that the 95 m/s (and numerous 83 to 93 m/s reports) is somewhat too high.

Note that Hurricane Wilma's 882 mb lowest pressure (estimated from a dropsonde) in 2005 is the most intense [as measured by lowest sea level pressure] for the Atlantic basin, it is almost 12 mb weaker (higher) than the above Typhoon Tip of the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

While the central pressures for the Northwest Pacific typhoons are the lowest globally, the North Atlantic hurricanes have provided sustained wind speeds possibly comparable to the Northwest Pacific. From the best track database, Hurricane Camille (1969) and Hurricane Allen (1980) have winds that are estimated to be 85 m/s (165 kt, 190 mph). Measurements of such winds are inherently going to be suspect as instruments often are completely destroyed or damaged at these speeds.

Subject E2) Which tropical cyclone intensified the fastest?

Contributed by Chris Landsea

Hurricane Wilma in 2005 went from 954 mb to 901 mb in a 5 hour 23 minute period for a 9.8 mb/hr pressure drop. The winds went from 70 to 82 m/s (130 kt to 160 kt, 150 mph to 184 mph) in that period. Hurricane Beulah in 1967 underwent a 6.33 mb/hr drop over a six hour period.

In the West Pacific, Typhoon Forrest in September 1983 deepened by 100 mb (976 to 876 mb) in just under 24 hr (Roger Edson, personal communication) . Estimated surface sustained winds increased a maximum of 15 m/s (30 kt, 35 mph) in 6 hr and 44 m/s (85 kt, 98 mph) in one day (from 33 to 77 m/s [65 to 150 kt, 75 to 173 mph]).

Subject E3) Which tropical cyclone has produced the highest storm surge?

Contributed by Chris Landsea

The Bathurst Bay Hurricane, also known as Tropical Cyclone Mahina, struck Bathurst Bay, Australia in 1899. According to Whittingham (1958) it produced a 13 m (about 42 ft) surge, but other contemporary accounts place the surge at 14.6 m (almost 48 ft). Fish and dolphins were reported found ontop of 15 m cliffs.

Subject: E4) What are the largest rainfalls associated with tropical cyclones?

Contributed by Chris Landsea

Tropical cyclone GAMEDE seen on the La Reunion's radar scope.

Subject E5) Which are the largest and smallest tropical cyclones on record?

Contributed by Chris Landsea
Updated by Neal Dorst

Typhoon Tip had gale force winds (17 m/s [34 kt] (one-minute average wind)) which extended out for 1100 km in radius in the Northwest Pacific on 12 October, 1979 (Dunnavan and Diercks 1980).

Tropical Storm Marco (2008) had gale force wind that only extended out 19 km from its center of circulation (NHC Tropical Cyclone Report). That beats the old record holder, Tropical Cyclone Tracy which had gale force winds extending 50 km from its eye when it struck Darwin, Australia, on 24 December, 1974 (Bureau of Meteorology 1977).

This means that Typhoon Tip's gale force winds covered ~3.8 million square kilometers and Tropical Storm Marco's only 1.1 thousand square kilometers, or 0.03% of Tip's area.

Typhoon Tip	Tropical Storm Marco

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Sujet E6) Which tropical cyclone lasted the longest?

Contributed by Neal Dorst and Anne-Claire Fontan

• Cyclone Georgette lasted 24 days from January the 10th to February the 2nd, 1968. This cyclone has the longest life over Southwest Indian Ocean since the weather satellite era.


• System Alibera lasted more than 3 weeks, from 16 December to 7 January, 1990. During this period, Alibera stayed almost stationary 6 days in the northeast of Tromelin Island, looping several times. This erratic track has been very difficult to forecast. By chance, this situation happened far in the north of the Mascarenes' area, avoiding to be in red alert for a week. On 1 January, 1991, Alibera hit the southeastern malagasy coast, north of Mananjary city, with gusts reaching 200 km/h. Death and damages have associated to this sad New year.


• Recently, the cyclone Eline has travelled both Southeast and Southwest Indian Ocean during February 2000 and lasted 29 days. It formed in the Southeast Indian Ocean, was named Leon, moved across the 90E and was renamed Eline and finally fully dissipated over Namibia. It travelled over the RSMC's AOR from February the 8th to the 29th.

Hurricane/Typhoon John lasted 31 days as it travelled both the Northeast and Northwest Pacific basins during August and September 1994. (It formed in the Northeast Pacific, reached hurricane force there, moved across the dateline and was renamed Typhoon John, and then finally recurved back across the dateline and renamed Hurricane John again.)

Hurricane Ginger was a tropical cyclone for 28 days in the North Atlantic Ocean back in 1971.