The 2015 Pacific typhoon season had a relatively active tropical cyclone season, with its first five months being unusually active and intense due to a developing El Niño. During the season, a total of 36 systems were designated as Tropical Depressions, as determined by the following Meteorological organizations: the JMA; the PAGASA; the JTWC; or one of various other reporting agencies, such as the China Meteorological Administration, or the Hong Kong Observatory. Throughout the 2015 season, 13 systems entered or formed in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with six of them making landfall directly over the Philippines.
This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season in the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator between 100°E and the International Date Line. The time stamp for each event is stated using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the 24-hour clock where 00:00 = midnight UTC. Additionally, figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (Kilometres or miles). Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Meteorological observations typically report atmospheric pressures are measured in hectopascals per the recommendation of the World Meteorological Organization, and the nearest hundredth of an inches of mercury or millibars (hectopascals).
Timeline
January January 2 06:00 UTC — The JMA reports that a tropical depression has developed to the northwest of Brunei, within an area that was marginally favourable for further development.
January 4 06:00 UTC — The tropical depression previously located to the northwest of Brunei is last noted by the JMA, as it dissipates in the South China Sea near the border of Malaysia and Indonesia.
January 13 15:00 UTC - The JTWC (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) monitors a tropical depression was designated as Tropical Depression 01W.
January 14 06:00 UTC — 01W intensified into a tropical storm by the JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency), naming it Mekkhala. 21:00 UTC — Mekkhala entered the Philippine area of Responsibility (PAR), as it was named as Amang by the PAGASA.
January 15 03:00 UTC — The JTWC upgrades Mekkhala to a tropical storm.
January 16 12:00 UTC — According to the JMA, Mekkhala intensified into a severe tropical storm.
January 17 00:00 UTC — The JMA upgraded Mekkhala to a minimal typhoon and reached its peak intensity with 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph). 03:00 UTC — The JTWC in the other hand, classified Mekkhala's peak as a Category 1 typhoon with winds of 130 km/h (80 mph). 07:00 UTC — PAGASA had reported that Mekkhala (Amang) had made landfall over Dolores, Eastern Samar of the Philippines. 09:00 UTC — Both the JMA and the JTWC downgraded the system to a tropical storm.
January 18 15:00 UTC — The JTWC downgraded Mekkhala to a tropical depression. 18:00 UTC — Mekkhala had fully weakened into a tropical depression.
January 21 00:00 UTC — The JMA stopped warning on the system as it was absorbed by a stationary front over eastern Luzon.
February February 7 06:00 UTC — The JTWC monitors a tropical depression was designated as Tropical Depression 02W. 15:00 UTC — The JTWC designates 02W to tropical Storm, as it started to intensify. 18:00 UTC — 02W intensified into a tropical storm by the JMA, naming it Higos whilst the JTWC also upgraded Higos to a tropical storm.
February 8 18:00 UTC — The JMA upgrades Higos to a severe tropical storm whilst the JTWC upgraded Higos to a Category 1 typhoon.
February 9 12:00 UTC — The JMA upgrades Higos to a typhoon whilst the JTWC upgraded Higos to a Category 2 typhoon.
February 10 03:00 UTC — Higos starts to undergo rapid deepening as its eye became more clearer. 06:00 UTC — The JTWC classified Higos's peak as a Category 4 typhoon with winds of 215 km/h (130 mph). 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Higos has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 3 typhoon on the SSHWS. 18:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Higos has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 2 typhoon on the SSHWS. 21:00 UTC — The JMA reports that Typhoon Higos has weakened into a severe tropical storm.
February 11 00:00 UTC — The JMA reports that Severe Tropical Storm Higos has weakened into a tropical storm. 00:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Higos has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 1 typhoon on the SSHWS. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC downgraded Higos to a tropical depression. 18:00 UTC — Higos had fully weakened into a tropical depression.
February 13 06:00 UTC — The JMA stopped warning on the system as it was absorbed by a stationary front over eastern Mariana Islands.
March March 10 06:00 UTC - The JMA starts monitoring a tropical depression that is located about to the northeast of Bairiki in Kiribati.
March 11 03:00 UTC — The tropical depression forms and was designated as 03W by the JTWC. 06:00 UTC — The JMA reports that the tropical depression has developed into a tropical storm.
March 14 12:00 UTC — According to both agencies, Bavi had reached its peak strength as a strong tropical storm.
March 17 18:00 UTC — The PAGASA had reported that Bavi had entered their area, giving the name Betty. 21:00 UTC — All three agencies downgrade Bavi to a tropical depression, as moderate to high vertical wind shear caused Bavi's circulation to become exposed.
March 23 00:00 UTC — Tropical Depression Bavi (Betty) had fully dissipated west of Manila.
March 27 03:00 UTC — The JTWC starts designating a tropical depression to 04W. 15:00 UTC — As of the JTWC, 04W intensified into a tropical storm. 18:00 UTC — The JMA followed suit of upgrading it. With this, it was named Maysak.
March 28 12:00 UTC — Maysak starts to show signs of a developing eye, as it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA. 18:00 UTC — The JMA upgrades Maysak to a typhoon, even though the JTWC still classifies it as a tropical storm. 21:00 UTC — Finally, the JTWC upgrades Maysak to a Category 1 typhoon.
March 29 18:00 UTC — Maysak intensifies into a Category 2 typhoon as it starts to develop a ragged eye.
March 30 06:00 UTC — Maysak starts to undergo rapid deepening as its eye became more clearer. 18:00 UTC — Due to more favorable environments for the storm, the JTWC upgraded Maysak to a Category 4 super typhoon, as the typhoon strengthened in size as well.
March 31 09:00 UTC — The JTWC upgrades Maysak to a Category 5 super typhoon with 1-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph).
April April 1 06:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 4 super typhoon on the SSHWS. 15:00 UTC — Maysak enters the PAR, with PAGASA naming it as Chedeng. 18:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon on the SSHWS.
April 2 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 3 typhoon on the SSHWS.
April 3 00:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 2 typhoon on the SSHWS. 03:00 UTC — Tropical Depression 05W develops from a cluster of clouds east of the Caroline Islands and over favorable conditions. 18:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 1 typhoon on the SSHWS.
April 4 03:00 UTC — According to the JTWC, 05W had intensified into a tropical storm. 03:00 UTC — In the same time, the JMA started issuing advisories on 05W. 06:00 UTC — The JMA reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened into a severe tropical storm. 07:00 UTC — The JMA had stated that 05W had intensified into Tropical Storm Haishen. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Maysak has weakened to a tropical storm. 18:00 UTC — The JMA reports that Severe Tropical Storm Maysak has weakened into a tropical storm.
April 5 06:00 UTC — The JMA downgrades Maysak to a tropical depression, whilst the JTWC still classifies it as a weak tropical storm. 18:00 UTC — The JTWC issues its final advisory on Typhoon Maysak as it has weakened into a tropical depression.
April 6 12:00 UTC — The JMA stops warning on Haishen, as it was downgraded to a low-pressure area.
April 7 21:00 UTC — The JMA stops tracking on Tropical Depression Maysak as it was last located over the South China Sea.
May May 2 06:00 UTC — The JMA starts to monitor a tropical depression that was located to the east of Palau.
May 3 00:00 UTC — The JTWC starts issuing advisories on the depression as they upgraded it to Tropical Depression 06W. 18:00 UTC — Tropical Depression 06W intensifies into Tropical Storm Noul. 20:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Tropical Depression 06W has intensified to a tropical storm.
May 5 18:00 UTC — Tropical Storm Noul intensified into a severe tropical storm by the JMA.
May 6 06:00 UTC — The JMA starts to monitor a new tropical depression just north of the equator near Pohnpei. 06:00 UTC — Noul intensifies into a typhoon by the JMA. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC upgraded Noul to a Category 1 typhoon. 20:00 UTC — Noul enters the PAR, as PAGASA names it Dodong. 21:00 UTC — The JTWC starts issuing advisories on the new depression and designates it as 07W.
May 7 00:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 2 typhoon on the SSHWS. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 3 typhoon on the SSHWS.
May 9 12:00 UTC — The JMA upgrades 07W to Tropical Storm Dolphin. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon on the SSHWS. 18:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 4 super typhoon on the SSHWS.
May 10 00:00 UTC — Both the JMA and the JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul had reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 super typhoon with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 205 km/h (125 mph), which is the strongest this year in terms of windspeeds. . 07:00 UTC — PAGASA had reported that Noul (Dodong) made landfall over Santa Ana, Cagayan of the Philippines. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 4 super typhoon on the SSHWS. 18:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon on the SSHWS.
May 11 00:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 3 typhoon on the SSHWS. 06:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 2 typhoon on the SSHWS. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened and become equivalent to a Category 1 typhoon on the SSHWS.
May 12 00:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened to a tropical storm. 03:00 UTC — The JMA reports that Typhoon Noul has weakened into a severe tropical storm. 06:00 UTC — Both the JMA and the JTWC issues their final advisory on Typhoon Noul as it has transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.
May 13 00:00 UTC — The JTWC upgrades Dolphin to a Category 1 typhoon. 06:00 UTC — The JMA upgrades Dolphin to a typhoon. 12:00 UTC — The JTWC upgraded Dolphin to a Category 2 typhoon.
May 15 18:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Dolphin has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 3 typhoon on the SSHWS.
May 16 00:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Dolphin has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon on the SSHWS. 06:00 UTC — The JTWC reports that Typhoon Dolphin has intensified and become equivalent to a Category 4 super typhoon on the SSHWS. 09:00 UTC — The JMA reports that Typhoon Dolphin has reached its peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 185 km/h (115 mph).