Since 1947, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has classified all typhoons in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean with wind speeds of at least —the equivalent of a strong Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson scale, as super typhoons. Since that year, 317 super typhoons have occurred in the basin, the latest being Typhoon Surigae in 2026. Only two Pacific typhoon seasons have not included at least one super typhoon, which were the 1949 and the 1974 seasons. The most typhoons to have reached this intensity in a single season is tied between 1965 and 1997, with 11 becoming super typhoons.
Background
All typhoons that reach an intensity of at least are referred to by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as super typhoons. The first typhoon to be identified as a "super typhoon" by the JTWC was Typhoon Rosalind of 1947, a high-end Category 4-equivalent typhoon. From there on, 4 years later, Typhoon Iris in 1951 would become the first Category 5-equivalent typhoon referred to as a super typhoon ever recorded. Tropical cyclones of these violent intensities occur much more often in the Western Pacific, owing to the fact it has the warmest sea surface temperatures, which tropical cyclones need to thrive. Sufficient sea surface temperatures and the frequent passing of the Madden–Julian oscillation allow these cyclones to quickly intensify and blossom into violent storms.
Since the first super typhoon was designated, approximately 314 other super typhoons have formed to date. The strongest (and also the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded) was Typhoon Tip in 1979, the costliest (also the costliest typhoon on record) was Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, the longest-lived was Typhoon Rita in 1972, and the deadliest was Typhoon Haiyan in the record-breaking 2013 Pacific typhoon season. Additionally, the earliest-forming super typhoon was Typhoon Karen in January 1948.
Systems Key Discontinuous duration (weakened below super typhoon status before restrengthening)
1947–1959 NameDates as asuper typhoon Duration(hours) Pressure Sustainedwind speedsAreas affected Deaths Damage(USD)Notes Rosalind None None None First recorded super typhoon Karen None None None First and only super typhoon recorded in the month of January Doris None None None Iris Chuuk, Philippines 9 $9.3 million First category 5-equivalent super typhoon Olive Wake Island None >$1.6 million Wilma Philippines 10 Unknown Agnes None None Unknown Della Philippines, Taiwan Unknown Unknown Hester Guam None None Kit Taiwan, East China, South Korea Unknown Unknown Nina East China Unknown Unknown Tess Japan Unknown Unknown Betty Philippines, Hainan Unknown Unknown Doris None None None Ida Philippines, Hainan Unknown Unknown June † Japan 107 Unknown Pamela † Philippines, Hong Kong Unknown Unknown One of the first recorded Category 5 typhoons in the South China Sea Ruby Luzon Unknown Unknown Sally Luzon Unknown Unknown Clara Shandong Province Unknown Unknown Kate Luzon Unknown Unknown Louise Japan Unknown Unknown Patsy Philippines None None Ruth None None None Thelma None None None Wanda Taiwan, East China 4,935 Unknown Deadliest typhoon of the 1950s Emma Ryukyu Islands 77 $8 million Gilda Philippines, Taiwan Unknown Unknown Jean Philippines Unknown Unknown Rose None None None Virginia Philippines, Taiwan, East China, Japan 86 $20 million Agnes Japan, South Korea Unknown Unknown Faye None None None Hester Japan Unknown Unknown Judy Japan Unknown Unknown Lola None None None Ophelia Marshall Islands None Minor Phyllis None None None Strongest typhoon in May at the time, before being surpassed by Typhoon Damrey in 2000 Winnie † Taiwan Unknown Unknown Alice Japan Unknown Unknown Doris Japan Unknown Unknown Grace East China Unknown Unknown Helen Japan Unknown Unknown Ida Japan 1,269 $50 million Most intense Pacific typhoon at the time, before being surpassed by Typhoon June in 1975. Nancy None None None Joan East China None None Sarah East China, South Korea >2,000 >$102 million Vera Japan 5,098 >$261 million One of the strongest typhoons to ever strike Japan Charlotte Okinawa 46 >$300 thousand Dinah Japan None None Gilda Philippines, Vietnam 23 $1.5 million 51 systemsJan 13, 1948 – Dec 19, 1959 13,562 $435.7 million
1960–1969 NameDates as asuper typhoonDuration(hours)PressureSustained wind speedsAreas affectedDeathsDamage(USD)Notes Shirley Taiwan, East China None None Ophelia Ulithi Atoll, Yap 7 Unknown First super typhoon name retiredTessMarch 28–29, 196130 hours940 hPa (27.75 inHg)NoneNoneNoneBetty East China, Korean Peninsula, Japan, Russia None None PamelaSeptember 11, 196118 hours910 hPa (26.87 inHg)Taiwan, East China98 dead, 27 missing$5 millionNancySeptember 9–15, 1961144 hours882 hPa (26.05 inHg)Guam, Ryukyu Islands, Japan202 dead, 8 missing$500 millionOnce considered to have had the strongest wind speeds ever recorded in a tropical cyclone prior to more reliable measurements from Hurricane PatriciaNOAA Tropical Cyclone FAQ Subject E1 accessed March 7, 2006TildaSeptember 29–October 2, 196154 hours925 hPa (27.31 inHg)Ryukyu Islands, East China2UnknownVioletOctober 6–8, 196160 hours895 hPa (26.42 inHg)Japan2NoneDotOctober 9–12, 196166 hours930 hPa (27.46 inHg)Guam, Northern Mariana IslandsNoneUnknownEllenDecember 5–14, 196112 hoursPhilippinesUnknown$500,000GeorgiaApril 15–24, 196218 hoursNoneUnknown$28,000OpalJuly 30–August 9, 196218 hoursEast China, Korean Peninsula, Japan21$25 millionRuthAugust 12-23, 196248 hoursNoneNoneNoneAmyAugust 28-September 7, 196278 hoursTaiwan, China, North Korea, South Korea24Unknown
1970–1979 NameDates as asuper typhoonDuration(hours)PressureSustainedwind speedsAreas affectedDeathsDamage(USD)OlgaJune 30-July 1, 197024 hours905 hPa (26.72 inHg)Japan, South Korea49$10 millionAnitaAugust 19-August 20, 197012 hours912 hPa (26.93 inHg)Japan23UnknownGeorgiaSeptember 10-September 11, 197048 hours905 hPa (26.72 inHg)Philippines, China95$1.4 million HopeSeptember 23-September 26, 197072 hours895 hPa (26.43 inHg)NoneNoneNoneJoanOctober 11-October 13, 197036 hours905 hPa (26.72 inHg)Philippines, China, Hong Kong768$74 millionKateOctober 18- October 19, 197018 hours940 hPa (27.76 inHg)Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam 631$50 millionPatsyNovember 18- November 19, 197042 hours910 hPa (26.87 inHg)Philippines, Vietnam271$28 millionAmyJuly 18, 197118 hours890 hPa (26.28 inHg)Philippines, Taiwan, China240$450 millionLucyJuly 19-July 20, 197118 hours910 hPa (26.87 inHg)Philippines, China, Hong Kong UnknownUnknown NadineJuly 23-July 25, 197142 hours900 hPa (26.58 inHg)Taiwan, China28UnknownWendySeptember 7-September 10, 197154 hours915 hPa (27.02 inHg)Philippines NoneUnknownBessSeptember 16-September 18, 197142 hours905 hPa (26.72 inHg)Taiwan, China20$320 millionIrmaNovember 11-November 12, 197116 hours884 hPa (26.13 inHg)Philippines, TaiwanNoneUnknownRitaJuly 10-July 13, 197296 hours910 hPa (26.87 inHg)Caroline Islands, Ryukyu Islands, South China377$445 millionBettyOctober 2-October 4, 197236 hours910 hPa (26.87 inHg)Mariana Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, China29UnknownBillieJuly 14-July 15, 197312 hours 915 hPa (27.02 inHg)Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, ChinaUnknownUnknownNoraOctober 4-October 6, 197348 hours875 hPa (25.84 inHg)Philippines, Taiwan, Eastern China, Hong Kong40$2 millionPatsyOctober 8-October 13, 1973120 hours895 hPa (26.43 inHg)Philippine, China, VietnamUnknownUnknownNinaJuly 30-August 8, 197554 hours924 hPa (27.46 in Hg)Taiwan, East China230,000$1.2 billionElsieOctober 11-October 12, 197548 hours900 hPa (26.58 inHg)Hong Kong1000$25 millionJuneNovember 17-November 21, 197596 hours875 hPa (25.84 inHg)Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, GuamNone$300,000PamelaMay 18-May 19, 197648 hours920 hPa (27.17 inHg)Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands11$500 millionThereseJuly 12-July 14, 197648 hours905 hPa (26.72 inHg)Mariana Islands, Japan3UnknownFranSeptember 7-September 12, 1976120 hours910 hPa (26.87 inHg)Mariana Islands, Japan169$660 millionLouiseOctober 28-November 2, 1976120 hours895 hPa (26.43 inHg)Caroline Islands, PhilippinesNoneNoneTipOctober 11-October 17, 1979168 hours870 hPa (25.69 inHg)Caroline Islands, Philippines, Korean Peninsula, Japan, Northeast China, Russian Far East, Alaska99$484 million
1980–1989 NameDates as asuper typhoonDuration(hours)PressureAreas affectedDeathsDamage(USD)Refs
1990–1999 NameDates as asuper typhoonDuration(hours)PressureAreas affectedDeathsDamage(USD)Refs
2000–2009 NameDates as asuper typhoonDuration(hours)PressureSustained wind speedsAreas affectedDeathsDamage(USD)Refs Damrey Caroline Islands None None Bilis Caroline Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, China 71 $668 million Saomai Mariana Islands, Ryukyu Islands, East China, Korea, Russia 28 $6.3 billion Shanshan None None None Wutip None None None Podul Caroline Islands None None Faxai Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands 1 $1 million Mitag Federated States of Micronesia 2 $150 million Hagibis Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands None None Chataan Chuuk, Guam, Japan 54 $660 million Halong Guam, Philippines , Japan 10 $89.8 million Fengshen Japan, China 5 $4 million Phanfone Japan None None Higos Northern Mariana Islands, Japan, Russian Far East 12 $2.14 billion Pongsona Guam, Northern Mariana Islands 1 $730 million Kujira Micronesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan 3 $230,000 Dianmu Caroline Islands, Palau, Japan, South Korea, Philippines 6 $68.5 million
2010–2019 NameDates as asuper typhoonDuration(hours)PressureSustained wind speedsAreas affectedDeathsDamage(USD)Refs Megi Philippines, Southeastern China, Taiwan 69 $709 million Songda Micronesia, Philippines, Japan 17 $287 million Muifa Micronesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea, Russia 22 $480 million Nanmadol Philippines, Taiwan, China, 38 $1.49 billion Nalgae Philippines, China, Vietnam 18 $250 million Guchol Philippines, Japan 3 $100 million Sanba Palau, Japan, Korea, China, Russia 6 $361 million Jelawat Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Alaska, Russian Far East 2 $27.4 million Bopha Caroline Islands, Philippines 1,901 $1.16 billon Utor Philippines, Hong Kong, Macao, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan 97 $3.55 billion Usagi Philippines, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau 39 $4.32 billion Francisco Guam, Ryukyu Islands, Japan None $150,000 Lekima Northern Mariana Islands, Japan None None Haiyan Caroline Islands, Philippines, South China, Vietnam, Taiwan 6,352 $2.98 billion Neoguri Caroline Islands, Guam, Japan, South Korea 3 $632 million Rammasun Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, Philippines, South China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Thailand 225 $8.08 billion Halong Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, Philippines, Japan, Russia 12 $72.8 million Genevieve None None None Phanfone Mariana Islands, Japan, Alaska 11 $100 million Vongfong Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Kamchatka Peninsula, Alaska 9 $161 million Nuri Japan None Minimal Hagupit Caroline Islands, Palau, Philippines, Vietnam 18 $114 million Higos None None None Maysak Federated States of Micronesia, Philippines 5 $8.5 million Noul Caroline Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan