1998 tropical cyclone seasons worldwide
In 1998, 92 storms reached tropical-storm strength across the six ocean basins. 51 of them reached hurricane or typhoon strength (64 kt) and 21 became major storms (96 kt or more). The strongest was Super Typhoon Zeb in the West Pacific, at 180 mph. The Southern Hemisphere figures are the 1997–98 season, which IBTrACS files under 1998.
1998 at a glance
- Storms at tropical-storm strength (34 kt+): 92, from 106 systems tracked.
- Hurricanes and typhoons (64 kt+): 51.
- Major storms (96 kt+): 21, 4 of them at Category 5 strength.
- Accumulated cyclone energy, all basins: 774, 97% of the 800 that the six basins produce in an average year (1991–2020).
- Strongest storm worldwide: Super Typhoon Zeb, West Pacific, 180 mph (155 kt), 900 mb.
- Most active basin against its average: Atlantic, with 148% of its average accumulated cyclone energy.
- Least active against its average: Central Pacific, at 0%.
Each basin in 1998
Counts against each basin’s 1991–2020 average. Open a basin for its 1998 track map, every storm and its landfalls.
Atlantic hurricane season
1998 season
14 named (average 14.4), 10 hurricanes (average 7.2). Strongest: Hurricane Mitch, 180 mph.
East Pacific hurricane season
1998 season
13 named (average 15.6), 9 hurricanes (average 8.4). Strongest: Hurricane Howard, 150 mph.
Central Pacific hurricane season
1998 season
0 named (average 1.6), 0 hurricanes (average 0.8).
West Pacific typhoon season
1998 season
19 named (average 25.5), 10 typhoons (average 15.8). Strongest: Super Typhoon Zeb, 180 mph.
North Indian cyclone season
1998 season
11 named (average 6.3), 4 at hurricane strength (average 2.0). Strongest: Cyclone 3A, 120 mph.
Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
1997–98 season
35 named (average 26.7), 18 at hurricane strength (average 13.8). Strongest: Cyclone Ron, 165 mph.
Strongest storms of 1998
| Storm | Basin | Peak wind | Min pressure | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeb | West Pacific | C5 180 mph | 900 mb | – |
| Mitch | Atlantic | C5 180 mph | 905 mb | – |
| Ron | Southern Hemisphere | C5 165 mph | 900 mb | – |
| Susan | Southern Hemisphere | C5 160 mph | 900 mb | – |
| Georges | Atlantic | C4 155 mph | 937 mb | – |
Peak winds are 1-minute sustained winds from the NHC and JTWC best tracks, so storms in different basins compare on the same scale.