2010 West Pacific typhoon season
All year · Season ended
The 2010 West Pacific typhoon season produced 15 named storms, 9 typhoons and 4 major typhoons, against a 1991–2020 average of 25.5, 15.8 and 9.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 124, 43% of the average.
2010 season at a glance
- Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 25.5).
- Typhoons (64 kt+): 9 (average 15.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 9.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 123.6, 43% of the 286 average.
- Named-storm days: 66.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Omais, March 22.
- First typhoon: Conson, July 12.
- First major storm: Kompasu, August 31.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 19W, December 14.
- All systems tracked: 21, including 6 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 2010 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1W | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Omais | – | TS | 985 mb | — |
| Conson | – | C1 | 963 mb | Kalayaan, Philippines |
| Chanthu | – | C1 | 963 mb | General Tinio, Philippines |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Dianmu | – | TS | 982 mb | Boseong, South Korea |
| Mindulle | – | C1 | 974 mb | Diễn Thành, Vietnam |
| Lionrock | – | TS | 978 mb | Huanggang, China |
| Kompasu | – | C3 | 944 mb | Cheorwon, South Korea |
| Namtheun | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Malou | – | TS | 989 mb | Yunoo, Japan |
| Meranti | – | C1 | 974 mb | Quanzhou, China |
| Fanapi | – | C3 | 944 mb | Chishang, Taiwan |
| Malakas | – | C2 | 948 mb | — |
| TD 14W | – | TD | 1000 mb | Sanya, China |
| Megi | – | C5 | 903 mb | Ilagan, Philippines |
| TD 17W | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Chaba | – | C4 | 937 mb | — |
| Jal | – | TS | 982 mb | Tinnanūr, India |
| TD 18W | – | TD | 1000 mb | Đức Phổ, Vietnam |
| TD 19W | – | TD | 1004 mb | — |
- TD 1W: This system formed in the West Pacific in January 2010 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Omais: Omais formed in the West Pacific in March 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Conson: Conson formed in the West Pacific in July 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Kalayaan, Philippines and last near Hải Dương, Vietnam. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Chanthu: Chanthu formed in the West Pacific in July 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near General Tinio, Philippines and last near Zhanjiang, China. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the West Pacific in July 2010. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Dianmu: Dianmu formed in the West Pacific in August 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Boseong, South Korea and last near Yurihonjō, Japan. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Mindulle: Mindulle formed in the West Pacific in August 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It made landfall near Diễn Thành, Vietnam. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Lionrock: Lionrock formed in the West Pacific in August 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It made landfall near Huanggang, China. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Kompasu: Kompasu formed in the West Pacific in August 2010 and peaked as a Category 3 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Cheorwon, South Korea and last near Esashi, Japan. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Namtheun: Namtheun formed in the West Pacific in August 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Malou: Malou formed in the West Pacific in August 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Yunoo, Japan. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Meranti: Meranti formed in the West Pacific in September 2010 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It made landfall near Quanzhou, China. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Fanapi: Fanapi formed in the West Pacific in September 2010 and peaked as a Category 3 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Chishang, Taiwan and last near Anbu, China. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Malakas: Malakas formed in the West Pacific in September 2010 and peaked as a Category 2 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 14W: This system formed in the West Pacific in October 2010 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near Sanya, China. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Megi: Megi formed in the West Pacific in October 2010 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 903 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Ilagan, Philippines and last near Shima, China. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- TD 17W: This system formed in the West Pacific in October 2010 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Chaba: Chaba formed in the West Pacific in October 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Jal: Jal formed in the West Pacific in October 2010 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Tinnanūr, India. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 18W: This system formed in the West Pacific in November 2010 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near Đức Phổ, Vietnam. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 19W: This system formed in the West Pacific in December 2010 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2010
Super Typhoon Megi was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 903 mb, on October 17. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
6 West Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 34% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2010
13 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, 4 of them at typhoon strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 13: Conson near Kalayaan, Philippines, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- July 17: Conson near Hải Dương, Vietnam, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- July 18: Chanthu near General Tinio, Philippines, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- July 22: Chanthu near Zhanjiang, China, 80 mph (Category 1)
- August 10: Dianmu near Boseong, South Korea, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- August 12: Dianmu near Yurihonjō, Japan, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 24: Mindulle near Diễn Thành, Vietnam, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 2: Lionrock near Huanggang, China, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 2: Kompasu near Cheorwon, South Korea, 75 mph (Category 1)
- September 3: Kompasu near Esashi, Japan, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- September 8: Malou near Yunoo, Japan, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- September 9: Meranti near Quanzhou, China, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 19: Fanapi near Chishang, Taiwan, 105 mph (Category 2)
- September 20: Fanapi near Anbu, China, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- October 5: TD 14W near Sanya, China, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 18: Megi near Ilagan, Philippines, 140 mph (Category 4)
- October 23: Megi near Shima, China, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- November 7: Jal near Tinnanūr, India, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 14: TD 18W near Đức Phổ, Vietnam, 35 mph (tropical depression)
How 2010 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 46th of 47 West Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 45th for typhoons (tied with 2 other seasons) and 46th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 33 named storms, in 1994, and the highest ACE is 483, in 2004.
2010 storm names
The 2010 season used 15 names: Omais, Conson, Chanthu, Dianmu, Mindulle, Lionrock, Kompasu, Namtheun, Malou, Meranti, Fanapi, Malakas, Megi, Chaba, Jal.
6 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2010 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2010?
The 2010 West Pacific typhoon season had 15 named storms, 9 typhoons and 4 major typhoons, from 21 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 25.5 named storms, 15.8 at 64 kt or more and 9.0 major per season. The first to form was Omais and the last was Jal.
What was the strongest storm of 2010?
Super Typhoon Megi. It peaked at 185 mph (295 km/h, 160 kt) with a lowest pressure of 903 mb on October 17. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 6 West Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 34% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2010 season end?
The West Pacific has no official season, so the 2010 season is simply the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Depression 19W, dissipated on December 14. Since 1980, 51 West Pacific storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.