2018 tropical cyclone seasons worldwide
In 2018, 102 storms reached tropical-storm strength across the six ocean basins. 57 of them reached hurricane or typhoon strength (64 kt) and 30 became major storms (96 kt or more). The strongest was Super Typhoon Mangkhut in the West Pacific, at 180 mph. The Southern Hemisphere figures are the 2017–18 season, which IBTrACS files under 2018.
2018 at a glance
- Storms at tropical-storm strength (34 kt+): 102, from 114 systems tracked.
- Hurricanes and typhoons (64 kt+): 57.
- Major storms (96 kt+): 30, 11 of them at Category 5 strength.
- Accumulated cyclone energy, all basins: 1054, 132% of the 800 that the six basins produce in an average year (1991–2020).
- Strongest storm worldwide: Super Typhoon Mangkhut, West Pacific, 180 mph (155 kt), 896 mb.
- Most active basin against its average: East Pacific, with 231% of its average accumulated cyclone energy.
- Least active against its average: Southern Hemisphere, at 93%.
Each basin in 2018
Counts against each basin’s 1991–2020 average. Open a basin for its 2018 track map, every storm and its landfalls.
Atlantic hurricane season
2018 season
15 named (average 14.4), 8 hurricanes (average 7.2). Strongest: Hurricane Michael, 160 mph.
East Pacific hurricane season
2018 season
22 named (average 15.6), 12 hurricanes (average 8.4). Strongest: Hurricane Willa, 160 mph.
Central Pacific hurricane season
2018 season
1 named (average 1.6), 1 hurricane (average 0.8). Strongest: Hurricane Walaka, 160 mph.
West Pacific typhoon season
2018 season
32 named (average 25.5), 16 typhoons (average 15.8). Strongest: Super Typhoon Mangkhut, 180 mph.
North Indian cyclone season
2018 season
10 named (average 6.3), 5 at hurricane strength (average 2.0). Strongest: Cyclone Titli, 120 mph.
Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
2017–18 season
22 named (average 26.7), 15 at hurricane strength (average 13.8). Strongest: Cyclone Marcus, 175 mph.
Strongest storms of 2018
| Storm | Basin | Peak wind | Min pressure | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangkhut | West Pacific | C5 180 mph | 896 mb | – |
| Jebi | West Pacific | C5 180 mph | 907 mb | – |
| Yutu | West Pacific | C5 175 mph | 904 mb | – |
| Marcus | Southern Hemisphere | C5 175 mph | 906 mb | – |
| Kong-Rey | West Pacific | C5 175 mph | 906 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.