2020 tropical cyclone seasons worldwide
In 2020, 104 storms reached tropical-storm strength across the six ocean basins. 49 of them reached hurricane or typhoon strength (64 kt) and 25 became major storms (96 kt or more). The strongest was Super Typhoon Goni in the West Pacific, at 195 mph. The Southern Hemisphere figures are the 2019–20 season, which IBTrACS files under 2020.
2020 at a glance
- Storms at tropical-storm strength (34 kt+): 104, from 117 systems tracked.
- Hurricanes and typhoons (64 kt+): 49.
- Major storms (96 kt+): 25, 4 of them at Category 5 strength.
- Accumulated cyclone energy, all basins: 600, 75% of the 800 that the six basins produce in an average year (1991–2020).
- Strongest storm worldwide: Super Typhoon Goni, West Pacific, 195 mph (170 kt), 884 mb.
- Most active basin against its average: Atlantic, with 147% of its average accumulated cyclone energy.
- Least active against its average: Central Pacific, at 0%.
Each basin in 2020
Counts against each basin’s 1991–2020 average. Open a basin for its 2020 track map, every storm and its landfalls.
Atlantic hurricane season
2020 season
30 named (average 14.4), 14 hurricanes (average 7.2). Strongest: Hurricane Iota, 155 mph.
East Pacific hurricane season
2020 season
17 named (average 15.6), 4 hurricanes (average 8.4). Strongest: Hurricane Marie, 140 mph.
Central Pacific hurricane season
2020 season
No storms recorded.
West Pacific typhoon season
2020 season
23 named (average 25.5), 12 typhoons (average 15.8). Strongest: Super Typhoon Goni, 195 mph.
North Indian cyclone season
2020 season
6 named (average 6.3), 4 at hurricane strength (average 2.0). Strongest: Cyclone Amphan, 165 mph.
Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
2019–20 season
28 named (average 26.7), 15 at hurricane strength (average 13.8). Strongest: Cyclone Harold, 165 mph.
Strongest storms of 2020
| Storm | Basin | Peak wind | Min pressure | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goni | West Pacific | C5 195 mph | 884 mb | – |
| Amphan | North Indian | C5 165 mph | 901 mb | – |
| Harold | Southern Hemisphere | C5 165 mph | 909 mb | – |
| Ambali | Southern Hemisphere | C5 160 mph | 918 mb | – |
| Haishen | West Pacific | C4 155 mph | 913 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.