2023 West Pacific typhoon season
All year · Season ended
The 2023 West Pacific typhoon season produced 15 named storms, 11 typhoons and 8 major typhoons, against a 1991–2020 average of 25.5, 15.8 and 9.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 267, 93% of the average.
2023 season at a glance
- Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 25.5).
- Typhoons (64 kt+): 11 (average 15.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 8, including 3 at Category 5 strength (average 9.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 267.1, 93% of the 286 average.
- Named-storm days: 99.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Sanvu, April 20.
- First typhoon: Mawar, May 21.
- First major storm: Mawar, May 22.
- Last storm to dissipate: Jelawat, December 18.
- All systems tracked: 19, including 4 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 2023 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Sanvu | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Mawar | – | C5 | 891 mb | — |
| Guchol | – | C2 | 958 mb | — |
| Talim | – | C1 | 964 mb | Zhanjiang, China |
| Doksuri | – | C4 | 928 mb | Quanzhou, China |
| Khanun | – | C4 | 924 mb | Hwawŏn, South Korea |
| Lan | – | C4 | 932 mb | Katsuura, Japan |
| Damrey | – | TS | 979 mb | — |
| Saola | – | C5 | 917 mb | Yangjiang, China |
| Haikui | – | C3 | 945 mb | Taitung, Taiwan |
| Kirogi | – | C1 | 981 mb | — |
| Yun-Yeung | – | TS | 988 mb | — |
| TD 13W | – | TD | 995 mb | Lăng Cô, Vietnam |
| Koinu | – | C4 | 936 mb | Hengchun, Taiwan |
| Bolaven | – | C5 | 897 mb | — |
| Sanba | – | TS | 996 mb | Basuo, China |
| TD 17W | – | TD | 996 mb | — |
| Jelawat | – | TD | 1000 mb | Manay, Philippines |
- Unnamed: This system formed in the West Pacific in April 2023. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Sanvu: Sanvu formed in the West Pacific in April 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Mawar: Mawar formed in the West Pacific in May 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 891 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Guchol: Guchol formed in the West Pacific in June 2023 and peaked as a Category 2 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Talim: Talim formed in the West Pacific in July 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Zhanjiang, China and last near Beihai, China. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Doksuri: Doksuri formed in the West Pacific in July 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 928 mb. It made landfall near Quanzhou, China. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Khanun: Khanun formed in the West Pacific in July 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 924 mb. It made landfall near Hwawŏn, South Korea. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Lan: Lan formed in the West Pacific in August 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 932 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Katsuura, Japan and last near Miki, Japan. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Damrey: Damrey formed in the West Pacific in August 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Saola: Saola formed in the West Pacific in August 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 917 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Yangjiang, China and last near Yangjiang, China. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Haikui: Haikui formed in the West Pacific in August 2023 and peaked as a Category 3 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Taitung, Taiwan and last near Anbu, China. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Kirogi: Kirogi formed in the West Pacific in August 2023 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Yun-Yeung: Yun-Yeung formed in the West Pacific in September 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 13W: This system formed in the West Pacific in September 2023 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Lăng Cô, Vietnam. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Koinu: Koinu formed in the West Pacific in September 2023 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 936 mb. It made landfall near Hengchun, Taiwan. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Bolaven: Bolaven formed in the West Pacific in October 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 897 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Sanba: Sanba formed in the West Pacific in October 2023 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Basuo, China and last near Shatian, China. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 17W: This system formed in the West Pacific in November 2023 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Jelawat: Jelawat formed in the West Pacific in December 2023 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 Manay, Philippines. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2023
Super Typhoon Mawar was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 190 mph (305 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 891 mb, on May 26. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
4 West Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 1 matched it. It produced 21% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2023
10 of the season’s 19 systems made landfall, 6 of them at typhoon strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 17: Talim near Zhanjiang, China, 85 mph (Category 1)
- July 17: Talim near Beihai, China, 75 mph (Category 1)
- July 28: Doksuri near Quanzhou, China, 90 mph (Category 1)
- August 10: Khanun near Hwawŏn, South Korea, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 14: Lan near Katsuura, Japan, 75 mph (Category 1)
- August 15: Lan near Miki, Japan, 55 mph (tropical storm)
- September 2: Saola near Yangjiang, China, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 2: Saola near Yangjiang, China, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 3: Haikui near Taitung, Taiwan, 110 mph (Category 2)
- September 5: Haikui near Anbu, China, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- September 25: TD 13W near Lăng Cô, Vietnam, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 5: Koinu near Hengchun, Taiwan, 125 mph (Category 3)
- October 19: Sanba near Basuo, China, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- October 20: Sanba near Shatian, China, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- December 18: Jelawat near Manay, Philippines, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2023 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 46th of 47 West Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 40th for typhoons (tied with 1 other season) and 24th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 33 named storms, in 1994, and the highest ACE is 483, in 2004.
2023 storm names
The 2023 season used 16 names: Sanvu, Mawar, Guchol, Talim, Doksuri, Khanun, Lan, Damrey, Saola, Haikui, Kirogi, Yun-Yeung, Koinu, Bolaven, Sanba, Jelawat.
3 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2023 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2023?
The 2023 West Pacific typhoon season had 15 named storms, 11 typhoons and 8 major typhoons, from 19 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 Sanvu and the last was Sanba.
What was the strongest storm of 2023?
Super Typhoon Mawar. It peaked at 190 mph (305 km/h, 165 kt) with a lowest pressure of 891 mb on May 26. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 4 West Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 21% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2023 season end?
The West Pacific has no official season, so the 2023 season is simply the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Jelawat, dissipated on December 18. Since 1980, 51 West Pacific storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.