For Planet X, 2017 featured the 2017 Pacific typhoon season. It had no official seasonal boundaries, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December; however, activity occured in every month of the year. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. In terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), this was the most hyperactive Planet X tropical cyclone season worldwide, generating an overall ACE of 496.75.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the Equator and west of the International Date Line. Storms that form east of the Date Line and north of the Equator are called hurricanes. Tropical storms forming across the entire West Pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number by the JTWC. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility were assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which can often result in one storm having two seperate names.
During the season, 66 areas of investigation and 36 total tropical depressions developed. All of the tropical depressions further intensified into nameable tropical storms, with 31 of them further intensifying into typhoons, and an additional 11 typhoons became super typhoons (a typhoon with 150 miles per hour (mph) winds or greater). While it is possible more of the investigation areas became tropical depressions, no historical records indicate more than 36 total depressions forming during the season. Nevertheless, the storm activity statistics all represent record highs for their respective categories; this can partially be attributed to the JTWC deploying more weather satellites across the Pacific this year than previous years, meaning the agency could now collect more data than it previously could from active storms across the basin. All the storms and typhoons in this season were assigned a name and a number.
Impactwise, the 2017 Planet X Pacific typhoon season was a devestating year for China, the Philippines, Japan, and Korea. Many areas suffered more damage and deaths this season than in previous years. Overall, total damages during the year reached $7 billion (2017 USD), and an approximate total of 16,000 fatalities was reported.
Seasonal summary[]
Timeline of tropical activity in 2017 Planet X Pacific typhoon season
One hundred and five tropical waves formed during the 2017 Planet X Pacific typhoon season. However, only 66 of the tropical waves became easterly waves. Thirty-six of the easterly waves became tropical depressions, all of which became named tropical storms. Thirty-one of the tropical storms became typhoons, and 11 of the typhoons further intensified into super typhoons, an unsually high number. Those storms were Quirin, Wilbur, Yoda, Friedhelm, James, Kurt, Paolini, Quinn, Roman, Sukru, and Ulli. The amount of strong storms forming this season can be attributed to the strongest Planet X El Niño recorded, which persisted from October 2016 to November 2017. Unfortunately, with the exception of Kurt and Ulli, all of the season's strongest systems caused significant land impact, and two-thirds of the seasons storms had some land impact.
East of the International Date Line, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC), a branch of the JTWC monitoring the Central Pacific tropical cyclone basin, did not monitor any tropical depressions. However, the extratropical remnants of three typhoons - Paolini, Quinn, and Roman, entered the basin. In addition, in the Bering Sea, which is monitored by the CPHC, the remnants of Nemo, Rolf, Tronje, Valerian, Wilbur, Yoda, Friedhelm, Hunter, Kurt, Leon, Miekel, Olaf, Paolini, Quinn, Sukru, and Ulli entered it. Also, the remains of Uranus, Zeus, Duncan, Gerald, Roman, Timmie, and Wolfgang just barely missed entering the Bering Sea. Also, another unusual feature about the season was the high number of storms, 24, lasting a week or longer - Quirin, Uranus, Valerian, Wilbur, Xaver, Yoda, Zeus, Alfredo, Coppelius, Friedhelm, Inago, James, Kurt, Leon, Miekel, Norfried, Olaf, Paolini, Quinn, Roman, Sukru, Timmie, Ulli, and Viktor, with Kurt, the longest-lasting storm, existing 36 days as a tropical cyclone. No other Planet X tropical cyclone season has had as many week-long storms as the 2017 Pacific typhoon season did; for comparison, the average number worldwide is 15.
Records[]
The 2017 Planet X Pacific typhoon season featured many records alongisde the ones mentioned above. First, the seasons first sixteen storms became typhoons, an all-time record for any tropical cyclone basin on Planet X. Second, Quinn and James are tied for producing the highest non-tornandic wind gust on Planet X, 260 mph (420 kilometres per hour (km/h)). Third, two typhoons made landfall at Category 5 intensity on the SSHS (James, and Paolini), the only occurence of more than two Category 5 typhoons doing so in a single season. Fourth, of the five storms that attained Category 5 intensity during 2017 (Friedhelm, James, Paolini, Roman, and Ulli), all of them except Friedhelm attained minimum barometric pressures of under 900 millibars (mbar); no other Planet X cyclone season worldwide has had two or more storms achieve this feat. Fifth, two typhoons, James and Quinn, delivered hurricane-force winds to Hong Kong; no other Planet X typhoon season has accomplished this feat. Sixth, two Category 5 super typhoons (Paolini,, and Roman) were active on October 5, the one occasion this happened on Planet X. Similarly, three super typhoons (Quinn, Roman, and Sukru) were active on October 15–16, and four typhoons (Quinn, Roman, Sukru, and Timmie) were active on October 16 (see the image in this section above). Finally, Typhoon Quirin achieved super typhoon status earlier in the year than any other storm of that intensity. Typhoon Quinn attained category 6 intensity. The first time having to use it.
List of storms[]
Typhoon Nemo[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | January 27 – February 2 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 190 km/h (120 mph) (1-min) 952 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Orion[]
Category 1 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | February 26 – March 2 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min) 981 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Orion caused $400 million (2017 USD) in damage to the Philippines and killed 200 people in both the Philippines and Vietnam, making it the nation's fourth costliest tropical cyclone.
From February 28 to March 1, PAGASA tracked Orion and gave it the alternative designator of Adam.
Typhoon Petor[]
Category 2 typhoon(JTWC) | |
(JTWC) | |
Duration | March 16 – March 22 |
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Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min) 977 hPa (mbar) |
From March 18 to March 22, PAGASA tracked Petor and gave it the alternative designator Boy.
Super Typhoon Quirin[]
Category 4 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | April 8 – April 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min) 915 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Quirin caused $1.2 billion (2017 USD) in damage to Luzon Island and resulted in 800 reported fatalities, making it the nation's second costliest tropical cyclone.
From April 11 to April 13, PAGASA tracked Quirin and gave it the alternative designator Charles.
Typhoon Rolf[]
Category 2 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | April 21 – April 27 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (1-min) 971 hPa (mbar) |
From April 22 to April 25, PAGASA tracked Rolf and gave it the alternative designator David.
Typhoon Sigurd[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | May 11 – May 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min) 950 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Tronje[]
Category 1 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | May 21 – May 27 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min) 984 hPa (mbar) |
From May 23 to May 24, PAGASA tracked Tronje and gave it the alternative designator Edward.
Typhoon Uranus[]
Category 4 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | June 4 – June 13 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min) 931 hPa (mbar) |
From June 4 to June 10, PAGASA tracked Uranus and gave it the alternative designator Frank.
Typhoon Valerian[]
Category 4 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | June 9 – June 21 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 215 km/h (130 mph) (1-min) 940 hPa (mbar) |
Super Typhoon Wilbur[]
Category 4 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | June 13 – June 25 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 240 km/h (150 mph) (1-min) 934 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Wilbur caused mass landslides across Japan.
Typhoon Xaver[]
Category 4 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | June 18 – June 29 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 230 km/h (145 mph) (1-min) 943 hPa (mbar) |
From June 21 to June 26, PAGASA tracked Xaver and gave it the alternative designator George.
Super Typhoon Yoda[]
Category 4 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | June 22 – July 3 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min) 919 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Zeus[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | June 26 – July 5 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min) 957 hPa (mbar) |
From June 27 to June 29, PAGASA tracked Zeus and gave it the alternative designator Henry.
Typhoon Alfredo[]
Category 1 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | July 3 – July 11 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min) 976 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Bobby[]
Category 1 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | July 7 – July 12 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (1-min) 981 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Coppelius[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | July 14 – July 23 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min) 968 hPa (mbar) |
From July 15 to July 23, PAGASA tracked Coppelius and gave it the alternative designator Ida.
Tropical Storm Duncan[]
Tropical storm(JTWC) | |
Tropical storm (JMA) | |
Duration | July 21 – July 23 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (1-min) 995 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Storm Erik[]
Tropical storm(JTWC) | |
Severe tropical storm (JMA) | |
Duration | July 29 – July 31 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (1-min) 986 hPa (mbar) |
Super Typhoon Friedhelm[]
Category 5 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | August 1 – August 23 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 270 km/h (165 mph) (1-min) 905 hPa (mbar) |
From August 13 to August 18, PAGASA tracked Friedhelm and gave it the alternative designator John.
Tropical Storm Gerald[]
Tropical storm(JTWC) | |
Tropical storm (JMA) | |
Duration | August 4 – August 6 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Storm Hunter[]
Tropical storm(JTWC) | |
Severe tropical storm (JMA) | |
Duration | August 8 – August 11 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 115 km/h (70 mph) (1-min) 987 hPa (mbar) |
On August 10, PAGASA tracked Hunter and gave it the alternative designator King.
Typhoon Inago[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | August 12 – August 19 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min) 961 hPa (mbar) |
Super Typhoon Kurt[]
Category 4 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | August 18 – September 23 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min) 919 hPa (mbar) |
Super Typhoon James[]
Category 5 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | August 24 – September 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 270 km/h (165 mph) (1-min) 899 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon James battered Hong Kong with fierce hurricane-force winds. Total damages from the system $1.4 billion (2017 USD) ($700 million from the Philippines and $700 million to Chinese territory) and 9,000 fatalities were reported, making it the deadliest Planet X typhoon in historical records, the third costliest Philippines typhoon, and the second costliest Planet X tropical cyclone overall.
From August 30 to September 12, PAGASA tracked James and gave it the alternative designator Lincoln.
Typhoon Leon[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | August 30 – September 8 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 200 km/h (125 mph) (1-min) 953 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Miekel[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | September 6 – September 14 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min) 954 hPa (mbar) |
From September 8 to September 10, PAGASA tracked Miekel and gave it the alternative designator Mary.
Typhoon Norfried[]
Category 4 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | September 12 – September 21 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min) 929 hPa (mbar) |
From September 14 to September 19, PAGASA tracked Norfried and gave it the alternative designator Nora.
Typhoon Olaf[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | September 17 – September 26 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min) 945 hPa (mbar) |
Super Typhoon Paolini[]
Category 5 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | September 21 – October 6 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 295 km/h (185 mph) (1-min) 885 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Paolini sank hundreds of ships anchored around Shanghai and Seoul.
From September 25 to October 2, PAGASA tracked Paolini and gave it the alternative designator Ocean.
Super Typhoon Quinn[]
Category 6 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | September 26 – October 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 345 km/h (215 mph) (1-min) 871 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Quinn resulted in the first loss of a Hurricane Hunter aircraft on Planet X (the next storm to do so would be Typhoon Joachim the following year) and trashed shipping ports around Manila. Total losses reached $2.5 billion (2017 USD) ($1.4 billion to Luzon Island, $1 billion in China's Guangzhou region, and $100 million in inland regions of China), and 6,000 fatalities were reported, making the typhoon the second deadliest Planet X cyclone in historical records and the costliest Planet X typhoon.
In addition, Quinn was the strongest storm ever recorded on Planet X, although records before 2015 are unreliable.
From October 3 to October 15, PAGASA tracked Quinn and gave it the alternative designator Paul.
Super Typhoon Roman[]
Category 5 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | October 1 – October 21 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 295 km/h (185 mph) (1-min) 875 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Roman sank hundreds of ships anchored around Tokyo. Also, the typhoon achieved the fastest foreward speed of a Planet X tropical cyclone, 60 miles per hour (100 kilometres per hour).
From October 5 to October 9, PAGASA tracked Roman and gave it the alternative designator Queen.
Super Typhoon Sukru[]
Category 4 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | October 9 – October 23 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 250 km/h (155 mph) (1-min) 914 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Timmie[]
Category 4 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | October 13 – October 24 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 220 km/h (140 mph) (1-min) 937 hPa (mbar) |
On October 15, PAGASA tracked Timmie and gave it the alternative designator Robert.
Super Typhoon Ulli[]
Category 5 super typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | October 21 – November 7 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 285 km/h (180 mph) (1-min) 890 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Viktor[]
Category 3 typhoon(JTWC) | |
Typhoon (JMA) | |
Duration | November 8 – November 15 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (1-min) 947 hPa (mbar) |
Typhoon Viktor caused $200 million (2017 USD) in damage and 300 fatalities in the Philippines, making it the nation's fifth costliest tropical cyclone. From November 9 to November 13, PAGASA tracked Viktor and gave it the alternative designator Sam.
Tropical Storm Wolfgang[]
Tropical storm(JTWC) | |
Tropical storm (JMA) | |
Duration | December 14 – December 16 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (1-min) 993 hPa (mbar) |
Storm names[]
The following names were used to name storms that attained gale-force intensity in the Western Pacific tropical cyclone basin during 2017. All storms were named by the JTWC, which it has taken responsibility of since 2015. The names follow the common practice of using names allocated for European windstorms. Prior to 2029, all Planet X Western Pacific tropical cyclones were given masculine names. The first storm of the season was named Nemo and the last one Wolfgang. No names were retired after this season, as retirement of names did not commence in the West Pacific until 2019.
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Philippines[]
PAGASA uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones within its area of responsibility. This is the same list as the Los Angeles Police Department phonetic alphabet. All names were used for the first time this season, as this was the first season where PAGASA identified storms.
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See also[]
External links[]
NOTE: All links relate to Planet Earth weather warning centers.
- Japan Meteorological Agency
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
- China Meteorological Agency
- National Weather Service Guam
- Hong Kong Observatory
- Macau Meteorological Geophysical Services
- Korea Meteorological Agency
- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
- Taiwan Central Weather Bureau
- Digital Typhoon - Typhoon Images and Information
- Typhoon2000 Philippine typhoon website
2010-19 Planet X Pacific typhoon seasons |
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