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This is a list of the most intense tropical cyclones as measured by minimum atmospheric pressure at sea level. Although maximum sustained winds are often used to measure intensity as they commonly cause notable impacts over large areas, and most popular tropical cyclone scales are organized around sustained wind speeds, variations in the averaging period of winds in different basins make inter-comparison difficult. In addition, other impacts like rainfall, storm surge, area of wind damage, and tornadoes can vary significantly in storms with similar wind speeds. The minimum central pressure at sea level is often used to compare tropical cyclones because the measurements are easier and use consistent methodology worldwide, in contrast to difficult-to-estimate maximum sustained winds whose measurement methods vary widely. Tropical cyclones can attain some of the lowest pressures over large areas on Earth. However, although there is a strong connection between lowered pressures and higher wind speeds, storms with the lowest pressures may not have the highest wind speeds, as each storm's relationship between wind and pressure is slightly different.

In the most recent and reliable records, most tropical cyclones which attained a pressure of 900 hPa (mbar) (26.56 inHg) or less have occurred in the Western North Pacific Ocean. The strongest tropical cyclone recorded worldwide, as measured by minimum central pressure, was Typhoon Tip, which reached a pressure of 870 hPa (25.69 inHg) on October 12, 1979. Furthermore, on October 23, 2015, Hurricane Patricia attained the strongest 1-minute sustained winds on record at 185 knots (95 m/s; 215 mph; 345 km/h).

Data for the most intense tropical cyclones globally are provided below, then subdivided by basin. Data listed are provided by the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre, unless otherwise noted.

North Atlantic Ocean

The most intense storm in the North Atlantic by lowest pressure was Hurricane Wilma. The strongest storm by 1-minute sustained winds was Hurricane Allen.

Storms which reached a minimum central pressure of 920 millibars (27.17 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information has been compiled back to 1851, though measurements were rarer until aircraft reconnaissance started in the 1940s, and inexact estimates were still predominant until dropsondes were implemented in the 1970s.

Eastern Pacific Ocean

The most intense storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean by both sustained winds and central pressure was Hurricane Patricia. Its sustained winds of 345 km/h (215 mph) are also the highest on record globally.

Storms with a minimum central pressure of 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1949, and most storms since are only estimated because landfalls (and related reconnaissance) are less common in this basin.

Western Pacific Ocean

The most intense storm by lowest pressure and peak 10-minute sustained winds was Typhoon Tip, which was also the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in terms of minimum central pressure.

Storms with a minimum pressure of 899 hPa (26.55 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1950.

North Indian Ocean

The most intense tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean by both sustained winds and central pressure was the 1999 Odisha cyclone, with 3-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and a minimum pressure of 912 hPa (26.93 inHg).

Storms with an intensity of 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) or less are listed.

South-West Indian Ocean

The most intense tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean was Cyclone Gafilo. By 10-minute sustained wind speed, the strongest tropical cyclone in the South-West Indian Ocean was Cyclone Fantala.

Storms with an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1985.

Australian region

The most intense tropical cyclone(s) in the Australian Region were cyclones Gwenda and Inigo. By 10-minute sustained wind speed, the strongest were Cyclone Orson, Cyclone Monica and Cyclone Marcus.

Storms with an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) or less are listed. Storm information was less reliably documented and recorded before 1985.

South Pacific Ocean

A total of 16 cyclones are listed down below reaching/surpassing an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg), with most of them occurring during El Niño seasons. Tropical cyclones that have been recorded since the start of the 1969–70 Tropical Cyclone year and have reached their peak intensity to the west of 160E are included in the list. The most intense tropical cyclone in the south Pacific, Cyclone Winston of 2016, is also the most intense storm in the Southern Hemisphere.

Storms with an intensity of 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) or less are listed.

South Atlantic Ocean

Until recently, it was not known that tropical cyclones could exist in the southern Atlantic. However, Hurricane Catarina in 2004, to date the only hurricane in the south Atlantic, brought additional review. A subsequent study found that there was an average of 1–2 subtropical or tropical cyclones per year in the Southern Atlantic in recent decades. No official database of South Atlantic cyclones exists, but a partial list of notable tropical and subtropical systems is listed.

See also

• Atlantic hurricane season
• Australian region tropical cyclone
• List of the wettest tropical cyclones
• North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone
• Notable non-tropical pressures over the North Atlantic
• Pacific hurricane
• Pacific typhoon season
• South Atlantic tropical cyclone
• South Pacific tropical cyclone
• South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclone

Notes

1. Officially listed by the BoM as 914 mbar, pending review.

1. Data is preliminary.

References

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External links

Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers

• US National Hurricane Center – North Atlantic, Eastern Pacific
• Central Pacific Hurricane Center Archived 2011-09-23 at the Wayback Machine – Central Pacific
• Japan Meteorological Agency – North West Pacific
• India Meteorological Department – North Indian Ocean
• Météo-France – La Reunion – South-West Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E
• Fiji Meteorological Service – South Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S

Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers

• Indonesian Meteorological Department – South Indian Ocean from 90°E to 125°E, north of 10°S
• Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane) Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine – South Indian Ocean & South Pacific Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, south of 10°S
• Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited – South Pacific west of 160°E, south of 25°S

• Lists of tropical cyclones
• Geography-related lists of superlatives