Typhoons in China
Typhoons occur very often in China. On average, they happen about 21 times a year. The hardest hit regions are East China (Huádōng) and Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán).The typhoon season in the Pacific usually begins with less severe storms in April and does not end until November. The most severe typhoons usually occur in August and September.
The most severe typhoon to make landfall in China in the past 12 months was »Nesat«. It reached a wind speed of up to 156 km/h on October 18, 2022 at 5:00 am local time near Wanning and was 147 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a category 2 typhoon. On the open sea, speeds of up to 165 km/h were measured.
Other natural hazards in China:
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Back to overview: China
Current satellite image of the western Pacific
31.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent typhoons in China since 2018
Noru: September 22-28, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 256 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 919 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in China. On September 28th, 2022 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 246 km south of Sanya in Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Hoi An in Vietnam on September 28th at 5:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Hoi An in Vietnam on September 28th at 5:00 am.
Muifa: September 6-16, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
on land:
max. 152 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Air pressure:
below 942 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
East China (Huádōng)
Hinnamnor: August 28 to September 6, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 256 km/h
Diameter:
max. 344 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in China. On September 5th, 2022 at 8:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 243 km west of Shenjiamen in East China (Huádōng).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Ishigaki in Japan on September 3rd at 2:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Ishigaki in Japan on September 3rd at 2:00 pm.
Rai: December 13-21, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 267 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in China. On December 21st, 2021 at 5:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 67 km south of Jieshi in Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Sok Kwu Wan in Hong Kong on December 21st at 11:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Sok Kwu Wan in Hong Kong on December 21st at 11:00 am.
Rai: December 11-21, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 263 km/h
on land:
max. 204 km/h
Diameter:
max. 833 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Kompasu: October 7-14, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 106 km/h
Diameter:
max. 2222 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Lionrock: October 2-10, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1241 km
Air pressure:
below 991 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Chanthu: September 6-18, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 274 km/h
Diameter:
max. 222 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 908 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in China. On September 13th, 2021 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 108 km northwest of Shenjiamen in East China (Huádōng).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Basco in the Philippines on September 11th at 5:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Basco in the Philippines on September 11th at 5:00 am.
Chanthu: September 5-20, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 282 km/h
on land:
max. 278 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1111 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 905 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
East China (Huádōng)
In Fa: July 15-31, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 157 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1204 km
Eye:
max. 222 km
Air pressure:
below 950 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
North China (Huáběi)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
East China (Huádōng)
North China (Huáběi)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
Vamco: November 8-16, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 207 km/h
Diameter:
max. 778 km
Eye:
max. 74 km
Air pressure:
below 948 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Molave: October 21-29, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 189 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Air pressure:
below 940 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Haishen: August 30 to September 10, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 250 km/h
on land:
max. 130 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1482 km
Eye:
max. 93 km
Air pressure:
below 910 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
North China (Huáběi)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
North China (Huáběi)
Sinlaku: July 29 to August 3, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1667 km
Air pressure:
below 985 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Tapah: September 17-23, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1148 km
Eye:
max. 167 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
East China (Huádōng)
Lingling: August 30 to September 12, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 207 km/h
Diameter:
max. 852 km
Eye:
max. 111 km
Air pressure:
below 935 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
North China (Huáběi)
East China (Huádōng)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
North China (Huáběi)
Krosa: August 4-17, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1759 km
Air pressure:
below 945 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
North China (Huáběi)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
North China (Huáběi)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
Lekima: August 2-14, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 217 km/h
on land:
max. 207 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1159 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 918 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
East China (Huádōng)
Northeast China (Dōngběi)
Danas: July 14-23, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1148 km
Air pressure:
below 984 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
East China (Huádōng)
East China (Huádōng)
Mun: July 1-4, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1326 km
Air pressure:
below 992 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
Central and Southern China (Zhōngnán)
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.