Typhoons in the Federated States of Micronesia
Typhoons occur very often in Micronesia. On average, they happen about 12 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Yap and Chuuk.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 Micronesia in the past 12 months was »Mawar«. It reached a wind speed of up to 74 km/h on May 21, 2023 at 1:00 am local time near Weno and was 229 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a tropical storm typhoon. On the open sea, speeds of up to 294 km/h were measured (category 5).
Other natural hazards in the Federated States of Micronesia:
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Current super typhoon: Mawar
On May 20, 2023 at 10:00 am, typhoon »Mawar« formed in the Northwest Pacific with an initial wind speed of 46 km/h. The storm system initially moved north at 6 km/h and reached a diameter of 457 kilometers. On May 26, 2023 at 10:00 am, it reached its highest wind speed to date of 294 kilometers per hour. This corresponds to a category 5 typhoon. On May 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm, Mawar made landfall near the city of Piti Village in Guam. At that time, the typhoon had a wind speed of 257 km/h and a diameter of 302 kilometers.
Mawar has since subsided and is no longer under observation by the authorities. Its last position was about 606 km northwest of the Philippines on May 28th at 10:00 am.
Current satellite image of the western Pacific
02.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent typhoons in the Federated States of Micronesia since 2018
Mawar: May 20-28, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 294 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 915 km
Air pressure:
below 897 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Chuuk
Chuuk
Sanvu: April 19-22, 2023
Wind speed:
max. 83 km/h
on land:
max. 54 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 999 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Pohnpei
Pohnpei
Malakas: April 7-15, 2022
Wind speed:
max. 213 km/h
Diameter:
max. 826 km
Air pressure:
below 939 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in the Federated States of Micronesia. On April 10th, 2022 at 7:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 95 km northwest of Gagil in Yap.
Rai: December 13-21, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 267 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in the Federated States of Micronesia. On December 14th, 2021 at 7:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 204 km south of Colonia in Yap.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kayangel in Palau on December 14th at 4:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Kayangel in Palau on December 14th at 4:00 pm.
Rai: December 11-21, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 263 km/h
on land:
max. 106 km/h
Diameter:
max. 833 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Nyatoh: November 29 to December 4, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Air pressure:
below 928 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in the Federated States of Micronesia. On November 30th, 2021 at 1:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 220 km north of Gagil in Yap.
Nyatoh: November 28 to December 4, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
on land:
max. 69 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1000 km
Air pressure:
below 925 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Malou: October 22-31, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1408 km
Air pressure:
below 965 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Kompasu: October 7-14, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 106 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 2222 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Mindulle: September 22 to October 2, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 267 km/h
Diameter:
max. 204 km
Air pressure:
below 908 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in the Federated States of Micronesia. On September 23rd, 2021 at 10:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 436 km northwest of Gagil in Yap.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Inarajan Village in Guam on September 23rd at 1:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Inarajan Village in Guam on September 23rd at 1:00 pm.
Mindulle: September 22 to October 6, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 254 km/h
on land:
max. 59 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1437 km
Air pressure:
below 917 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Chuuk
Yap
Chuuk
Yap
Surigae: April 13-25, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 306 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 296 km
Air pressure:
below 888 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Surigae: April 11-30, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 309 km/h
on land:
max. 161 km/h
Diameter:
max. 963 km
Air pressure:
below 885 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Molave: October 21-29, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 189 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Air pressure:
below 940 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Saudel: October 16-26, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 133 km/h
on land:
max. 28 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Air pressure:
below 975 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Phanfone: December 19-29, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 194 km/h
on land:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 389 km
Air pressure:
below 958 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Yap
Yap
Kammuri: November 24 to December 6, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 217 km/h
on land:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1000 km
Air pressure:
below 940 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Chuuk
Yap
Chuuk
Yap
Bualoi: October 17-26, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 259 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Air pressure:
below 922 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in the Federated States of Micronesia. On October 19th, 2019 at 2:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 168 km north of Kolonia in Pohnpei.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Lib on the Marshall Islands on October 17th at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Lib on the Marshall Islands on October 17th at 8:00 pm.
Mitag: September 24 to October 5, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 143 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1111 km
Air pressure:
below 965 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in the Federated States of Micronesia. On September 27th, 2019 at 4:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 261 km north of Gagil in Yap.
Wutip: February 18 to March 2, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 269 km/h
Diameter:
max. 889 km
Eye:
max. 93 km
Air pressure:
below 895 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Kosrae
Chuuk
Yap
Kosrae
Chuuk
Yap
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.
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