List of tropical cyclones near the Equator

Typically, tropical cyclones form at least 5.0 degrees of latitude north and south of the equator, or at least 300 nautical miles (556 km, 345 mi) of the equator. Despite the presence of sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures and generally low wind shear, tropical cyclogenesis is uncommon at these latitudes, due to a lack of the Coriolis force, which causes cyclones to spin. On rare occasions, tropical cyclones can develop within 5º of the equator, especially in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

Tropical Storm Vamei near the equator in December 2001

Background edit

For centuries, sailors haven't worried about tropical storms near the equator. It's a rule that cyclones are not supposed to develop there.

Dr. Chih-Pei Chang, professor at the United States Naval Research Laboratory[1]

Various factors converge to produce a tropical cyclone, including sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures, low wind shear, ample moisture, and enough atmospheric instability to produce thunderstorms. In addition, weather disturbances typically need to be far enough away from the equator to spin, known as vorticity. This is due to increasing Coriolis force closer to the poles, and which is zero at the equator.[2][3][4]

List edit

 
Satellite image of Cyclone Agni in October 2004 in its formative stage near the equator

Note: Only systems that were of tropical depression strength or higher within 5.0 degrees of the equator are included.

Storm Year Peak classification Basin Minimum Latitude Ref(s)
Tropical Storm Vamei 2001
Tropical storm
Northwestern Pacific 1.4°N [5]
Cyclone Agni 2004
Severe cyclonic storm
North Indian 1.5°N [6]
Typhoon Sarah 1956
Typhoon
Northwestern Pacific 1.7°N [7]
Typhoon Alice 1979
Very strong typhoon
Northwestern Pacific 2.0°N [8]
Tropical Storm Peipah 2014
Tropical storm
Northwestern Pacific 2.0°N [9]
Tropical Depression 2023
Tropical depression
Northwestern Pacific 2.0°N [10]
Tropical Depression Nine-C 2015
Tropical depression
Northeastern Pacific 2.2°N [11]
Tropical Storm Patsy 1977
Severe tropical storm
Northwestern Pacific 2.5°N [12]
Tropical Storm Abaimba 2003
Moderate tropical storm
South-West Indian Ocean 2.5°S [13]
Hurricane Pali 2016
Category 2 hurricane
Northeastern Pacific 2.6°N [14]
Cyclone Fabien 2023
Intense tropical cyclone
South-West Indian Ocean 2.7°S [15]
Typhoon Harriet 1959
Typhoon
Northwestern Pacific 2.9°N [16]
Tropical Depression 02W 1972
Tropical depression
Northwestern Pacific 3.0°N [17]
Typhoon Bopha 2012
Typhoon
Northwestern Pacific 3.4°N [18]
Unnamed Cyclonic Storm 2002
Severe cyclonic storm
North Indian 4.0°N [19]
Typhoon Kate 1970
Typhoon
Northwestern Pacific 4.3°N [20]
Severe Tropical Storm Axel 1992
Severe tropical storm
Northwestern Pacific 4.4°N [21]
Hurricane Ekeka 1992
Category 3 hurricane
Northeastern Pacific 4.5°N [22]
Flores cyclone 1973
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone
Australian region 5.0°S [23]
Cyclone Bernie 1982
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
Australian region 5.0°S [24]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Breaking the Typhoon Rules". Jet Propultion Laboratory. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Introduction". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. September 8, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Introduction". National Weather Service. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. ^ Chun-yuen, Chau. "Why do Tropical Cyclones always Form more than 5 degrees of Latitude away from the Equator?". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  5. ^ "2001 VAMEI (2001361N01106)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ^ Report on Cyclonic Disturbances Over North Indian Ocean During 2004 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. January 2005. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  7. ^ "1956 01W:SARAH (1956081N02154)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ^ "1979 ALICE (1978361N02180)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  9. ^ "2014 PEIPAH (2014093N02148)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. ^ "WWJP27 RJTD 040600". Japan Meteorological Agency. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  11. ^ "TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT - TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-C" (PDF). Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  12. ^ "1977 PATSY (1977082N03165)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  13. ^ "2002 Moderate Tropical Storm Abaimba (2002247S03067)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT - HURRICANE PALI" (PDF). Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Best Track Data on Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Fabien (10)". Météo-France. Retrieved 25 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "1959 HARRIET (1959356N05152)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  17. ^ "1972 02W:TD02 (1972090N05154)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  18. ^ Annual Report on the Activities of the RSMC Tokyo - Typhoon Center 2012 (PDF) (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  19. ^ WMO / ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones Annual Review 2002 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "1970 Super Typhoon Kate (1970286N06143)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  21. ^ "1992 Typhoon Axel (1992003N03176)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  22. ^ Tropical Cyclones 1992 (PDF) (Report). Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "1973 Severe Tropical Cyclone FLORESCYCLO (1973116S05131)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  24. ^ "1982 Severe Tropical Cyclone Bernie (1982091S03159)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2024.

External links edit