Storms near Pohnpei
The record holds 77 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia between 1945 and 2026. The busiest month is November, with 14 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 4 strength. 12 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 77storms within 50 km
- 3major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 6at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Pohnpei?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 46 | 60% |
| Tropical storm | 13 | 17% |
| Category 1 | 3 | 4% |
| Category 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 3 | 1 | 1% |
| Category 4 | 2 | 3% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 12 | 16% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (western Pacific).
Pohnpei storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2026, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1945, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 21 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 4 |
| Feb | 3 |
| Mar | 5 |
| Apr | 6 |
| May | 6 |
| Jun | 6 |
| Jul | 4 |
| Aug | 6 |
| Sep | 6 |
| Oct | 9 |
| Nov | 14 |
| Dec | 8 |
Strongest storms near Pohnpei
- Owen (1990)14 November 1990 to 5 December 1990, Category 4 (130 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 925 hPa
- Ophelia (1958)6 January 1958 to 18 January 1958, Category 4 (120 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 940 hPa
- Lola (1957)7 November 1957 to 22 November 1957, Category 3 (110 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (160 kt), 900 hPa
- Pongsona (2002)1 December 2002 to 11 December 2002, Category 1 (70 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 940 hPa
- Axel (1992)3 January 1992 to 15 January 1992, peak Category 1 (70 kt), 980 hPa
Most recent storms near Pohnpei
- Saudel (2026)18 August 2026 to 28 August 2026, Tropical storm (35 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 944 hPa, provisional
- Sanvu (2023)18 April 2023 to 26 April 2023, peak Tropical storm (45 kt), 996 hPa
- Usagi (2018)7 November 2018 to 26 November 2018, Tropical depression (15 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 990 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.