Tropical cyclone basins

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Basins and WMO Monitoring Institutions^[1]
Basin	Responsible RSMCs and TCWCs
Northern Atlantic	National Hurricane Center (USA)
Northeastern Pacific	National Hurricane Center (USA)
North central Pacific	Central Pacific Hurricane Center (USA)
Northwestern Pacific	Japan Meteorological Agency
Northern Indian	Indian Meteorological Department
Southwestern Indian	Météo-France
South and Southwestern Pacific	Fiji Meteorological Service Meteorological Service of New Zealand^† Papua New Guinea National Weather Service^† Bureau of Meteorology^† (Australia)
Southeastern Indian	Bureau of Meteorology^† (Australia)
^†: Indicates a Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Traditionally, areas of tropical cyclone formation are divided into seven basins. These include the north Atlantic Ocean, the eastern and western parts of the Pacific Ocean (considered separately because tropical cyclones rarely form in the central Pacific), the southwestern Pacific, the southwestern and southeastern Indian Oceans, and the northern Indian Ocean. The western Pacific is the most active and the north Indian the least active. An average of 86 tropical cyclones of tropical storm intensity form annually worldwide, with 47 reaching hurricane/typhoon strength, and 20 becoming intense tropical cyclones (at least of Category 3 intensity).^[2]

1 Northwestern Pacific Ocean
2 Northeastern Pacific Ocean
3 North Central Pacific
4 Northern Atlantic Ocean
5 Northern Indian Ocean
6 Southwestern Pacific Ocean
7 Southeastern Indian Ocean
8 Southwestern Indian Ocean
9 See also
10 References

[edit] Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the northernwestern Pacific Ocean between 1980 and 2005. The vertical line to the right is the International Date Line.

Main article: Pacific typhoon

The Northwest Pacific Ocean is the most active basin on the planet. Annually, an average of 25.7 tropical cyclones in the basin acquire tropical storm strength or greater; also, an average of 16 typhoons occurred each year during the 1968-1989 period.^[3] The basin occupies all the territory north of the equator and west of the International Date Line, including the South China Sea.^[1] The basin sees activity year-round; however, tropical activity is at its minimum on February and March.^[4]

Tropical storms in this region often affect China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Taiwan, as well as countries in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam and parts of Indonesia, plus numerous Oceanian islands. This is by far the most active basin, accounting for one-third of all tropical cyclone activity. The coast of China sees the most landfalling tropical cyclones worldwide.^[5] The Philippines archipelago receives an average of 6-7 tropical cyclone landfalls per year.^[6]

[edit] Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line between 1980 and 2005; the vertical line through the center separates the Central Pacific basin (under the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's watch) from the Northeastern Pacific basin (under the National Hurricane Center's area of responsibility).

Main article: Pacific hurricane

The Northeastern Pacific is the second most active basin and has the highest number of storms per unit area. The hurricane season runs between May 15 and November 30 each year, and encompasses the vast majority of tropical cyclone activity in the region.^[7] In the 1971-2005 period, there were an average of 15-16 tropical storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4-5 major hurricanes (storms of Category 3 intensity or greater) annually in the basin.^[7]

Storms that form here often affect western Mexico, and less commonly the Continental United States (in particular California), or northern Central America. No hurricane included in the modern database has made landfall in California; however, historical records from 1858 speak of a storm that brought San Diego winds over 75 mph/65 kts (marginal hurricane force), though it is not known if the storm actually made landfall.^[8] Tropical storms in 1939, 1976 and 1997 brought gale-force winds to California.^[8]

[edit] North Central Pacific

The North Central Pacific basin begins at the boundary with the Northeastern Pacific (at 140 °W), and ends at the International Date Line, where the Northwestern Pacific begins.^[1] The hurricane season in the North Central Pacific runs annually from June 1 to November 30;^[9] The Central Pacific Hurricane Center is the RSMC for this basin and monitors the storms that develop or move into the defined area of responsibility.^[1] The agency previously tasked with monitoring tropical activity in the basin was the Joint Hurricane Warning Center.

Central Pacific hurricanes are rare and on average 4 to 5 storms form or move in this area.^[9] As there are no large contiguous landmasses in the basin, direct hits and landfalls are rare; however, they occur occasionally, as with Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which made landfall on Hawaii,^[10] and Hurricane Ioke in 2006, which made a direct hit on Johnston Atoll.^[11]

[edit] Northern Atlantic Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the northern Atlantic Ocean between 1980 and 2005

Main article: Atlantic hurricane

This region includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical cyclone formation here varies widely from year to year, ranging from one to over twenty-five per year.^[3] Most Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes form between June 1 and November 30. The United States National Hurricane Center monitors the basin and issues reports, watches and warnings about tropical weather systems for the Atlantic Basin as one of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres for tropical cyclones as defined by the World Meteorological Organization.^[12] On average, 10-11 named storms (of tropical storm or higher strength) occur each season, with an average of six becoming hurricanes and two becoming major hurricanes. The climatological peak of activity is around September 10 each season.^[13]

The United States Atlantic coast, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and Bermuda are frequently affected by storms in this basin. Venezuela, the south-east of Canada and Atlantic Macaronesian islands also are occasionally affected. Many of the more intense Atlantic storms are Cape Verde-type hurricanes, which form off the west coast of Africa near the Cape Verde islands. Occasionally, a hurricane that evolves into an extratropical cyclone can reach western Europe, including Hurricane Gordon, which spread high winds across Spain and the British Isles in September 2006.^[14] Hurricane Vince, which made landfall on the southwestern coast of Spain as a tropical depression in October 2005, is the only known system to impact mainland Europe as a tropical cyclone.^[15]

[edit] Northern Indian Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean between 1980 and 2005

This basin is divided into two areas by India: the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, with the Bay of Bengal dominating (5 to 6 times more activity). Still, this basin is the most inactive worldwide, with only 4 to 6 storms per year. This basin's season has a double peak: one in April and May, before the onset of the monsoon, and another in October and November, just after.^[16] Although it is an inactive basin, the most deadly tropical cyclones in the world have formed here, including the 1970 Bhola cyclone that killed 500,000 people. Nations affected include India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Rarely, a tropical cyclone that forms in this basin affects the Arabian Peninsula or Somalia. Cyclone Gonu caused heavy damage in Oman on the peninsula in 2007, however.

[edit] Southwestern Pacific Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the southwestern Pacific Ocean between 1980 and 2005

Tropical activity in this region largely affects Australia and Oceania. Tropical storms rarely reach the vicinity of Brisbane, Australia and into New Zealand, usually during or after extratropical transition.^[17] The entire basin sees an average of about nine cyclones annually.^[3]

[edit] Southeastern Indian Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the southeastern Indian Ocean between 1980 and 2005

Tropical activity in this region affects Australia and Indonesia. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the most frequently hit portion of Australia is between Exmouth and Broome in Western Australia.^[18] The basin sees an average of about seven cyclones each year.^[3]

[edit] Southwestern Indian Ocean

Tracks of all tropical cyclones in the southwestern Indian Ocean between 1980 and 2005

Despite nearly a half century of historical data, research at Reunion Island into tropical cyclones has been a priority only since 1999, when Météo-France began assigning additional personnel for research purposes.^[19] Cyclones forming in this area can affect Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Réunion, Comoros, Tanzania, and Kenya.^[19] An average of about ten tropical cyclones form in this basin per year.^[3]