Determining the absolute "strongest" storm on Earth can depend on how you measure strength (e.g., lowest central pressure, highest wind speed, overall size, or impact). However, when specifically considering the most powerful storm at the moment it reaches land, based on a key metric like wind speed, one storm stands out according to certain estimates.
Typhoon Haiyan: A Notable Contender for Strongest Landfall
Based on data concerning wind speed at the point a storm hits land, Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines) is frequently discussed as one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, storms ever recorded to make landfall.
- Key Information from Reference: According to an unofficial estimate provided by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Typhoon Haiyan had one-minute sustained winds of 305 km/h (190 mph) when it struck land.
- Significance: As stated in the provided information, this specific estimate of 305 km/h (190 mph) would, by that measure, make Haiyan "the most powerful storm ever recorded to strike land."
How Storm Strength is Measured
While the JTWC's estimate for Haiyan highlights its extreme wind speed at landfall, other metrics are also used to assess storm intensity:
- Lowest Central Pressure: This is often considered a primary indicator of a tropical cyclone's overall strength. Lower pressure generally correlates with higher winds, but the lowest pressure doesn't always occur exactly at the moment of landfall or correspond to the highest winds at that specific point.
- Highest Sustained Winds: This can refer to peak winds anywhere in the storm, whether over land or open water. Storms often reach their peak intensity over the ocean before weakening slightly before or during landfall.
Why Haiyan is Significant
Typhoon Haiyan's estimated peak winds at landfall were exceptionally high, potentially setting a record for storms hitting land based on the one-minute sustained wind metric used by the JTWC. Its devastating impact on the central Philippines in November 2013 underscores the destructive power of storms reaching such extreme intensity upon making landfall.
