Coastal communities, mariners and meteorologists all pay close attention to tropical cyclones because their tracks and strength shape emergency planning and historical records. Looking at specific storms helps highlight patterns, extremes and the ways different regions are affected.
There are 10 Examples of Cyclones, ranging from the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane to Typhoon Tip; for each storm the data are organized as Year,Basin / Region,Peak intensity (km/h, hPa), which you’ll find below.
How were the storms chosen for this list?
The selection favors storms with notable historical impact, record-setting intensity, or representative significance across basins—so the list mixes well-known events and defining examples to give a clear picture of variety rather than attempting to cover every cyclone.
What does “Peak intensity (km/h, hPa)” tell me and how should I compare entries?
Peak intensity lists maximum sustained wind speed (km/h) alongside minimum central pressure (hPa); together they indicate a storm’s strength—lower pressure and higher winds generally mean a stronger cyclone—so compare both values and consider basin-specific reporting differences when drawing conclusions.
Examples of Cyclones
| Name | Year | Basin / Region | Peak intensity (km/h, hPa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typhoon Tip | 1979 | West Pacific | 305 km/h, 870 hPa |
| Patricia | 2015 | East Pacific | 345 km/h, 872 hPa |
| Haiyan (Yolanda) | 2013 | West Pacific (Philippines) | 315 km/h, 895 hPa |
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005 | Atlantic | 280 km/h, 902 hPa |
| 1935 Labor Day Hurricane | 1935 | Atlantic | 298 km/h, 892 hPa |
| Hurricane Wilma | 2005 | Atlantic | 280 km/h, 882 hPa |
| Hurricane Gilbert | 1988 | Atlantic | 305 km/h, 888 hPa |
| Hurricane Allen | 1980 | Atlantic | 305 km/h, 899 hPa |
| Cyclone Tracy | 1974 | Australian region | 217 km/h, 950 hPa |
| Cyclone Nargis | 2008 | North Indian (Bay of Bengal) | 165 km/h, 962 hPa |
Images and Descriptions
Typhoon Tip
Record-holder for the lowest central pressure in a tropical cyclone; Tip reached vast size and intensity in the western Pacific and remains notable for its 870 hPa minimum and immense circulation, studied extensively by meteorologists.
Patricia
Rapidly intensifying Pacific hurricane that reached the highest 1-minute winds on record in the western hemisphere; made a relatively weak landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast, remarkable for its extreme peak power but limited direct damage.
Haiyan (Yolanda)
One of the strongest landfalling tropical cyclones ever recorded; devastated parts of the central Philippines with catastrophic storm surge, killing at least 6,300 people and causing widespread destruction and long recovery efforts.
Hurricane Katrina
Massive and deadly hurricane that struck the U.S. Gulf Coast, especially New Orleans; caused levee failures, about 1,800 deaths and roughly US$125,000,000,000 in damage, reshaping U.S. disaster response and urban policy.
1935 Labor Day Hurricane
Historic Category 5 storm that struck the Florida Keys with catastrophic force; among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes at landfall, causing hundreds of deaths and extensive destruction of infrastructure and communities.
Hurricane Wilma
Rapidly intensified into the lowest-pressure Atlantic hurricane on record (882 hPa); produced severe damage across Mexico’s Yucatán, Cuba and Florida, notable for its rapid deepening and multi-country impacts.
Hurricane Gilbert
Powerful Caribbean hurricane that carved a destructive path through Jamaica, the Yucatán Peninsula and Mexico; set modern intensity benchmarks in the Atlantic with enormous damage and significant loss of life across the region.
Hurricane Allen
Extremely intense long-lived hurricane that reached very high sustained winds and affected several Caribbean islands and Mexico; remembered for its ferocity, multiple intensity spikes, and major impacts across the western Caribbean basin.
Cyclone Tracy
Small but devastating cyclone that destroyed much of Darwin, Australia, on Christmas Eve; caused 71 deaths, left most of the population homeless, and led to large-scale rebuilding and changes in Australian building codes.
Cyclone Nargis
Deadly cyclone that struck Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta with a catastrophic storm surge; caused roughly 138,000 fatalities or missing people and massive agricultural and infrastructure losses, with long-term humanitarian consequences.
