2015 Pacific typhoon season (Puffle's version!)

The 2015 Pacific typhoon season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones form in the western Pacific Ocean. The season will run throughout 2015, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator between 100°E and 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, there are two separate agencies that assign names to tropical cyclones which can often result in a cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) will name a tropical cyclone should it be judged to have 10-minute sustained wind speeds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) anywhere in the basin, whilst the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N–25°N regardless of whether or not a tropical cyclone has already been given a name by the JMA. Tropical depressions that are monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a number with a "W" suffix.

Seasonal forecasts
During each season, several national meteorological services and scientific agencies forecast how many tropical cyclones, tropical storms, and typhoons will form during a season and/or how many tropical cyclones will affect a particular country. These agencies include the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Consortium of the University College London, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau.

Season summary
2015 opened with Tropical Depression Jangmi (Seniang) located about 145 km to the northeast of Sandakan, Malaysia, a former tropical storm from the previous season. The system subsequently moved south-eastwards and made landfall on Malaysia before dissipating later that day. A tropical depression subsequently developed to the northwest of Brunei during January 2, but did not develop any further and dissipated during January 4. The first tropical storm of the season was named Mekkhala during January 14 and went on to affect the Philippines and Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. Less than a month later, Typhoon Higos became the easternmost forming Pacific typhoon and one of the strongest February typhoons on record. Despite its intensity, Higos did not cause any significant effects over the landmasses and islands on the West Pacific. During the end of March, Typhoon Maysak formed and intensified into a Category 5 super typhoon, the strongest so far in the season and among the strongest prior to April. In early May, Typhoon Noul and Typhoon Dolphin rapidly deepened into Category 5 super typhoons, the second and third of the season. In addition, Dolphin was the earliest seventh named storm on record in the basin.

Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala (Amang)
On January 9, the JTWC started to monitor a weak tropical disturbance south-southwest of Pohnpei. During the next day, the system gained convective activity near the center, as the JMA upgraded the system to a tropical depression early on January 13. At the same time, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the depression. Later that day, the JTWC followed suit, giving the designation 01W. The next day, the JMA upgraded 01W to a tropical storm, receiving the name Mekkhala, although the JTWC didn't upgrade it as it rapidly moved in a westerly direction. On January 15, the PAGASA had reported that Mekkhala had entered the PAR, giving the local name Amang. The next day, due to an increase of convection and some favorable environments, Mekkhala intensified to a severe tropical storm by the JMA. Later that day, the JTWC instead classified the storm to a minimal typhoon. The JMA followed suit early on January 17. Later that day, land reaction occurred to the storm as both the JMA and JTWC downgraded it to a tropical storm the next day and started to move northwards. On January 18, Mekkhala encountered moderate vertical wind shear as both agencies made their final warning on the system. However, the JMA tracked the system until January 20.

Typhoon Higos
During February 4, the JTWC started to monitor a tropical disturbance that had developed within an area marginal for further development near Kosrae. Over the next couple of days the system gradually developed further and was classified as a tropical depression by the JMA during February 6. During the next day, the JMA reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm and named it Higos. The JTWC simultaneously upgraded the storm to Tropical Storm 02W as it started to intensify under favorable conditions. The next day, both agencies upgraded it to a minimal typhoon. On February 9, Higos underwent rapid deepening until it was classified a Category 4 typhoon according to the JTWC. Shortly after, however, stronger vertical wind shear and drier air quickly weakened Higos to a tropical depression.

At its peak, Higos became the strongest typhoon on record in the month of February since 1970.

Tropical Storm Bavi (Betty)
During March 8, the JTWC started to monitor a tropical disturbance that had developed, within a favourable environment for further development to the south east of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, cross-equatorial from Cyclone Pam. Over the next couple of days the system gradually developed further and was classified as a tropical depression by the JMA during March 10. The JTWC followed suit on March 11, as they designated it as 03W. Later that day, the JMA upgraded 03W to a tropical storm, naming the system Bavi as its low-level circulation center became exposed for a brief period. Bavi moved in a westerly direction until it reached peak intensity as a strong tropical storm on March 14. The next day, Bavi encountered unfavorable environments due to moderate to high vertical wind shear. On March 17, the PAGASA had reported that Bavi had entered their area, receiving the name Betty. Later the same day, both agencies downgraded Bavi to a tropical depression as its center became exposed. On March 18, both the JMA and the JTWC made their final warning. The PAGASA finally downgraded the system to a low-pressure area on March 19. The JMA, however, tracked the system until March 23, when it dissipated west of Manila, Philippines.

Large waves coupled with high-tide caused flooding across the expansive Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands early in Bavi's development. A yacht struck a reef within the atoll due to the rough seas, though no injuries resulted. Gusty winds and heavy rain impacted much of the Marshall Islands. Swells stemming from Bavi later affected parts of Kiribati which was still recovering from damaging king tides produced by Cyclone Pam. On March 15, Bavi brought winds up to 100 km/h (65 mph) to the Mariana Islands, with Saipan and Tinian taking the brunt of the impact. Many trees and power lines were downed across the islands, with Saipan temporarily losing all electricity service. A total of 166 people sought refuge in public shelters on the island. Throughout the Marianas 5 homes were destroyed while a further 52 sustained damage. The Red Cross later provided more than $25,000 in assistance and funds to 252 people.

Typhoon Maysak (Chedeng)
A day after Bavi dissipated, a low-pressure area formed southwest of Marshall Islands. It slowly drifted northwestward and became more organised over the next two days. The next day, the JMA started tracking the system as a tropical depression. On March 27, the JTWC started tracking the system as a tropical depression, and designated it 04W. Moving west-northwestward, the system's center became more consolidated with convective banding becoming wrapped into it. The JTWC upgraded 04W to a tropical storm the same day. The JMA followed suit later that day, when it was named Maysak. On March 28, Maysak developed an eye, and the JMA further upgraded it to a severe tropical storm. The eye became more well defined with deep convection persisting along the southern quadrant of the storm. The overcast became more consolidated, as the JMA upgraded Maysak to a typhoon on the same day. On March 29, Maysak rapidly intensified over a period of 6 hours, attaining 1-min maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph), making it a Category 4 equivalent on the SSHWS. On the next day, Maysak further intensified into a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon. On April 1, the PAGASA stated tracking on the system, naming it as Chedeng.

Typhoon Maysak passed directly over Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia on March 29, causing extensive damage. High winds, measured up to 71 mph at the local National Weather Service office, downed numerous trees, power lines, and tore off roofs. An estimated 80–90 percent of homes in Chuuk sustained damage. Power to most of the island was knocked out and communication was difficult. Early reports indicate that five people lost their lives. The name Maysak was suggested by Cambodia. A few days before Maysak made landfall, PAGASA stated that the country's official dry season had started.

Tropical Storm Haishen
On April 1, the JTWC started to monitor a tropical disturbance over the Marshall Islands. The system slowly intensified as it moved westwards and by April 2, the JMA classified the system as a weak tropical depression. At the same time, the JTWC upgraded it to Tropical Depression 05W as it was over favorable environments with a good outflow surrounding the system. The next day, the JTWC upgraded 05W to a tropical storm, while the JMA followed suit and named the storm Haishen. However, it didn't intensify any further and it dissipated on April 6.

Typhoon Noul (Dodong)
On April 30, a tropical disturbance developed near Chuuk. On May 2, the JMA began to track the system as a weak tropical depression. The following day, the JMA upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and assigned the name Noul. On May 5, the JMA upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm while the JTWC upgraded it to a minimal typhoon. The following day, the JMA also upgraded Noul to a typhoon. Early on May 7, Noul entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was assigned the name Dodong by PAGASA. Later that day, the JTWC upgraded Noul to a Category 3 typhoon as a small eye had developed. At the same time, according to Jeff Masters of Weather Underground, Noul had taken on annular characteristics. Although Noul weakened to a Category 2 typhoon early on May 9, six hours later, the JTWC upgraded Noul back to a Category 3 typhoon, as its eye became clearer and well-defined. The JTWC upgraded Noul to a Category 4 super typhoon later that day after it began rapid deepening. On May 10, the JTWC further upgraded Noul to a Category 5 super typhoon, and the JMA assessed Noul with 10-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) and a minimum pressure of 915 mbar, its peak intensity. Later that day, Noul made landfall on Pananapan Point, Santa Ana, Cagayan. After making a direct hit on the northeastern tip of Luzon, the storm began to weaken, and the JTWC downgraded it to a Category 4 super typhoon. Subsequently, it began rapidly weakening and by May 12, it had weakened to a severe tropical storm.

Typhoon Dolphin
On May 3, a tropical disturbance south to southeast of Pohnpei began to organize, and the JMA upgraded the disturbance into a tropical depression. Late on May 6, the JTWC started issuing advisories and designated it as 07W. On May 9, the JMA upgraded the depression into a tropical storm and named it Dolphin. The JMA further upgraded Dolphin to a severe tropical storm on May 12, and on the following day, the JTWC upgraded Dolphin to a typhoon. Six hours later, the JMA had followed suit. Over the next few days, Dolphin continued to intensify until it reached Category 5 super typhoon status on May 16. It weakened into a category 4 super typhoon 12 hours later, until it weakened into a category 4 equivalent typhoon after maintaining super typhoon status for 30 hours. Dolphin weakened further into a severe tropical storm on May 19, as the JTWC downgraded Dolphin into a tropical storm and issued their final warning. On May 20, the JMA issued their final warning, and the JTWC and the JMA declared that Dolphin had become an extratropical cyclone.

Other storms
Early on January 2, the JMA reported that a tropical depression had developed to the northwest of Brunei, within an area that was marginally favourable for further development. Over the next day the system moved into an area of moderate vertical wind shear, with atmospheric convection becoming displaced to the west of the fully exposed low level circulation centre. The system was subsequently last noted by the JMA during January 4, as it dissipated in the South China Sea near the Malaysian-Indonesian border.

Storm names
Within the North-western Pacific Ocean, both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assign names to tropical cyclones that develop in the Western Pacific, which can result in a tropical cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency's RSMC Tokyo — Typhoon Center assigns international names to tropical cyclones on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization's Typhoon Committee, should they be judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h. While the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N-25°N even if the cyclone has had an international name assigned to it. The names of significant tropical cyclones are retired, by both PAGASA and the Typhoon Committee. Should the list of names for the Philippine region be exhausted then names will be taken from an auxiliary list of which the first ten are published each season. Unused names are marked in.

International names
Tropical cyclones are named from a set of five naming lists set by the JMA's Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Tokyo, Japan, once they reach tropical storm strength. Names are contributed by members of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee. Each of the 14 nations and territories submitted ten names, which are used in alphabetical order, by the official English name of the country. The next 24 names on the naming list are listed here along with their international numeric designation, if they are used.

Philippines
PAGASA uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones in their area of responsibility. PAGASA assigns names to tropical depressions that form within their area of responsibility and any tropical cyclone that might move into their area of responsibility. Should the list of names for a given year be exhausted, names will be taken from an auxiliary list, the first ten of which are published each year before the season starts. Names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2019 season. This is the same list used in the 2011 season, with the exception of Betty, Jenny, Marilyn, Perla and Sarah, which replaced Bebeng, Juaning, Mina, Pedring and Sendong. The name Betty was used for the first time.

Season effects
This table will list all the storms that developed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean west of the International Date Line and north of the equator during 2015. It will include their intensity, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, and damage totals. Classification and intensity values will be based on estimations conducted by the JMA. All damage figures will be in 2015 USD. Damages and deaths from a storm will include when the storm was a precursor wave or an extratropical cyclone.


 * Tropical Depression || January 2 – 4 || bgcolor=#|Tropical depression || bgcolor=#|Not specified || bgcolor=#|1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) || Brunei, Indonesia || None || None ||
 * Mekkhala (Amang) || January 13 – 20 || bgcolor=#|Severe tropical storm || bgcolor=#|110 km/h (70 mph) || bgcolor=#|975 hPa (28.79 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Philippines || ||  ||
 * Higos || February 6 – 12 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|165 km/h (105 mph) || bgcolor=#|940 hPa (27.76 inHg) || Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands || None || None ||
 * Bavi (Betty) || March 10 – 21 || bgcolor=#|Tropical storm || bgcolor=#|85 km/h (50 mph) || bgcolor=#|990 hPa (29.23 inHg) || Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Philippines || Minimal || None ||
 * Maysak (Chedeng) || March 26 – April 7 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|195 km/h (120 mph) || bgcolor=#|910 hPa (26.87 inHg) || Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands, Philippines, China, Taiwan || ||  ||
 * Haishen || April 2 – 6 || bgcolor=#|Tropical storm || bgcolor=#|65 km/h (40 mph) || bgcolor=#|998 hPa (29.47 inHg) || Caroline Islands || None || None ||
 * Noul (Dodong) || May 2 – 12 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|195 km/h (120 mph) || bgcolor=#|915 hPa (27.02 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan || || 2 ||
 * Dolphin || May 6 – 20 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|185 km/h (115 mph) || bgcolor=#|925 hPa (27.32 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands || Unknown || None ||
 * Maysak (Chedeng) || March 26 – April 7 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|195 km/h (120 mph) || bgcolor=#|910 hPa (26.87 inHg) || Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands, Philippines, China, Taiwan || ||  ||
 * Haishen || April 2 – 6 || bgcolor=#|Tropical storm || bgcolor=#|65 km/h (40 mph) || bgcolor=#|998 hPa (29.47 inHg) || Caroline Islands || None || None ||
 * Noul (Dodong) || May 2 – 12 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|195 km/h (120 mph) || bgcolor=#|915 hPa (27.02 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan || || 2 ||
 * Dolphin || May 6 – 20 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|185 km/h (115 mph) || bgcolor=#|925 hPa (27.32 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands || Unknown || None ||
 * Noul (Dodong) || May 2 – 12 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|195 km/h (120 mph) || bgcolor=#|915 hPa (27.02 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan || || 2 ||
 * Dolphin || May 6 – 20 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|185 km/h (115 mph) || bgcolor=#|925 hPa (27.32 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands || Unknown || None ||
 * Dolphin || May 6 – 20 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|185 km/h (115 mph) || bgcolor=#|925 hPa (27.32 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands || Unknown || None ||
 * Dolphin || May 6 – 20 || bgcolor=#|Typhoon || bgcolor=#|185 km/h (115 mph) || bgcolor=#|925 hPa (27.32 inHg) || Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands || Unknown || None ||