The 2026 Pacific typhoon season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The season runs throughout 2026, although most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The first named storm of the season, Nokaen, developed on January 15, marking the first named storm to form in January since Pabuk during the 2019 season, and the earliest start to a Pacific typhoon season since then. The season's first typhoon, Sinlaku, reached typhoon intensity on April 10, and subsequently, the season's first violent typhoon on April 12. Sinlaku affected the Northern Mariana Islands, causing extensive damage in Tinian and Saipan. This season saw multiple typhoon-force landfalls in Zhejiang, China, most notably from typhoons Bavi, Dolphin and Saudel. This season also saw a chain of strong storms form in the late season, most notably with Typhoon Nolo that became the first cross-over storm since Typhoon Dora in 2023, and Typhoon Champi in mid-October, which became the strongest storm of the season, with a minimum central pressure of 900hPa, and went on to impact the Mariana Islands and Taiwan.
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean north of the equator between 100°E and the 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, two separate agencies assign names to tropical cyclones, which can result in a system having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) names a tropical cyclone when it is estimated to have 10-minute sustained winds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) anywhere in the basin. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones that move into or form as a tropical depression within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), defined as the area between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N and 25°N, regardless of whether the JMA has already named the system. Tropical depressions monitored by the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a numerical designation with a "W" suffix, which means "west", a reference to the western Pacific region.
Seasonal forecasts
Before and during the season, several national meteorological services and scientific agencies forecast the number of tropical cyclones, tropical storms, and typhoons that could form during the season and/or how many of them would affect a particular country. These agencies included the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Consortium of University College London, PAGASA, Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) and Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA).
The first outlook was released by PAGASA on December 15, 2025, in its monthly seasonal climate outlook, covering the first half of 2026. The agency forecast that zero to three tropical cyclones were expected to form or enter the PAR between January and March, while two to five were expected to form or enter the PAR between April and June. PAGASA also mentioned that the short-lived and weak La Niña, which began during the fourth quarter of 2025, would persist for a month or two, with a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) transition between January and March.
The year began with a weak La Niña cycle that developed in 2025. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) forecast, the ENSO state was likely to return to neutral by mid-year and potentially transition to an El Niño phase during the second half of the year.
Systems
Tropical Storm Nokaen (Ada)
On January 13, the JMA designated a tropical depression south of Palau. The following day, PAGASA classified the system, assigning it the name Ada, At 15:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression, designating it as 01W. At 06:00 UTC on January 15, the JMA upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Nokaen. The storm moved to the northwest, remaining northeast of the Philippines, before the storm turned to the northeast. On January 19, Nokaen weakened into a tropical depression; the system further weakened into a remnant low on January 21 and dissipated on January 22.
Nokaen brought torrential rainfall to parts of the Philippines, triggering a landslide that resulted in two fatalities in Matnog, Sorsogon. Another fatality was reported after a maritime incident in the Surigao area. Several areas across Catanduanes, Albay, and Camarines Sur experienced flooding and landslides. A total of 832,986 people were affected, while 60,384 were displaced across Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Negros Island, and Caraga. The city government of Maasin, Southern Leyte postponed the "Sakay-Sakay Festival" to January 25. Additionally, a barangay in Oras, Eastern Samar experienced a water crisis after flooding damaged the village's water system.
Tropical Storm Penha (Basyang)
On February 2, the JTWC began tracking a low-pressure area that developed 128 nautical miles (237 km) east-northeast of Yap, with satellite imagery indicating a weak and broad low-level circulation center (LLCC). The JMA followed suit the next day, identifying the system as a tropical depression. On February 3, at 17:30 PHT (09:30 UTC), the system entered the PAR, with PAGASA assigning it the name Basyang. After the system organized further, the JTWC designating it as Tropical Depression 02W at 03:00 UTC on February 4. Later that day, at 21:00 JST (12:00 UTC), the JMA upgraded 02W to a tropical storm and assigned the name Penha. At 23:50 PHT (15:50 UTC), Penha made its first landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur. This was followed by additional landfalls in Jagna and Dauis in Bohol, Alcoy, Cebu, and Ayungon, Negros Oriental on February 6. After making landfall, Penha weakened into a depression as it moved over cooler sea surface temperatures and encountered high wind shear. The system was downgraded to a remnant low the following day and dissipated a few hours later.
Penha produced heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides across the Philippines, leaving 12 dead, 36 injured, and around 28,000 people displaced. A landslide claimed four lives in Cagayan de Oro, while five people died in Iligan. Two people drowned in Surigao del Sur, while another drowned in Carmen, Agusan del Norte. A state of calamity was subsequently declared in Iligan and Surigao del Sur, where damages reached ₱1.48 billion (US$25.24 million). A total of 1,373 houses were damaged.
Tropical Storm Nuri
On March 10, an area of low pressure formed 74 nautical miles (137 km) northeast of Yap, with the JTWC assessing a medium chance of tropical cyclone formation. The JMA also began issuing advisories on the system later that day, classifying it as a tropical depression. The system was in a marginally favorable environment as it tracked northeastward. On March 11, the JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm and assigned it the name Nuri. The JTWC followed suit at 03:00 UTC, designating the system as Tropical Depression 03W. On March 12, Nuri weakened into a tropical depression and subsequently dissipated later that day, with both the JMA and JTWC issuing their final advisories on the system.
Typhoon Sinlaku
On April 8, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that an area of low pressure had formed 234 nautical miles (433 km) west-southwest of Chuuk, assessing a medium chance of development. The Japan Meteorological Agency later followed suit, classifying the system as a tropical depression. The low-level circulation center continued to wrap around the southern semicircle of the system. Early the following day, the JTWC upgraded the system into a depression and designated it Tropical Depression 04W. Later that day, the JMA upgraded 04W into a tropical storm, giving it the name Sinlaku as it moves westwards. With low vertical windshear and high sea surface temperature, Sinlaku was upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA at 12:00 UTC. On April 11, both the JMA and JTWC upgraded Sinlaku to a typhoon, with satellite imagery showing a rapidly consolidating storm and an expanding central dense overcast (CDO). The storm would begin rapidly intensifying, and the JMA upgraded Sinlaku to a violent typhoon the following day. By 18:00 UTC the same day, the JTWC upgraded Sinlaku's 1-minute sustained wind speeds to 160 knots (295 km/h) and lowered its pressure to 890 mb (26.28 inHg). By April 14, Sinlaku weakened to a Category 4-equivalent typhoon due to a long-lasting eyewall replacement cycle, losing super typhoon status. Later that day, the still very powerful typhoon made landfall on the northern side of Tinian, with Saipan being located within the now much larger new eye. By the next day, Sinlaku had completed its eyewall replacement cycle, having weakened to a Category 3-equivalent typhoon as it began to turn towards the north. Sinlaku further downgraded into a tropical storm on April 19 before it underwent extratropical transition on the following day, prompting the JTWC to issue its final warning at 21:00 UTC.
Sinlaku left one person dead and another missing in Micronesia. In the Northern Mariana Islands, six people went missing after a cargo vessel overturned.
Tropical Storm Hagupit (Caloy)
On May 4, JTWC marked an area of low-pressure 67 nautical miles (124 km) west-northwest of Chuuk, with a low chance of formation. The following day, deep convection built over the center, with formative banding. Later that day, at 21:00 UTC, the JTWC designated the system Tropical Depression 05W. The JTWC further upgraded the system to a tropical storm at 00:00 the following day. At 06:00 UTC, JMA followed suit and assigned the name Hagupit, as the storm passes through environmental conditions marginally favorable for development. At 18:00 UTC, a multispectral satellite imagery (MSI) showed that the storm had good cloud characteristics of anticyclonic outflow, while microwave imagery showed active, convective cloud clusters.
On May 9, Hagupit entered the PAR at 18:00 PHT (10:00 UTC), and was assigned the name Caloy. At 03:00 UTC on May 10, Hagupit weakened into a tropical depression as it moves north-northwest over unfavorable conditions. The JTWC issued its final advisory on May 11 as Hagupit further weakened into a remnant low. JMA continued to track Hagupit as a depression before it was downgraded into a low-pressure area on May 15. The remnants of Hagupit tried to redevelop, with the JTWC analyzing the remnants as a separate entity, however they failed to redevelop and later dissipated.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi (Domeng)
On May 25, the JTWC began monitoring a disturbance east-southeast of Yap, noting favorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis. Development chances were raised to medium on May 26, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified it as a tropical depression later that day. On May 27, the JMA upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Jangmi, while the JTWC designated it as 06W. After entering the PAR on May 29, PAGASA assigned the name Domeng. Jangmi intensified into a Category 1-equivalent typhoon on May 30 by the JTWC, with the JMA upgrading it to a severe tropical storm. It weakened to a tropical storm on June 1 due to a deteriorating structure and dry air intrusion. Jangmi made landfall in Wakayama Prefecture on June 3 before becoming extratropical later that day.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 85,295 people were displaced in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where infrastructure damage reached ₱3.4 million (US$55,055.42). In Japan, a total of 23 injuries were reported, including 17 in Okinawa and two in Kagoshima Prefecture; 48 houses were also partially damaged in Kagoshima. Flooding occurred in Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki and Ōta, Tokyo, while part of National Route 371 collapsed. Water outages affected 1,800 households in Ōme, Tokyo, and fallen branches disrupted the Hachiko Line between Haijima and Komagawa.
Typhoon Mekkhala (Francisco)
On June 15, the JTWC began monitoring a disorganized low-pressure area 940 nautical miles (1,740 km) east-southeast of Guam in a marginal environment for tropical cyclogenesis. On June 18, the JMA classified the system as a tropical depression. Later that day, the JTWC designated it as Tropical Depression 07W. On June 19, the JMA upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Mekkhala, with a persistent CDO partially obscuring its LLCC. Mekkhala entered the PAR on June 20 and was named Francisco by PAGASA. It strengthened into a severe tropical storm before becoming a Category 1-equivalent typhoon on June 21. The storm intensified into a Category 2-equivalent typhoon, with PAGASA also upgrading it to typhoon status. On June 22, Mekkhala strengthened into a Category 3-equivalent typhoon before peaking as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon, while PAGASA classified it as a super typhoon. The storm weakened on June 23 as it encountered cooler waters and 20 to 25 knots (37 to 46 km/h; 23 to 29 mph) north-northeasterly wind shear. By June 25, Mekkhala had weakened to a tropical storm, with the JMA downgrading it to a severe tropical storm as it exited the PAR. Storm warnings were issued for Okinawa as the system approached the islands. Mekkhala later scraped the coast of Japan before becoming extratropical on June 27, prompting the JTWC to discontinue advisories.
Two people died in Taiwan, one in Kaohsiung and another in Hsinchu County. One other person in Hsinchu County went missing. In Japan, the storm produced heavy rainfall which overflowed a reservoir in Hiroshima Prefecture and impacted several residences. Two people were killed and another was injured due to a paddling incident related to the storm in Ehime Prefecture while a landslide caused another death in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Four other injuries occurred across Japan.