The 2023 Pacific typhoon season was the fourth and final string of consecutive below-average Pacific typhoon season and became the third-least active on record in terms of named storms, with only 17 developing, surpassing only the 2010 and 1998 seasons. However, the season was near-average in terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE). Despite occurring during an El Niño event, which typically favors increased activity in the basin, overall development was unusually suppressed. This was mainly attributed to a prolonged negative phase of the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), which generally inhibits tropical cyclone formation in the region. The season was less active than the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season in terms of named storms—the fourth such occurrence on record, after 2005, 2010, and 2020. All but one of the 17 storms during the season originated from the northwestern Pacific itself, as the other one, Dora, originated from the Eastern Pacific basin. As a result, the northwest Pacific recorded fewer storm formations than the 2023 Pacific hurricane season.
Of the 17 systems, ten intensified into typhoons, and four further strengthened into super typhoons. Despite the low number of storms, the season proved to be highly destructive, mainly due to Typhoon Doksuri, which devastated northern Philippines, Taiwan, and China in July, becoming the costliest typhoon on record and the costliest to strike mainland China; and Typhoon Haikui in September, which caused widespread damage across China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Activity across Southeast Asia was notably limited, with no tropical storm making landfall in mainland Vietnam, the third such occurrence since the country's independence, following the 1976 and 2002 seasons.
The season ran throughout the year, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The season's first named storm, Sanvu, formed on April 21, while its last named storm, Jelawat, dissipated on December 20. In May, Typhoon Mawar intensified into the first typhoon of the season on May 21 and then further intensified into season's first super typhoon on May 25, becoming one of the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones on record in May.
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
During the year, 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 included the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Consortium of University College London, PAGASA and Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau.
The first forecast was released by PAGASA on January 13, 2023, in their monthly seasonal climate outlook predicting the first half of 2023. They predicted that only 0–2 tropical cyclones were expected to form or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility between January and March, while 2–4 tropical cyclones are expected to form between April and June. PAGASA also stated that weakening La Niña conditions could last until it transitions back into ENSO-neutral conditions afterwards.
On May 5, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) issued its first forecast for the 2023 season with moderate to strong El Niño expected to develop and persist through October, TSR predicted that tropical activity for 2023 will be above average predicting 29 named storms, 19 typhoons and 13 intense typhoons. The TSR remained constant with their prediction except slightly decreasing the intense typhoon numbers to 12 in the July forecast. In the last August forecast, the TSR increased the number of typhoons and intense typhoons to 20 and 14.
Seasonal summary
Early season activity
The season began with a weak tropical depression off the coast of northeastern Philippines on February 20. Two weeks later, on March 4, another tropical depression formed near the equator, east of Singapore. The depression was short lived and was last noted three days later. The storm however, brought heavy rainfall across Malaysia, affecting about 50,000 people.
A month later on April 7, the JMA began tracking a low-pressure area located in the Philippines Sea. On the same day the JMA classified the system as a tropical depression with the PAGASA naming the system Amang. The depression made three landfalls in Panganiban, Catanduanes; Presentacion, Camarines Sur; and Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, before weakening into a remnant low on April 13. Amang caused minor damage across the country however, no fatalities were reported. Five days after Amang dissipated, the JMA began monitoring another disturbance located near Pohnpei. After slowly intensifying, the system reached tropical storm status and the system was named Sanvu by the JMA; becoming the first named storm in the basin. Sanvu however began to weaken after entering hostile environment. The storm weakened back into a tropical depression until it dissipated on April 25.
On May 5, a tropical depression was noted in the Sulu Sea by the JMA. The system crossed Palawan and entered the South China Sea on the same day. The system continued to traverse the South China Sea before dissipating on May 7. On May 19, a tropical depression developed south-southwest of the Chuuk Islands. A few hours later, it became a tropical storm and was named Mawar. On the next day, the JMA upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm, as the storm was getting better defined. A day later, Mawar was classified as a Category 1-equivalent typhoon by the JTWC. The JMA followed suit and designated the system as a Typhoon on the same day; becoming the first typhoon of the year in the basin. Mawar later strengthened into a Category 2-equivalent typhoon on May 22. Then, the storm began to explosively intensify and reached Category 3-equivalent status on the same day. It further strengthened into a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon on the next day as it approached Guam. Land interaction with Guam and an eyewall replacement cycle caused the storm to weaken slightly but eventually restrengthened after passing the northern tip of Guam on May 24. The next day, Mawar completed its eyewall replacement cycle and went on to reach its peak intensity of 295 km/h (185 mph), making it a very strong Category 5-equivalent super typhoon. As Mawar entered the PAR which was named Betty by PAGASA, it encountered cooler oceans and increasing wind shear which caused it to weaken. It also underwent yet another eyewall replacement cycle causing the storm to weaken further. It affected the eastern coast of Luzon and weakened to a severe tropical storm as it left the PAR on June 1. It affected the Okinawa Islands and finally turned extratropical south of Honshu on June 3.
On June 5, a low-pressure area was formed north of Palau, naming the system as Invest 98W. At the following day, it intensified and entered the Philippine area of responsibility, prompting PAGASA to name the storm as Chedeng at 08:00 UTC. The JTWC later followed suit and designated it as 03W. At 20:00 UTC, Chedeng was upgraded to a tropical storm, receiving the international name Guchol. Guchol later became a strong Category 2-equivalent typhoon in the Philippine Sea, but the cold wake from Typhoon Mawar kept it from intensifying any further. As Guchol (Chedeng) exited the PAR, it weakened to a severe tropical storm, and continued northeastwards, avoiding the Japanese archipelago.
On July 13, a monsoon depression formed near Luzon. PAGASA noted the system and subsequently named the system Dodong. The system then crossed the island. The system then entered the South China Sea, where it became a tropical depression. Later, it became a tropical storm. It was named Talim. Talim moved through the South China Sea as it intensified. Near the coast of China, Talim reached its peak intensity as a Category 2-equivalent typhoon. Talim slightly weakened before making landfall in China at 22:20 CST. About six hours later, Talim entered the Gulf of Tonkin and made a second landfall. On July 18, Talim dissipated inland.
On July 19, the JMA began tracking a disturbance in the Philippine Sea. On July 21, the JMA noticed it had begun to become more organized and it was upgraded into a tropical storm, with the name given being Doksuri. The PAGASA also noted the formation and gave it the name Egay. On July 23, the system began to intensify rapidly, and achieved typhoon status. Late on July 24, the JTWC classified it as a super typhoon. The next morning the PAGASA did the same thing as on that day it reached its peak of 1 minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). Doksuri began to slow as it reached the northern Philippines. With dry air in the area, Doksuri started to undergo an eyewall replacement cycle. As a mid-range Category-4 typhoon, Doksuri made landfall over Fuga Island in Aparri, Cagayan. Hours later, it made another landfall in Dalupiri Island. The storm eventually began to de-intensify following the eyewall replacement. However, as it exited the region on July 27, it began reintensifying. It was now heading toward Taiwan and China with 1 minute sustained winds of 120 mph. On July 28, it made its last landfall in China; however, it rapidly began to weaken. On July 29, Doksuri dissipated inland over China.
After Doksuri devastated several countries, JMA announced another formation of a low-pressure area in the Pacific Ocean. The JMA later issued a warning, declaring it as a tropical depression. The system also indicated that the system is in a favorable environment for development. On July 27, the JTWC subsequently issued advisories for the system and classified the system as Tropical Depression 06W. Despite its disorganized structure, both agencies upgraded the system into a tropical storm, with JMA assigning the name Khanun.
Khanun later entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), gaining the name Falcon by PAGASA. Tracking northward due to a nearby mid-level subtropical high-pressure area, Khanun intensified into a severe tropical storm. Over 24 hours, its maximum sustained wind speeds grew by 130 km/h (80 mph) and eventually reached a peak of 220 km/h (140 mph), equivalent to Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale. As it left PAR on August 1, Khanun weakened slightly as it moved move closer to the Ryukyu Islands, battering them with heavy rain and strong winds. Khanun weakened further due to an ongoing eyewall replacement cycle, allowing its eye to grow massively, but degrading its overall structure.
Following structural weakening, the JMA and JTWC downgraded Khanun to a severe tropical storm, with estimated winds of 95 km/h (60 mph). After passing north of Tokunoshima, the storm accelerated to the southeast. Satellite imagery showed a consolidating LLCC with formative convective banding and deep convection over the northern semicircle, the storm passed the southwestern island of Kyushu. Around 00:00 UTC on August 10, Khanun made landfall on Geojedo Islands in South Korea with winds of 85 km/h (50 mph). The JMA continued to monitor Khanun as a tropical cyclone until early on August 11.
Peak season activity
On August 5, the JMA reported that a low-pressure area had formed east-northeast of Iwo Jima. Environmental conditions were marginally favorable to conduct a tropical cyclogenesis, with warm sea temperatures, low vertical wind shear, and good outflow. Later that day, JMA named the system Lan as it strengthened into a tropical storm. Lan continues to strengthen more to achieve the peak intensity of 220 km/h (140 mph) by JTWC.
After reaching its peak intensity, Lan started to track through colder waters, causing the typhoon to weaken significantly. Lan re-strengthened again into a Category-2 typhoon as it strengthened. The storm maintained its overall convective structure, but the waters beneath the cyclone cooled, prompting a quick weakening trend. Around 14:00 UTC on August 14, Lan made landfall on Cape Shionomisaki, Japan. Once inland, Lan weakened into a tropical storm over the region's rough terrain. Lan began to accelerate northeast through Sea of Japan while weakening. JMA declared the system as an extratropical low on August 17.
On August 12, a weakening Hurricane Dora moved into the basin as a Category-2 equivalent typhoon. As a result, both agencies from JMA and JTWC started issuing advisories as it crossed through the International Date Line. Dora showed signs of weakening, citing that its eye continues to deteriorate and the presence of vertical wind shear. With Dora's ragged center, the system remained disorganized, as wind shear was becoming displaced to the east. By August 15, both agencies ceased issuing advisories as their LLCC further became broad and exposed. JMA also stated that Dora transitioned into an extratropical system on August 21 before it headed back in the Central Pacific basin.
In mid-August, two tropical disturbances were formed on either side of the basin. The first disturbance was recognized east of Taiwan on August 20. On the next day, the second one formed in the open waters of the Western Pacific. Initially, PAGASA expected that the low-pressure area near Taiwan would have a low chance of development. However, on the next day, PAGASA later recognized that the disturbance was named Goring after it was upgraded into a tropical depression. Meanwhile, in the open waters of the Pacific, JTWC designated the system as Tropical Depression 08W. While near the Philippines, JTWC gave the identifier for Goring as Tropical Depression 09W.
On August 24, 09W was upgraded into a tropical storm, which gave the name Saola by the JMA. Saola began to move southwestwards through the Philippine Sea and continued to intensity to a typhoon. Being in warm sea surface temperature, Saola began to rapidly intensify as it loitered off the coast of Luzon. It reached the intensity of a Category-4 typhoon on August 27. After executing a south-southeastward turn over the Philippine Sea, Saola weakened to a Category-2 typhoon. However, on August 29, Saola regained strength and explosively intensified further into a Category-5 super typhoon. Saola crossed through the Babuyan Islands before it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility a few hours later.