Storms near Wake Island
The record holds 110 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Wake Island between 1886 and 2024. The busiest month is November, with 37 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 5 strength. 52 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 110storms within 50 km
- 2major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 9at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Wake Island?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 24 | 22% |
| Tropical storm | 25 | 23% |
| Category 1 | 4 | 4% |
| Category 2 | 3 | 3% |
| Category 3 | 1 | <1% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown intensity | 52 | 47% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (western Pacific).
Wake Island storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1886, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2 |
| 1890s | 3 |
| 1910s | 8 |
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 8 |
| 1950s | 9 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 8 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 5 |
| Feb | 2 |
| Mar | 6 |
| Apr | 2 |
| May | 5 |
| Jun | 2 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 0 |
| Sep | 6 |
| Oct | 14 |
| Nov | 37 |
| Dec | 31 |
Strongest storms near Wake Island
- Rai (2021)11 December 2021 to 21 December 2021, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 915 hPa
- Lucy (1962)23 November 1962 to 1 December 1962, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 975 hPa
- Faith (1998)7 December 1998 to 14 December 1998, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 970 hPa
- Amy (1951)3 December 1951 to 19 December 1951, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 950 hPa
- Freda (1967)6 November 1967 to 11 November 1967, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 972 hPa
- Lola (1993)27 November 1993 to 9 December 1993, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 955 hPa
Most recent storms near Wake Island
- Pabuk (2024)21 December 2024 to 26 December 2024, peak Tropical depression (30 kt), 1,002 hPa
- Rai (2021)11 December 2021 to 21 December 2021, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 915 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 2021 (Western North Pacific)22 October 2021 to 27 October 2021, peak Tropical depression (30 kt), 1,000 hPa
- Krovanh (2020)17 December 2020 to 25 December 2020, peak Tropical depression (30 kt), 1,000 hPa
- Kammuri (2019)24 November 2019 to 6 December 2019, Tropical depression (20 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 950 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Notable storms near Wake Island with their own pages
- Rai (2021)11 December 2021 to 21 December 2021, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 915 hPa
- Lucy (1962)23 November 1962 to 1 December 1962, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 975 hPa
- Amy (1951)3 December 1951 to 19 December 1951, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 950 hPa
- Lola (1993)27 November 1993 to 9 December 1993, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 955 hPa
- Tilda (1954)22 November 1954 to 2 December 1954, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 940 hPa
- Neoguri (2008)13 April 2008 to 19 April 2008, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Harriet (1959)22 December 1959 to 3 January 1960, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 930 hPa
- Manny (1993)1 December 1993 to 16 December 1993, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 955 hPa
- Pamela (1982)21 November 1982 to 9 December 1982, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 940 hPa
- Kammuri (2019)24 November 2019 to 6 December 2019, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 950 hPa