why are western pacific storms more intense?

[Mecklenburg]

i was wondering about this for a long time, and why does their storm season lasts for a whole year, while the atlantic have it from june-november only?

[Chacor]

The Questions forum is a better place for this next time than Talkin' Tropics.

Ambient pressures are lower in the Western Pacific, leading to storms with generally lower pressures. However, it is arguable whether the storms are more intense in terms of wind speeds.

As for the season — there are no defined dates for the WPac season. Generally storms form from March onwards, although storms that form early are still considered part of the same season. No different from the Atlantic — season starts in June but storms before then are still considered to be in the same season.

[masaji79]

Also there is more warm water to work with in the Western Pacific and sparse landmasses until you reach the coast of Asia.

[Category 5]

The water is warmer and deeper. It's a huge area with a year round season, and as Chacor said the ambient pressures are lower.

[cheezyWXguy]

Yes storms can typically be stronger in the WPAC, but on average there are more intense landfalling hurricanes in that atlantic if Im correct. I cant remember a season in WPAC that had 2 landfalling category 5 hurricanes. Please tell me if Im wrong.

[Aslkahuna]

Actually, there are on average, and using one minute wind data to be consistent with NHC and the ATL, 4-5 storms of 150 mph intensity or higher which is high Cat 4 to Cat 5 in a given year when we add the storms that "only" make it to low Cat 4 we then may have 7-8 storms of Cat 4 or higher in WPAC in a given year-this does vary quite a bit. As far as saying that two equivalent Cat 5's have never made landfall in WPAC in a single year, I wouldn't go so far as to say that without going back through ALL of the JTWC ATCRs. Off season storms in WPAC often form due to the westerly wind bursts associated with active MJO impulses creating favorable horizontal shear in low latitudes. WPAC storms also can form in lower latitudes than the ATL since the equatorial landmasses are most south of the equator.

Steve

[Calasanjy]

Overall, because they have a greater area of warm water to work with without land interruption. Also, while it is relatively rare to see typhoons forming in January or February the season continues year-round I believe due to warmer waters and comparatively favorable wind shear patterns.