supertyphoons
Extreme Pacific hurricanes
Supertyphoons are typhoons of extreme intensity, with sustained winds reaching at least 150 miles per hour—equivalent to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.
The term is used primarily by meteorological agencies monitoring the western Pacific, where warm ocean waters fuel these massive storms: Supertyphoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in 2013.
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- vortexRotating fluid column
- eyewallHurricane's central windband
- barometerInstrument gauging atmospheric pressure
windspeed · cumulonimbus · isobar · cyclonic · convection · outflow · intensification · millibars
Severe widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
- landslidesMasses of earth falling
infrastructure · displacement · damage · deaths · injuries · homelessness · debris · flattened
Removal from danger
- reliefEasing of distress
- aidSupport given freely
- shelterProtected place or structure
- rescueSave from harm
humanitarian · preparedness · recovery · rebuilding · sandbags · stockpiling · early-warning · forecasting
Causing complete destruction
- extremeFurthest from moderate
- devastatingCausing severe damage
- torrentialFlowing in violent streams
- violentInvolving physical force
ferocious · monster · record-breaking · destructive · howling · raging · unprecedented · powerful
cyclone
Rotating low-pressure storm system
barometer · windspeed · cumulonimbus · isobar · cyclonic · convection · outflow · intensification · millibars · track
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
landslides · infrastructure · displacement · damage · deaths · injuries · homelessness · debris · flattened · inundation
Yolanda
Feminine given name
evacuation
Removal from danger
rescue · humanitarian · preparedness · recovery · rebuilding · sandbags · stockpiling · early-warning · forecasting · reconstruction
catastrophic
Causing complete destruction
- extremeFurthest from moderate
- devastatingCausing severe damage
- torrentialFlowing in violent streams
violent · ferocious · monster · record-breaking · destructive · howling · raging · unprecedented · powerful · deadly
Philippines
Southeast Asian archipelago nation
supertyphoonscalm
Free from agitation
tropical depressions · light breeze · zephyrs · drizzle · light rain
supertyphoonsstillness
Complete lack of motion
clear skies · tranquility · fair weather · doldrums · dead calm