1998 Pacific typhoon season
The 1998 Pacific typhoon season was the least active Pacific typhoon season on record, until it was surpassed 12 years later. It would produce 16 tropical storms, 8 strengthening into typhoons.[1] The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the international date line. Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 1998 Pacific hurricane season. Tropical Storms formed in the entire west Pacific basin were assigned a name by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names.
The 1998 season was very weak compared to the 1997 season; this was due to the strong El Niño in the previous season. During the 1998 season, a total of 28 tropical depressions developed across the western Pacific basin. Of those 28 depressions, a total of 18 strengthened into tropical storms of which 9 further intensified into typhoons. The first tropical cyclone developed on May 28, marking the fourth latest start to any Pacific typhoon season on record, and the last one dissipated on December 22. The Philippine region also set a record: with only eleven storms forming or moving into its area of responsibility, PAGASA had its quietest season on record, later tying with the 2010 season. Overall inactivity was caused by an unusually strong La Niña, which also fueled a hyperactive Atlantic hurricane season that year.
Duration
July 7 – July 12
July 8 – July 10
July 25 – July 25
August 1 – August 6
August 6 – August 11
August 23 – September 6
August 31 – September 5
September 11 – September 16
September 13 – September 14
September 15 – September 20
September 17 – September 22
September 18 – September 19
September 19 – September 21
September 26 – September 30
October 2 – October 5
October 4 – October 7
October 5 – October 6
October 10 – October 17
October 11 – October 12
October 14 – October 27
November 11 – November 17
November 16 – November 20
November 22 – November 26
December 8 – December 14
December 9 – December 12
December 17 – December 19
December 19 – December 21