As the Atlantic and E.Pacific seasons end, the western Pacific is feeding a super Typhoon - Hagupit, heading for the Philippines.
Officially the 2014 Atlantic and east Pacific hurricane season has come to a close. The Western Pacific is still active with Super typhoon Hagupit seemingly on track to devastate the Philippines.
For the Atlantic season there were 8 named storms, 6 named hurricanes and 2 became major storms, so the activity was below/near average. Gonzalo was the strongest with Arthur being the only one to really trouble the eastern seaboard of the States. Bertha and Gonzalo troubled the eastern Caribbean and Dolly and Hanna wandered near Mexico.
For the E.Pacific season, there was late forming Vance, which reached hurricane status in early November which is unusual. The 2014 season was exceptionally active with 20 named storms forming, 14 being hurricanes. There were 8 major hurricanes in a well above average season. The strongest storms were Genevieve and Marie both in August, with Amanda being nearly as strong in May. Iselle and Julio moved off into the central Pacific to trouble Hawaii in early august but most of the action was off the west coast of Mexico. These storms brought high surf and torrential rain causing landslides.
Super typhoon Hagupit
The Chinese Met service forecast Hagupit to move right across the central parts, just north of Cebu in Visayas islands. The Japanese track hits the central eastern island of Samar for the start of the weekend. The JTWC allows the track to curve northwards, so not straight across the islands but clipping eastern isalnds like Samar, Cataduanes and SE Luzon. With winds speeds of 165 knots and gusts of 200knots, this is monster storm, equivalent to a category 5 hurricane.
