Which Countries Have The Most Hurricanes?

Written by Marisa Wilson
Updated: October 10, 2022
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Hurricanes are powerful weather events that get their power from the heat in tropical waters. These violent storms often start as a tropical wave, a low-pressure area that moves through the wet and humid tropics and could produce more showers and storms. 

As this weather system moves west through the tropics, warm air from the ocean rises into the storm, creating a low-pressure area underneath. Because of this, more air comes in. The air rises and cools, which produces clouds and storms. Up in the clouds, water condenses and forms droplets. These droplets release more heat, which keeps the storm going. 

When a storm with 74 mph or more wind forms, it is called a hurricane. Both “hurricane” and “tropical cyclone” refer to the same type of storm: a rotating, organized system of clouds and storms form over tropical or subtropical waters and have a closed, low-level circulation. Let’s see which countries suffer from this deadly tropical storm the most.

China

The fact that China‘s typhoon season lasts the entire year makes it the country that experiences the most hurricanes. For example, one of the worst hurricanes to hit China was Saomai, the third storm that killed people in China in the summer of 2006. Tropical Storm Bilis killed over 600 people in July, and in early August, Typhoon Prapiroon killed about 80 people. It was the sixth cyclone of the year to hit the country. 

As Saomai moved toward Zhejiang province, it made big waves, strong winds, and heavy rain. Wenzhou’s Cangnan County rained 1.2 inches in just one hour and 11.8 inches over 12 hours. Inland province Jiangxi got 7.9 inches of rain, and Linchuan District got 4.1 inches in just one hour. In eastern China, the storm broke several wind records. 

The Philippines

There isn’t much else to absorb the energy of storms before they hit land in the Philippines because it is situated just above the equator and faces the western Pacific. One of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded was Typhoon Haiyan, also called Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. 

Haiyan devastated parts of Southeast Asia upon touching down, especially the Philippines. With at least 6,300 fatalities in the Philippines alone, it is one of the deadliest typhoons recorded. Only Goni of 2020 can surpass Haiyan as the second-strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in recorded history, which it tied for with Meranti in 2016. There were still bodies being discovered in January 2014. Additionally, Haiyan was 2013’s strongest tropical cyclone globally. Additionally, the Philippines’ second deadliest typhoon is this one.

Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan was also known as Super Typhoon Yolanda. It hit the Philippines in 2013.

©ymphotos/Shutterstock.com

Japan

Japan is more likely to be hit by earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters because of its climate and geography. Typhoon Vera was a powerful tropical cyclone that hit Japan in September 1959. It was the strongest and deadliest typhoon ever recorded to hit the country. It was a low-end Category 5 storm. Estimates for damage costs put the total at more than US$261 million, equaling US$2.43 billion in 2021. 

Other damage estimates put the total at US$600 million, equal to US$5.58 billion in 2021 dollars. Most reports say that around 5,000 people died, and hundreds more are still missing. In addition to the people who died, almost 40,000 people were hurt, and another 1.6 million lost their homes. About 834,000 homes were destroyed across the country, and about 210,000 ha (520,000 ac) of farmland was damaged. Vera was the deadliest typhoon in Japanese history because of the damage it caused. It was worse than the 1934 Muroto typhoon.

Mexico

The Pacific Ocean borders Mexico on its western side, and the Gulf of Mexico (North Atlantic Ocean) borders it on its eastern side. This causes large cyclones and hurricanes to form in Mexico during the summer when the northern hemisphere’s temperatures are at their highest. They can be deadly like the one in 1959. Most people died during the hurricane that hit Mexico in 1959. It was at its strongest when the storm hit land near Manzanillo, Mexico. 

When it turned northeast onto land, it caused one of Mexico’s worst natural disasters. As many as 150 boats were lost. Flash floods cut off access to large parts of Colima and Jalisco, leaving hundreds of people stranded. Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed. During the storm, all coconut plantations were blown down, putting thousands of people out of work and making people worry that it would take years for the economy to get back on its feet.

The United States

It is vulnerable to hurricanes that originate from the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico due to its location between them. Florida has been hit by more than 41% of the 292 hurricanes that have struck the United States since 1851. The worst hurricane to hit the United States was the Great Storm of 1900. This is the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history and the fifth-deadliest Atlantic hurricane. 

Official reports say that between 6,000 and 12,000 people died in the United States because of the hurricane, but 8,000 is the most often used. In addition to killing people, the storm destroyed about 7,000 buildings in Galveston, including 3,636 homes. Every building in the city was damaged in some way. Out of the city’s population of less than 38,000, about 10,000 lost their homes because of the hurricane.

Australia 

One of the most devastating cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere and the deadliest cyclone in recorded Australian history was Cyclone Mahina. On March 4, 1899, the Mahina made landfall, and its powerful winds and storm surge resulted in the deaths of over 300 people. According to information from post-storm analysis, the World Meteorological Organization is currently debating a request from Queensland scientists and researchers to upgrade this value to 25.99 inHg. 

Mahina would then be formally recognized as the most intense tropical cyclone ever to make landfall anywhere in the world and the most intense cyclone ever to hit the Australian mainland. The storm surge caused by Cyclone Mahina was the highest storm surge ever measured at 43 feet high.

Taiwan 

Every year, Taiwan gets at least three to four typhoons, which primarily supply the island with water but also damage, flooding, and landslides. The most devastating typhoon that hit Taiwan in recorded history was called Typhoon Morakot. Morakot, the fourth typhoon of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season and the eighth named storm overall, devastated Taiwan. It killed 673 people, leaving another 26 people missing and causing damages totaling about US$3.3 billion. 

In the nation, nearly 2,000 homes were reported destroyed, and 136,000 more reportedly suffered an injury. Following the storm, Taiwan’s government received harsh criticism for its inadequate response time and initial deployment of only 2,100 soldiers to the disaster areas. Later, 46,000 soldiers were involved in the effort to rescue the trapped civilians.

Vietnam

Typhoons are more likely to hit Vietnam because they are close to the South China Sea. Although the country’s geography makes it ideal for trade and supply chains, seasonal typhoons frequently cause infrastructure damage, interfering with daily operations. 

Typhoon Linda was the most devastating typhoon to hit southern Vietnam in at least 100 years, killing thousands of people and causing significant property damage. It began to form between Indochina and the Philippines in the South China Sea on October 31, 1997. On November 2, Linda, intensifying as it moved westward and packing winds of 65 mph and heavy rain, made landfall in the extreme southern part of Vietnam.

Madagascar

Damage from Gafilo caused extreme devastation in Madagascar because Elita had already hit the island nation a month prior. The Antananarivo National Rescue Council reported 237 fatalities, 181 missing, 879 injuries, and 304,000 homeless people (174,000 in Antalaha alone). In addition to 413 public buildings and 3,400 schools—including 1,400 that were utterly destroyed—more than 20,000 homes were also completely destroyed. 

According to UN estimates, there were 700,000 disaster victims, 280,000 of whom required immediate assistance. In Madagascar, the cyclone season typically lasts from November to March. Five tropical weather events have impacted the nation since mid-January 2022. Approximately 960,000 people were reportedly affected by tropical storms and cyclones as of March 13; 206 fatalities were also reported.

Cuba

The hurricane that hit Cuba in 1932, also referred to as the Hurricane of Santa Cruz del Sur or the Hurricane of 1932 Camagüey, was the deadliest and one of the most severe cyclones ever to make landfall there. It is the lone Atlantic Category 5 hurricane to have ever been recorded in November. 

The storm severely hampered the region’s banana crop and disrupted communications as it pounded Colombia’s coast with strong winds and torrential rain. Several towns suffered severe infrastructure damage, especially those close to the coast. Because Cuba is so close to the equator and the warm water surrounding it, Cuba is particularly vulnerable to cyclones. 

Cuba during Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma hit Cuba in 2017.

©Inspired By Maps/Shutterstock.com

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © Inspired By Maps/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Creepy-crawly creatures enthrall Marisa. Aside from raising caterpillars, she has a collection of spiders as pets. The brown recluse is her favorite spider of all time. They're just misunderstood. You don't have to worry about squishing the creatures as her catching, and relocating abilities can safely move stray centipedes or snakes to a new location that's not your living room.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What state gets the least number of hurricanes?

Maine. Maine is the most northern and eastern of the East Coast states. The state is far enough north that hurricanes don’t hit it as hard as the rest of the East Coast below it.

How long do hurricanes last?

Typically, a hurricane lasts between 12 and 24 hours. However, as Hurricane John in 1994 demonstrated, a hurricane can persist for up to a month

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. Yonder, Available here: https://www.insureyonder.com/4-destinations-a-hurricane-will-never-hit/
  2. Borgen Project, Available here: https://borgenproject.org/countries-with-the-most-hurricanes/
  3. Weather.com, Available here: https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-cyclone-hits-by-country-typhoon-hurricane
  4. Borgen Project, Available here: https://borgenproject.org/countries-most-affected-by-hurricanes/