Typhoon Cempaka, the 32nd tropical cyclone to form in the western North Pacific this year, developed over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, bringing the region's annual storm count to its highest level since the beginning of the 21st century, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
Cempaka formed at 2 pm on Saturday, making 2026 the first year since 1994 in which a 32nd named storm has formed in the region, the administration said. The previous record in this century was 31 storms, set in 2013.
The western North Pacific and the South China Sea typically generate an average of 24.3 tropical cyclones annually, with totals generally ranging from 20 to 30, according to historical records. Only 2004 and 2013 saw 30 or more storms form in the region during the 21st century, with 30 and 31 storms recorded, respectively.
Experts at the National Climate Center attributed this year's unusually high storm count partly to the development of a super El Nino event.
Since the summer, the subtropical high-pressure system has remained farther north than usual, averaging about two degrees of latitude north of its climatological position from August to October. This atmospheric configuration is conducive to tropical cyclone formation.
A total of 23 tropical cyclones formed between July and October, with both storm formation and landfall numbers significantly above average for the period. The storms were also generally stronger than usual, according to the center.
Autumn typhoons this year have been characterized by long lifespans, high peak intensity and frequent changes in direction, experts said. Nine storms formed between Sept 1 and Nov 9, six of which reached super typhoon intensity. However, none made landfall in China.
As of 2 pm on Monday, Cempaka was located over the western North Pacific. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 meters per second, the National Meteorological Center said.
The storm was forecast to move east-northeast at 10 to 15 km per hour and strengthen further. It was not expected to affect China's coastal waters, the center said.
