Abnormally Hot Pacific Ocean Explodes Haiyan into 195 mph Monster — Possibly Strongest Storm On Record
"Hot Ocean Waters in the Western Pacific Spawn 81 Cyclones for 2013
Very hot ocean waters ranging from 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above the 1980-2000 average throughout much of 2013 have spawned numerous severe weather events throughout the Western Pacific. On January 1rst, the first tropical cyclone of 2013 formed, not waiting even a day to begin what would prove to be an explosive, record season.
Throughout 2013, cyclones continued to form so that by November 81 cyclones had ripped through this region of the Pacific. Of this number, 38 storms were tropical depressions, 30 were tropical storms, and 13 were hurricanes. Four of these hurricanes were category 5 monsters.
During late summer a powerful tropical storm combined with a monsoonal flow to drench Manila in record rainfall, flooding much of the city. Other strong storms also impacted the Philippines, setting off landslides and numerous record flooding events. Haiyan is just the most recent and strongest example of a series of powerful storms impacting the vulnerable island chain.
Hot Pacific Ocean waters in a region north and west of the Philippines were also implicated in a major heatwave that resulted in scores of deaths throughout China, Korea, and Japan. This unprecedented ocean heat dome resulted in highest ever recorded temperatures with records being shattered consecutively, day after day, for up to two weeks in some locations.
Ocean heat temperature maps seem to be painting a bulls eye on the Western Pacific. And, for 2013, large swaths of water in this area continued to boast temperatures in excess of 90 degrees (F). This abnormally hot water enhanced evaporation and fueled various extreme weather events including the massive spate of tropical systems as well as the record floods seen in the Amur region of Russia and China."
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