# Tropical cyclones in 2010

2010 was considered as one of the least active years for tropical cyclones on record, with only 64 named systems forming. During the year, tropical cyclones formed within seven different tropical cyclone basins, located within various parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the year, a total of 111 tropical cyclones developed, with 64 of them being named by either a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC). The most active basin was the North Atlantic, which documented 19 named systems, while the North Indian Ocean, despite only amounting to five named systems, was its basin's most active since 1998. Conversely, both the West Pacific typhoon and East Pacific hurricane seasons experienced the fewest cyclones reaching tropical storm intensity in recorded history, numbering 14 and 8, respectively. Activity across the southern hemisphere's three basins—South-West Indian, Australian, and South Pacific—was spread evenly, with each region recording 7 named storms apiece. The southern hemisphere's strongest tropical cyclone was Cyclone Edzani, which bottomed out with a barometric pressure of 910 mbar (hPa; 26.87 inHg) in the South-West Indian Ocean. Nineteen Category 3 tropical cyclones formed, including four Category 5 tropical cyclones in the year. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2010 (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University was 573.8 units.
The strongest of these tropical cyclones was Typhoon Megi, which strengthened to a minimum barometric pressure of 885 mbar (hPa; 26.13 inHg) before striking the east coast of Luzon in the Philippines. The costliest tropical cyclone in 2010 was Hurricane Karl, which struck the Veracruz, Mexico area in September, causing US$5.6 billion in damage. Hurricane Alex, Tropical Storm Matthew, and Tropical Storm Agatha were the only other tropical cyclones worldwide in 2010 to accrue over US$1 billion in damage. Agatha was also the year's deadliest storm, killing 190 people primarily in Guatemala after lasting for only one day over the waters of the East Pacific.

## Global atmospheric and hydrological conditions

The previous El Niño event broke down during the first quarter of 2010. The climate of the Pacific Ocean subsequently returned to neutral conditions by the end of April, while climate models used and developed by various meteorological agencies, subsequently started to show signs that a La Niña event would develop later in 2010. Over the next month the Pacific Ocean started to show various signals that indicated a La Niña event was developing and as a result, a La Niña watch was issued by the United States Climate Prediction Center during their June 2010 ENSO diagnostic discussion. As the ocean's surface temperature cooling progressed, more colder anomalies appeared at the International Date Line rather than over eastern Pacific, what made the event a Modoki La Nina.

## Systems
### January

During the month of January, a total of twelve tropical cyclones formed, with only five receiving names by their meteorological agencies of responsibility. The most intense tropical cyclone of the month was Cyclone Edzani, peaking with 910 hPa and 150 mph in 10-minute sustained winds.
Tropical cyclones formed in January 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Edzani | January 1–14 | 220 (140) | 910 | None | None | None |
| 03F | January 7–10 | 65 (40) | 1002 | French Polynesia, Southern Cook Islands | None | None |
| 04U | January 14–21 | Unspecified | Unspecified | None | None | None |
| 09 | January 15–16 | 45 (30) | 1005 | Réunion, Mauritius, Madagascar | Minimal | None |
| Magda | January 18–24 | 130 (80) | 975 | Western Australia | Minimal | None |
| 01W | January 18–20 | 55 (35) | 1006 | Vietnam, Cambodia | $243 thousand | 3 |
| Neville | January 19–21 | 65 (40) | 995 | Queensland | None | None |
| Olga | January 20–30 | 95 (60) | 983 | Solomon Islands, Queensland, Northern Territory | Unknown | 2 |
| 05F | January 23–28 | Not specified | 997 | None | None | None |
| Subtropical Depression 10 | January 25–31 | 65 (40) | 995 | None | None | None |
| Nisha | January 27–31 | 75 (45) | 990 | Samoan Islands, Southern Cook Islands | None | None |
| Oli | January 29 – February 7 | 185 (115) | 925 | Samoan Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia | $70 million | 1 |

### February

The month of February was quite inactive, with only seven tropical cyclones forming, with five becoming named storms. Cyclone Gelane was the most intense of the month, peaking at 930 hPa, along with 10-minute sustained winds of 125 mph. No one was killed by a tropical cyclone in the month.
Tropical cyclones formed in February 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Fami | February 1 – 3 | 85 (50) | 994 | Madagascar | None | None |
| 08F | February 2 – 4 | 55 (35) | 997 | French Polynesia, Cook Islands | None | None |
| Pat | February 6 – 11 | 140 (85) | 960 | Cook Islands | $13.7 million | None |
| Rene | February 9 – 17 | 155 (100) | 955 | Samoan Islands, Tonga | $18 million | None |
| 08U | February 22 – 24 | Not specified | Not specified | Northern Territory | None | None |
| Gelane | February 15 – 22 | 205 (125) | 930 | Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Madagascar | None | None |
| Sarah | February 17 – March 3 | 65 (40) | 995 | Cook Islands | Unknown | None |

### March

March was somewhat active with eight tropical cyclones forming with seven receiving names. Cyclone Ului was the most intense for March, as it was one of the fastest intensifying tropical cyclones on record. Ului was a Category 5 tropical cyclone (in 1-minute sustained winds) for a near-record breaking 30 hours. When Ului made landfall in Queensland, Brisbane, damages totaled to be US$72 million ($100 million AUD)
Tropical cyclones formed in March 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Hubert | March 7 – 15 | 100 (65) | 985 | Madagascar | Unknown | 85 |
| Anita | March 8 – 12 | 85 (50) | 995 | Brazil | None | None |
| Ului | March 9 – 21 | 215 (130) | 915 | Queensland | $72 million | 1 |
| Tomas | March 9 – 17 | 185 (115) | 925 | Wallis and Futuna, Fiji | $45 million | 3 |
| Imani | March 20–27 | 130 (80) | 965 | None | None | None |
| Omais (Agaton) | March 22–26 | 65 (40) | 998 | Woleai, Fais, Ulithi, Yap | $10 thousand | None |
| Paul | March 22 – April 3 | 130 (80) | 971 | Northern Territory | Unknown | None |
| 15F | March 30 – April 5 | 55 (35) | 999 | None | None | None |

### April

April was an unusually inactive month with only three tropical cyclones forming and two of them being named. No tropical cyclones attained pressure less than 980 hPa, which makes Cyclone Robyn the most intense of the month, attaining that intensity, as well as 10-minute sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. No deaths occurred during this month.
Tropical cyclones formed in April 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Robyn | April 1 – 7 | 110 (70) | 980 | None | None | None |
| Sean | April 22 – 25 | 100 (65) | 988 | Northern Territory | Unknown | None |
| TD | April 26 | Not specified | 1008 | Mindanao | None | None |

### May

May was a relatively inactive month with five tropical cyclones forming and all five received names. Tropical Storm Agatha was the deadliest and costliest of the month, killing around 204 people and inflicting $1.11 billion in damage. Cyclone Phet was the most intense tropical cyclone in the month. As Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS), Phet was the least intense for that category on record, with a high pressure of 970 hPa. Phet attained 3-minute sustained winds of 100 MPH.
Tropical cyclones formed in May 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Laila | May 17 – 21 | 100 (65) | 986 | India | $118 million | 65 |
| Bandu | May 19 – 23 | 75 (45) | 994 | Yemen, Somalia | None | 1 |
| Joël | May 22 – 29 | 100 (65) | 990 | Madagascar Mozambique | None | None |
| Agatha | May 29 – 30 | 75 (45) | 1001 | Mexico, Guatemala | $1.11 billion | 204 |
| Phet | May 30 – June 7 | 155 (100) | 970 | Oman, Pakistan, India | $780 million | 44 |

### June

June was relatively inactive with only six systems forming all within the northern hemisphere, with four further developing into tropical storms and receiving names. Hurricane Celia was the strongest and most intense tropical cyclone of the month which became a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale; the first Category 5 in the month of June in the Eastern Pacific basin since Ava in 1973. Hurricane Alex is tied with 1957's Hurricane Audrey as the most intense hurricane in the month of June on record in the Atlantic, peaking at 946 hPa.
Tropical cyclones formed in June 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| TD | June 3–5 | Not specified | 1002 | None | None | None |
| Two-E | June 16–17 | 55 (35) | 1007 | Mexico | Minimal | None |
| Blas | June 17–21 | 100 (65) | 994 | None | None | None |
| Celia | June 18–28 | 260 (160) | 921 | Mexico, Clipperton Island | None | None |
| Darby | June 23–28 | 195 (120) | 959 | Mexico | None | None |
| Alex | June 25 – July 2 | 175 (110) | 946 | Greater Antilles, Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Northern Mexico, Texas | $1.52 billion | 33 |

### July

July was a very inactive month and the least active July on record for any given year, with only eight tropical cyclones forming, three of which becoming named tropical storms. Only two reached hurricane strength, with no major-hurricane equivalent tropical cyclones. Typhoon Chanthu was the most intense tropical cyclone in the month, with a minimum pressure of 965 hPa, and 10-minute sustained winds of 80 mph.
Tropical cyclones formed in July 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Two | July 8–9 | 55 (35) | 1005 | Northern Mexico, South Texas | Minimal | None |
| Conson (Basyang) | July 11–18 | 130 (80) | 975 | Philippines China, Vietnam | $82 million | 106 |
| Six-E | July 14–16 | 55 (35) | 1006 | Mexico | None | None |
| Chanthu (Caloy) | July 17–23 | 130 (80) | 965 | Philippines China | $818 million | 19 |
| TD | July 18–20 | 55 (35) | 1004 | Japan | None | None |
| Bonnie | July 22–24 | 75 (45) | 1005 | Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Florida | $1.36 million | 1 |
| TD | July 23–24 | Not specified | 1008 | Taiwan | None | None |
| TD | July 26–28 | 55 (35) | 1002 | China | None | None |

### August

August was above average, featuring 16 systems with 12 of them being named. The strongest storm was Hurricane Earl, with a minimum pressure of 927 hPa, and 1-minute sustained winds of 145 MPH.
Tropical cyclones formed in August 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Colin | August 2–8 | 60 (95) | 1005 | Leeward Islands, Bermuda, Carolinas, New England | Minimal | 1 |
| Domeng | August 3–5 | 40 (65) | 997 | Philippines | Minimal | 3 |
| Dianmu (Ester) | August 6–12 | 95 (60) | 985 | South Korea, Japan | $42 million | 37 |
| Estelle | August 6–10 | 100 (65) | 994 | Mexico | None | None |
| Five | August 10–11 | 55 (35) | 1007 | Gulf Coast of the United States | $1 million | None |
| Eight-E | August 20–21 | 55 (35) | 1003 | None | None | None |
| Frank | August 21–28 | 150 (90) | 978 | Mexico | $8.3 million | 6 |
| Danielle | August 21–30 | 215 (130) | 942 | Bermuda, East Coast of the United States | Minimal | 2 |
| Mindulle | August 22–25 | 85 (50) | 985 | Vietnam | $43.3 million | 10 |
| Earl | August 25 – September 4 | 230 (145) | 927 | Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada, Quebec | $45 million | 5 |
| TD | August 26–28 | 55 (35) | 1004 | None | None | None |
| Lionrock (Florita) | August 27 – September 4 | 95 (60) | 985 | Philippines Taiwan, China | $65.1 million | None |
| Kompasu (Glenda) | August 28 – September 2 | 150 (90) | 960 | China, Korea | $58.3 million | 29 |
| Namtheun | August 29–31 | 65 (40) | 996 | Taiwan, China | None | None |
| Fiona | August 30 – September 3 | 100 (65) | 998 | Leeward Islands, Bermuda | Minimal | None |
| TD | August 30–31 | 55 (35) | 1008 | None | None | None |

### September

September was fairly-above average, featuring 15 storms, with 13 of them being named. Igor was the strongest system, with a minimum pressure of 924 hPa and 1-minute sustained winds of 155 MPH.
Tropical cyclones formed in September 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Malou (Henry) | September 1–10 | 95 (60) | 985 | Japan | Unknown | None |
| Gaston | September 1–2 | 65 (40) | 1005 | Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico | None | None |
| Ten-E | September 3–4 | 55 (35) | 1003 | None | None | None |
| Eleven-E | September 3–4 | 55 (35) | 1004 | Mexico, Central America | $500 million | None |
| Hermine | September 5–9 | 110 (70) | 989 | Central America, Mexico, Texas Oklahoma, Kansas | $740 million | 52 |
| Meranti | September 7–10 | 100 (65) | 985 | Taiwan, China | $118 million | 3 |
| Geordette | September 20–23 | 65 (40) | 999 | Baja California Peninsula, Mexico | Minimal | None |
| Igor | September 8–21 | 250 (155) | 924 | Cape Verde, Leeward Islands, Bermuda, East Coast of the United States, Newfoundland and Labrador | $200 million | 4 |
| Julia | September 12–20 | 220 (140) | 948 | Cape Verde | Minimal | None |
| Fanapi (Inday) | September 14–21 | 175 (110) | 935 | Taiwan, China | $1 billion | 105 |
| Karl | September 14–18 | 205 (125) | 956 | Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Veracruz | $3.9 billion | 22 |
| Malakas | September 20–25 | 155 (100) | 945 | Japan | None | None |
| Lisa | September 20–26 | 140 (85) | 982 | None | None | None |
| Matthew | September 23–26 | 95 (60) | 998 | Venezuela, Jamaica, Central America, Mexico | $172.2 million | 126 |
| Nicole | September 28–29 | 75 (45) | 995 | Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, Florida, East Coast of the United States | $245.4 million | 16 |

### October

October was slightly-below average, featuring 15 storms, with 9 of them being named. October featured Typhoon Megi, the strongest storm of the year, with a minimum pressure of 885 hPa and 10-minute sustained winds of 145 MPH.
Tropical cyclones formed in October 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| 14W | October 5–10 | 55 (35) | 1006 | China | None | None |
| Otto | October 6–10 | 140 (85) | 976 | Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico | $22.5 million | None |
| TD | October 7–8 | Not specified | 1012 | None | None | None |
| BOB 02 | October 7 –9 | 45 (30) | 996 | India, Bangladesh | Minimal | 17 |
| Paula | October 11–16 | 165 (105) | 981 | Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba, The Bahamas, Florida | Unknown | 1 |
| Megi (Juan) | October 12–24 | 230 (145) | 885 | Philippines, Taiwan, China | $709 million | 69 |
| BOB 03 | October 13–16 | 65 (40) | 995 | India | Minimal | None |
| Richard | October 20–26 | 155 (100) | 977 | Central America | $80 million | 1 |
| Giri | October 20–23 | 195 (120) | 950 | Bangladesh Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan | $359 million | 157 |
| 17W | October 20–27 | 55 (35) | 1004 | None | None | None |
| Chaba (Katring) | October 20–31 | 175 (110) | 935 | Japan | Minimal | None |
| 01 | October 25—29 | 55 (35) | 997 | None | None | None |
| Shary | October 28–30 | 120 (75) | 989 | Bermuda | Minimal | None |
| Anggrek | October 28 – November 4 | 74 (45) | 995 | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | None | None |
| Tomas | October 29 — November 7 | 155 (100) | 982 | Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, Lucayan Archipelago | $463.4 million | 51 |

### November

November was extremely inactive, featuring 5 storms and only 2 named storms. Due to this inactivity, Cyclone Abele was the strongest of the month, with a minimum barometric pressure of 974 hPa and 10-minute sustained winds of 80 MPH.
Tropical cyclones formed in November 2010 :
| Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| Jal | November 1–8 | 110 (70) | 988 | Thailand, Malaysia, Andaman Islands, India | $392 million | 117 |
| TD | November 3–4 | 55 (35) | 1006 | Vietnam | None | None |
| 18W | November 12–14 | 55 (35) | 1004 | Vietnam, Laos, Thailand | Unknown | None |
| 01F | November 24–30 | 65 (40) | 999 | Vanuatu, Fiji | None | None |
| Abele | November 28 — December 4 | 130 (80) | 974 | None | None | None |

### December

December was somewhat active, however, it was very inactive in terms of named systems, with only two of the ten tropical cyclones forming, Omeka and Tasha, getting named. The month started off extremely late on December 20th, with both Omeka and Tasha forming, the latter becoming the most intense cyclone this month, with a minimum pressure of only 993hPa.
Tropical cyclones formed in December 2010 :
| Storm names | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) | Pressure (hPa) | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| BOB 06 | December 7 –8 | 45 (30) | 1000 | India | Minimal | None |
| 19W | December 12–13 | 55 (35) | 1002 | Vietnam | None | None |
| 03U | December 15–20 | 65 (40) | 989 | Western Australia | $77 million | None |
| Omeka | December 20–21 | 85 (50) | 997 | Hawaii | None | None |
| Tasha | December 20–25 | 75 (45) | 993 | Queensland | Unknown | 1 |
| 05U | December 22–24 | Not specified | Not specified | None | None | None |
| 06U | December 30 – January 2 | 55 (35) | 993 | Northern Territory, Western Australia | None | None |
| 07U | December 30 – January 2 | Not specified | Not specified | None | None | None |
| 02F | December 31 – January 2 | Not specified | 1004 | None | None | None |
| 08U | December 31 – January 2 | Not specified | Not specified | None | None | None |

## Global effects

| Season name | Areas affected | Systems formed | Named storms | Damage (USD) | Deaths |
| 2010 Atlantic hurricane season | Greater Antilles, Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, Northern Mexico, South Texas, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Florida, Leeward Islands, Bermuda, The Carolinas, New England, United States Gulf Coast, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Cabo Verde, Newfoundland, Belize, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Greater Antilles, Lucayan Archipelago, Windward Islands | 21 | 19 | $7.39 billion | 392 |
| 2010 Pacific hurricane season | Southwestern Mexico, Central America, Clipperton Island, Western Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, Hawaii | 13 | 8 | $1.62 billion | 268 |
| 2010 Pacific typhoon season $^3$ | Vietnam, Cambodia, Woleai, Fais, Ulithi, Yap, Mindanao, Philippines, South China, Japan, Taiwan, Northern Luzon, South Korea, East China, Laos, Thailand | 28 | 14 | $2.96 billion | 384 |
| 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | India, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan, Malaysia, Andaman Islands | 7 | 5 | $3.06 billion | 414 |
| 2009–10 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season $^2$ | Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Mozambique | 9 | 5 | None | 85 |
| 2010–11 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season $^3$ | None | 2 | 1 | None | None |
| 2009–10 Australian region cyclone season $^2$ | Western Australia, Eastern Indonesia, Top End, Kimberley, Queensland, Papua New Guinea, Cocos (Keeling) Islands | 9 | 8 | $81 million | 3 |
| 2010–11 Australian region cyclone season $^3$ | Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia | 7 | 1 | $77 million | 1 |
| 2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season $^2$ | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Tokelau, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Samoan islands, Wallis and Futuna | 12 | 7 | $146.7 million | 6 |
| 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season $^3$ | Vanuatu, Fiji | 2 | 0 | None | None |
| 2010 South Atlantic tropical cyclone season | Brazil, Uruguay | 2 | 1 | None | 0 |
| Worldwide | (See above) | 112 | 64 | $15.34 billion | 1,553 |
* ↑ The sum of the number of systems and fatalities in each basin will not equal the number shown as the total. This is because when systems move between basins, it creates a discrepancy in the actual number of systems and fatalities.