Record Breaking Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Cyclones include not only Hurricanes, but also Typhoons. In the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean we known them as Hurricanes. In the Western Pacific and parts of the Indian Ocean they are known as Typhoons, and every where else that these massive storms form they are known solely as a Tropical Cyclone. They are some of the most powerful forces in nature and during each summer they become active. They can wreak havoc on our coasts; kill thousands of people can cause pain beyond belief. The following is a comprehensive list of record breaking Tropical systems found throughout the history of our world.

Strongest Tropical System - This title belongs to four separate systems. Typhoon Tip, Hurricane Keith, Hurricane Allen, and Hurricane Camille. These four storms all reached recorded wind speeds of 190 miles per hour and had recorded central pressures of about the same intensity at around 870.

Largest Tropical System - Typhoon Tip is the largest recorded tropical system on record. At its peak Tip had tropical storm force winds extending 1350 miles in diameter. That would cover almost the entire western portion of the United States.

Strongest land falling tropical system - Hurrican Camille had wind speeds upwards of 190 miles per hour when she slammed into the United States Coastline. Camille is one of the rare and few category 5 storms to ever make land fall.

Costliest Tropical System - Hurricane Katrina has gone on record as being the most costly tropical system to date. Hitting the Gulf coast in 2005 Katrina caused an estimated 81.2 billion dollars in property damage and other damages included put the total well over 100 billion dollars. Katrina goes on record as being the costliest tropical cyclone in world wide history.

Longest tracked Tropical Cyclone - Hurricane John lasted a total of 31 days in 1994. Before the advent of satellite tracking Hurricanes and other Tropical Cyclones were sorely underestimated in their lifespan.

Deadliest Tropical Cyclone - The 1970 Bhola cyclone is the deadliest on record. This cyclone struck Bangladesh on November 13, 1970 and killed an estimated 300,000 people. Many of the bodies were never recovered and thus the death toll is much higher. Some estimates from the region predict that over 1 million people lost their lives in the horrible storm.

Smallest Tropical Cyclone - Cyclone Tracy is the smallest storm on record. At its peak the storms tropical storm force winds only extended about 60 miles in diameter. The small cyclone struck Darwin Australia in 1974 doing minimal damage.

Strongest unconfirmed Tropical Cyclone - Typhoon Nancy was recorded to have wind speeds of 215 miles per hour sustained, however these reports were taken with instruments that were supposedly damaged or unreliable. It has been determined by recent research that wind speeds gauged from the 1940's until the early 1960's were accounted too high. Nancy's wind speeds were recorded in 1961.

Strongest wind gust - The strongest non-tornadic related wind gust ever recorded was from Typhoon Paka on the island of Guam. This gust was recorded at 236 miles per hour. Scientist are still debating wither or not that data is reliable. If confirmed this one wind gust would be the strongest ever recorded on the surface of the Earth.

So there you have it. Records set down by the unstoppable forces of nature. We can only prepare for such disastrous storms like Katrina and Tip, and hope and prey that the next storms that form on the horizon will not make it into these record books.