The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands situated in the typhoon belt of the western Pacific, faces the fury of tropical cyclones more than almost any other nation. On average, 20 typhoons enter the country’s area of responsibility each year, bringing devastating winds, torrential rains, storm surges, and floods. These storms not only test the resilience of communities but also highlight the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness amid climate change, which is intensifying these events.
Ranking the “strongest” typhoons is typically based on the maximum sustained 1-minute winds recorded at landfall by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). This metric captures the raw power of these super typhoons, many of which reach Category 5-equivalent status.
Below is a list of the top 10 strongest typhoons to make landfall in the Philippines since reliable records began, compiled from meteorological data and historical accounts. Each entry includes the local and international name, year, peak wind speed at landfall, landfall location, and key impacts.
1. Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni) – 2020
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 315 km/h (195 mph)
- Landfall Location: Bato, Catanduanes
- Impacts: Dubbed the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide, Rolly unleashed catastrophic winds that shredded homes, toppled power lines, and triggered landslides across the Bicol Region. It affected over 2.9 million people, caused 28 deaths, and inflicted ₱20 billion in damages. Evacuations reached record levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the storm’s overwhelming force.
2. Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) – 2013
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 315 km/h (195 mph)
- Landfall Location: Guiuan, Eastern Samar
- Impacts: Tied for the second-strongest landfall globally, Yolanda ravaged the Visayas with unprecedented storm surges up to 6 meters high, leveling entire cities like Tacloban. It remains the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, with over 6,300 fatalities, 28,000 injuries, and ₱95.5 billion in damages—equivalent to 4% of the country’s GDP at the time.
3. Super Typhoon Ferdie (Meranti) – 2016
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 310 km/h (193 mph)
- Landfall Location: Itbayat, Batanes
- Impacts: Also tied for second globally, Ferdie battered the remote northern Batanes islands with hurricane-force gusts exceeding 370 km/h. Though its isolated path limited casualties (no direct deaths reported), it destroyed 80% of structures in Itbayat, disrupted power for weeks, and caused ₱1.5 billion in agricultural losses.
4. Super Typhoon Rosing (Angela) – 1995
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Landfall Location: Virac, Catanduanes
- Impacts: One of the most intense to strike Luzon, Rosing generated massive storm surges and winds that demolished coastal communities in Bicol and Quezon. It claimed nearly 1,000 lives, displaced 1.6 million people, and caused ₱10.8 billion in damages, marking it as a benchmark for super typhoon devastation in the pre-2000 era.
5. Super Typhoon Juan (Megi) – 2010
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Landfall Location: Palanan, Isabela
- Impacts: The strongest typhoon of 2010 globally at the time, Juan carved through northern Luzon, triggering flash floods and landslides that killed 69 people and injured hundreds. Damages exceeded ₱6 billion, with over 600,000 affected, primarily in the Cagayan Valley region.
6. Super Typhoon Igma (Zeb) – 1998
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Landfall Location: Aparri, Cagayan
- Impacts: Zeb’s rapid intensification led to widespread flooding and wind damage across northern Luzon, affecting 3 million people. It resulted in 171 deaths (mostly in the Philippines and Taiwan) and ₱5.5 billion in losses, with rice fields and infrastructure hit hardest.
7. Super Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) – 2018
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 285 km/h (177 mph)
- Landfall Location: Baggao, Cagayan
- Impacts: The strongest typhoon to hit Luzon since 2010, Ompong unleashed gusts over 300 km/h, destroying 100,000 homes and causing landslides that buried villages. It killed 134 people, displaced 1.2 million, and tallied ₱33.9 billion in damages, with agriculture suffering immensely.
8. Super Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) – 2012
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 280 km/h (174 mph)
- Landfall Location: Lingig, Surigao del Sur (and later Davao Oriental)
- Impacts: The most powerful typhoon to strike Mindanao on record, Pablo triggered flash floods and mudslides that wiped out Compostela Valley. It was the deadliest in the region with 1,901 fatalities, affecting 6 million and causing ₱43.2 billion in damages.
9. Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) – 2021
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 280 km/h (174 mph)
- Landfall Location: Siargao Island
- Impacts: Rapidly intensifying off the Pacific, Odette pummeled Visayas and Mindanao with winds that felled 33 million trees and destroyed 600,000 homes. It claimed 409 lives, left 1.6 million homeless, and racked up ₱51.8 billion in losses during the holidays.
10. Super Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) – 2014
- Wind Speed at Landfall: 260 km/h (162 mph)
- Landfall Location: Dolores, Quezon
- Impacts: Glenda’s path through Manila brought rare Signal No. 4 warnings to the capital, causing power outages for millions and structural collapses. It resulted in 225 deaths, 4.1 million affected, and ₱38.6 billion in damages, with urban flooding exacerbating the chaos.
These typhoons illustrate the escalating threat posed by climate change, with warmer oceans fueling more intense storms. While wind speed measures raw power, the true toll lies in human suffering and economic fallout. The Philippine government and communities continue to invest in early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and reforestation to mitigate future risks. As we reflect on these events, the call for global action on emissions remains louder than ever. Stay prepared—knowledge is your best defense against the next bagyo.
