Rapid Intensification and Low-Latitude Weakening of Tropical Cyclones of the Western North Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Twenty-five years of tropical storm and typhoon data for the western North Pacific (1945?69) were evaluated to determine the geographic and seasonal variation of those tropical cyclones which rapidly intensified over the open ocean (≥50 kt increase in 24 hr), and those tropical cyclones that weakened at low latitudes over the open ocean (≥20 kt decrease In 24 hr, south of 25N). The results show distinct geographic and seasonal preferences for both rapid intensification and low-latitude weakening of tropical cyclones.