4 storms appearing at the same time in the Pacific Ocean seen from space

On November 14, NASA released satellite images capturing an unusual event when four storms, Toraji, Yinxing, Usagi, and Manyi, appeared at the same time in November.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, for the first time since records began in 1951, four tropical cyclones occurred simultaneously in the Pacific Ocean in November. These storms were active in the Western Pacific and significantly affected the Philippines, causing severe weather conditions such as strong winds and heavy rains. This is considered an unusual and historic event.

Four storms appeared in the Pacific Ocean on November 11. (Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Wanmei Liang).

Although typhoons form in the region every month, even during the cold season, it is unprecedented to have four storms in November , according to Gene Huang, a forecaster at Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. The Philippines' peak typhoon season is usually July to October, and the country sees an average of 20 tropical storms a year. Even in the summer, four storms at once is unusual, and the overall weather conditions this year are different from normal, Huang said.

The high-pressure areas that fuel tropical storms are also farther north and longer than usual for this time of year, scientists say. While they have not concluded that global warming is directly responsible for the November surge in hurricane activity, it may be a factor. Sea surface temperatures have been steadily rising, reaching record highs last year.

The satellite image recently released by NASA was taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite at 8:55 a.m. on November 11, Philippine Standard Time. The image shows typhoons Yinxing, Toraji, Usagi, and Manyi moving toward the Philippines or already affecting the country and surrounding areas.

About 40 minutes before this photo was taken, Typhoon Toraji made landfall in the northeast of the main island of Luzon, Philippines. The storm caused flooding and power outages in Aurora province. Landslides caused by rains blocked roads in the Cordillera mountain range. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm reached its peak intensity the night before, with sustained winds of 130 km/h.

In the west, Yinxing made landfall in the Philippines on November 7, four days before the DSCOVR satellite image. As the storm approached northern Luzon, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that it had sustained winds of up to 240 km/h, making it a super typhoon. The storm weakened before making landfall in Vietnam and dissipated on November 12.

Usagi was a tropical storm at the time of the photo, but quickly strengthened into a super typhoon. By November 13, Usagi had sustained winds of around 150 mph. The storm then made landfall in the northeastern Philippines, causing flooding that submerged many rural villages, knocked out power, and displaced thousands.

To the east, at the time of satellite capture, Manyi was a tropical storm with winds of 85 km/h. By this morning, Manyi had strengthened into a super typhoon, with peak winds of over 200 km/h, and is expected to enter the East Sea on November 17-18, becoming the ninth storm in the region in 2024.

The Philippines has seen the lion's share of Pacific storm activity this year. Earlier storms such as Tra Mi and Kong-rey caused deadly flooding and landslides on Luzon island in late October. The Western Pacific typhoon season runs year-round, but most storms form between May and October. November typically sees three named storms, one of which becomes a super typhoon, according to the 1991-2000 average.