2001 Western Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Faxai 2001
Typhoon Faxai lingered near Micronesian islands before strengthening into a Category 5 storm in December 2001. Rain and crop damage preceded its strongest phase, while dangerous surf reached Guam.
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178 mph
Dec 23, 2001 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
Rain during a slow start
Faxai developed from a circulation in the monsoon trough and remained near Kosrae for several days. Heavy rain disrupted electricity, and the storm contributed to an indirect death there. It then moved west-northwest past Pingelap, damaging crops, and brought strong winds and rain to Pohnpei, where two landslides occurred on December 20.
Rapid strengthening before Christmas
Faxai became a typhoon on December 21 and intensified as its core thunderstorms organized. The archive records peak one-minute winds of 155 kt on December 23. It then weakened during an eyewall replacement and turned north-northeast toward Agrihan in the Northern Marianas.
Surf and preparations in the Marianas
Guam's government declared a state of emergency as Faxai approached. A man drowned in rip currents associated with its swells. Agrihan experienced powerful winds but reported little damage. Faxai became extratropical on Christmas Day, and its remnants dissipated on December 26. Total damage across the affected areas reached about US$1 million in 2001 currency.
IMPACT
Reported impact
| Deaths | 2 |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata.
Further reading
QUICK ANSWERS
Faxai in brief
What was Typhoon Faxai's highest wind speed?
178 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Dec 23, 2001, 12:00 AM UTC.
What category was Typhoon Faxai?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on Dec 22, 2001, 03:00 AM UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Typhoon Faxai's lowest pressure?
879 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Dec 23, 2001, 12:00 AM UTC.
When did Typhoon Faxai occur?
The archived track runs from Dec 13, 2001, 06:00 AM UTC to Dec 26, 2001, 12:00 PM UTC, with the tropical stage from Dec 13, 2001, 06:00 AM UTC to Dec 25, 2001, 09:00 PM UTC.
Where did Typhoon Faxai form?
In the Western Pacific basin, in the 2001 season. Its first archived position is 4.2°N, 162°E on Dec 13, 2001, 06:00 AM UTC.
Did Typhoon Faxai make landfall?
No archived position places Typhoon Faxai's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
How many people died in Typhoon Faxai?
2 deaths are recorded by Wikidata.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA's IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive's pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth's 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm's center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology