Published on Sep. 21, 2025, 7:17 PM
Super Typhoon Ragasa achieved a high point this weekend, putting on a intensification clinic in the Pacific Ocean with its brief, but powerful, sustained winds of 270 km/h
Super Typhoon Ragasa has reached rarified, new heights this weekend.
Reaching sustained winds of 270 km/h for a short time, the feat makes Ragasa––currently located northeast of Manila, Philippines–the strongest storm on Earth in 2025 so far.
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That firmly places Ragasa at a Category 5-equivalency using the Saffir-Simpson scale, the highest possible category. It currently has significant wave heights of 11-12 metres (38 feet).
Satellite imagery shows a compact, clear eye with highly symmetrical banding, a strong indication of a very mature, extreme hurricane.
Super Typhoon Ragasa satellite imagery. (RAMMB/NOAA)
Top five of the strongest storms of 2025 (one-minute maximum of sustained winds)
Super Typhoon Ragasa: 270 km/h (Category 5) on Sept. 21
Hurricane Erin: 260 km/h (Category 5) on Aug. 16
Cyclone Errol: 260 km/h (Category 5) on April 16
Cyclone Vince: 250 km/h (Category 4) on Feb. 7
Typhoon Neoguri: 235 km/h (Category 4) on Sept. 21
Why is it so strong?
There are a few reasons why Ragasa has grown to its monstrous strength.