Super Typhoon Haiyan Could Be Strongest Storm to Ever Make Landfall

Enhanced satellite image of Super Typhoon Haiyan showing the telltale "donut" appearance of an intense tropical cyclone. Credit: U-Wisconsin-CIMSS via Twitter/@Ryan_Maue. — Enhanced satellite image of Super Typhoon Haiyan . Credit: U-Wisconsin-CIMSS

Super Typhoon Haiyan may have the highest wind speed of any storm to ever make landfall. Winds were blowing 195mph with gusts up to 220mph when the storm first hit the Philippines today. Wind speeds in this range are extremely rare.

Only 3 storm have ever been recorded with wind speeds near this magnitue: Hurricane Camille in 1969, Super Typhoon Tip in 1979, and Hurricane Allen in 1980.

A resident walks past high waves pounding the sea wall amidst strong winds as Typhoon Haiyan hit the city of Legaspi, Albay province, south of Manila on November 8, 2013. photo: huffington post — A resident walks past high waves pounding the sea wall amidst strong winds as Typhoon Haiyan hit the city of Legaspi, Albay province, south of Manila on November 8, 2013. photo: getty images

The Philippines are being hit by Haiyan right now and large scale damage is forecasted to occur and has already occurred. A foot of rain is forecasted and storm surge is predicted to bring 23-foot waves to Philippine shores. Those big waves combined with a forecasted 16.4-foot storm surge high tide today is a deadly combination.