Recurving tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific are stronger than non‐recurving ones: Causes and implications

Abstract Tropical cyclones (TCs) in the western North Pacific (WNP) typically follow two distinct tracks: one moving in as west‐northwest direction in a straight path, while the other is recurving north‐northeast. Approximately 63.3% of all TCs that affect Korea and Japan are recurving TCs, and they pose significant disaster risks to these countries. Despite existing research on recurving TCs, their statistical characteristics and interannual/seasonal variability in the WNP are still not well understood. Here, we find that the lifetime maximum intensity of recurving TCs is on average 38.3% higher than that of non‐recurving TCs, primarily due to their longer duration and lower landfall frequency allowing them more time to intensify over the ocean. Recurving TCs also pass through oceanic thermal environments that are more favorable for TC development, compared to non‐recurving TCs, which facilitates intensification. In terms of interannual and seasonal variability, recurving TCs occur more frequently during El Niño periods than during La Niña periods, and more often in autumn than in summer. This is associated with the eastward shift in TC genesis locations and the weakening and eastward retreat of the WNP subtropical high during El Niño and autumn. These characteristics of recurving TCs partially explain why TC intensities in the WNP tend to be stronger on average during El Niño events and in autumn compared to their counterparts.