Hurricane Calendar · On this day

Hurricanes on December 20 in history (1842 to 2026)

188 storms on record were active on December 20 between 1861 and 2025. On this date 36 formed, 15 reached their peak recorded wind, 14 came ashore and 18 ended. The strongest storm active on December 20 was Typhoon Paka (1997), with a peak 1-minute sustained wind of 160 kt (184 mph), recorded by NHC.

Dates are calendar dates in UTC. Typhoons and cyclones are the same kind of storm as hurricanes, named by region. Archive of September 29, 2026.

Replay every December 20 storm on its track. Hurricane Calendar shows each storm moving along its recorded track, which storms passed your town, and a daily track quiz. Free on Android, no account and no ads.

Get it on Google Play

Recorded trackCame ashore on December 20Tracks of the 78 storms that formed, peaked, came ashore or ended on December 20, from NOAA best-track records. Simplified outlines.

Storm of the day in the app

Cyclone Tracy (1974–75)

First recorded position: December 20, 1974, 00:00 UTC. Peak: 95 kt · 10-minute (BoM). Australian region, Dec 20 to 26, 1974.

In Hurricane Calendar, replay Tracy along its recorded track, with the wind at each step and the agency that measured it.

Came ashore on December 20

14 storms, most recent first. Recorded landfalls come from the National Hurricane Center's best track; elsewhere a coast crossing is estimated from the track and labelled.

Year	Storm	Ocean	Where and when	Wind at landfall	Record
2016	Unnamed tropical depression · 2016	Australian region	Coast crossing (estimated) near 14.7°S, 128.5°E December 20, 2016, 18:00 UTC	30 kt (35 mph), 10-minute, BoM	Estimated from the track
2003	Cyclone Debbie	Australian region	Coast crossing (estimated) near 11.8°S, 133.6°E December 20, 2003, 12:00 UTC	60 kt (69 mph), 10-minute, BoM	Estimated from the track
1983	Cyclone Esther	Australian region	Coast crossing (estimated) near 9.0°S, 126.8°E December 20, 1983, 23:00 UTC	25 kt (29 mph), 10-minute, BoM	Estimated from the track
1981	Unnamed cyclone · 1981	Australian region	Coast crossing (estimated) near 12.0°S, 137.1°E December 20, 1981, 12:00 UTC	45 kt (52 mph), 10-minute, BoM	Estimated from the track
1974	Tropical storm Kit	Western Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 11.2°N, 125.7°E December 20, 1974, 09:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1965	Tropical storm Gloria	Western Pacific → North Indian	Coast crossing (estimated) near 7.2°N, 100.9°E December 20, 1965, 18:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1959	Unnamed storm · 1959	Australian region → South Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 6.6°S, 156.5°E December 20, 1959, 06:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1956	Unnamed storm · 1956	Australian region → South Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 17.3°S, 140.8°E December 20, 1956, 18:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1952	Typhoon Gloria	Western Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 12.2°N, 125.6°E December 20, 1952, 18:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1952	Unnamed storm · 1952	Southwest Indian	Coast crossing (estimated) near 23.6°S, 43.3°E December 20, 1952, 12:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1943	Unnamed storm · 1943	Western Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 13.7°N, 124.5°E December 20, 1943, 18:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1926	Unnamed storm · 1926	Australian region	Coast crossing (estimated) near 16.9°S, 122.3°E December 20, 1926, 06:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1924	Unnamed storm · 1924	Western Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 12.0°N, 123.5°E December 20, 1924, 10:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1924	Unnamed storm · 1924	Western Pacific	Coast crossing (estimated) near 11.8°N, 124.4°E December 20, 1924, 03:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track
1899	Unnamed storm · 1899	Southwest Indian	Coast crossing (estimated) near 21.5°S, 43.0°E December 20, 1899, 12:00 UTC	Not recorded	Estimated from the track

Formed on December 20

36 storms had their first recorded position on this date.

Season	Storm	Ocean	First position	Peak
1974–75	Cyclone Tracy	Australian region	8.1°S, 135.0°E	95 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2016	Typhoon Nock-Ten	Western Pacific	6.9°N, 145.5°E	105 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1997–98	Cyclone Susan	South Pacific	5.3°S, 171.3°W	125 kt · 10-minute (FMS)
1989	Typhoon Jack	Western Pacific	4.7°N, 155.1°E	95 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2017	Typhoon Tembin	Western Pacific	8.2°N, 134.0°E	70 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2020–21	Cyclone Chalane	Southwest Indian	11.4°S, 64.9°E	60 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1973–74	Cyclone Dalida	Australian region → Southwest Indian	10.0°S, 98.0°E	80 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1980–81	Cyclone Edna	Australian region	10.1°S, 117.4°E	40 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1978–79	Unnamed cyclone · 1978	Southwest Indian	9.8°S, 87.5°E	55 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
2011–12	Unnamed cyclone · 2011	Australian region → South Pacific	13.8°S, 155.4°E	45 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1965–66	Storm Amanda	Australian region	9.4°S, 133.9°E	Not recorded
1961–62	Storm Beryl	Southwest Indian	18.8°S, 52.2°E	Not recorded
2024	Unnamed tropical depression · 2024	North Indian	13.7°N, 83.5°E	25 kt · 3-minute (IMD)
1936–37	Unnamed storm · 1936	Southwest Indian	13.1°S, 47.1°E	Not recorded
1931–32	Unnamed storm · 1931	Southwest Indian	16.0°S, 60.3°E	Not recorded

Show 21 more storms

Season	Storm	Ocean	First position	Peak
1972	Unnamed storm · 1972	North Indian	7.5°N, 83.5°E	Not recorded
1969	Unnamed storm · 1969	North Indian	3.9°N, 91.3°E	Not recorded
1964–65	Unnamed storm · 1964	South Pacific	13.0°S, 176.1°E	Not recorded
1955–56	Unnamed storm · 1955	Southwest Indian	10.5°S, 81.6°E	Not recorded
1940	Unnamed storm · 1940	North Indian	11.0°N, 91.9°E	Not recorded
1938–39	Unnamed storm · 1938	Southwest Indian	7.2°S, 72.0°E	Not recorded
1934–35	Unnamed storm · 1934	Southwest Indian	8.0°S, 71.6°E	Not recorded
1931–32	Unnamed storm · 1931	Australian region	5.7°S, 101.3°E	Not recorded
1930	Unnamed storm · 1930	North Indian	10.0°N, 92.1°E	Not recorded
1930–31	Unnamed storm · 1930	Southwest Indian	19.2°S, 46.2°E	Not recorded
1928–29	Unnamed storm · 1928	Australian region	6.8°S, 96.3°E	Not recorded
1921–22	Unnamed storm · 1921	Southwest Indian	14.8°S, 68.8°E	Not recorded
1920–21	Unnamed storm · 1920	Southwest Indian	13.1°S, 72.5°E	Not recorded
1907–08	Unnamed storm · 1907	Southwest Indian	18.3°S, 52.1°E	Not recorded
1906–07	Unnamed storm · 1906	Southwest Indian	17.5°S, 60.2°E	Not recorded
1905–06	Unnamed storm · 1905	Southwest Indian	18.3°S, 53.5°E	Not recorded
1902–03	Unnamed storm · 1902	Southwest Indian	16.8°S, 60.0°E	Not recorded
1885–86	Unnamed storm · 1885	Southwest Indian	10.0°S, 68.0°E	Not recorded
1879–80	Unnamed storm · 1879	Southwest Indian	15.2°S, 54.4°E	Not recorded
1861–62	Unnamed storm · 1861	Southwest Indian	5.5°S, 86.7°E	Not recorded
1861–62	Unnamed storm · 1861	Southwest Indian	11.0°S, 68.3°E	Not recorded

Reached peak wind on December 20

15 storms recorded their highest wind on this date, as the responsible agency measured it.

Season	Storm	Ocean	Peak wind	Lowest pressure
2006–07	Cyclone Bondo	Southwest Indian	110 kt (127 mph), 10-minute, Météo-France	930 hPa (Météo-France)
2013–14	Cyclone Bruce	Australian region → Southwest Indian	120 kt (138 mph), 10-minute, Météo-France	920 hPa (Météo-France)
1953	Typhoon Doris	Western Pacific	150 kt (173 mph), 1-minute, JTWC	935 hPa (JMA)
1989–90	Cyclone Alibera	Southwest Indian	72 kt (83 mph), 10-minute, Météo-France	954 hPa (Météo-France)
1994	Typhoon Axel	Western Pacific	85 kt (98 mph), 10-minute, JMA	950 hPa (JMA)
1985	Typhoon Hope	Western Pacific	90 kt (104 mph), 10-minute, JMA	950 hPa (JMA)
1984	Hurricane Lili	Atlantic	70 kt (81 mph), 1-minute, NHC	980 hPa (NHC)
1983–84	Cyclone Esther	Australian region	50 kt (58 mph), 10-minute, BoM	990 hPa (BoM)
2020	Tropical storm Krovanh	Western Pacific → North Indian	35 kt (40 mph), 10-minute, JMA	1000 hPa (JMA)
2010	Tropical storm Omeka	Central Pacific → Western Pacific → Central Pacific	45 kt (52 mph), 1-minute, NHC	997 hPa (NHC)
1969	Tropical storm Marie	Western Pacific	50 kt (58 mph), 1-minute, JTWC	995 hPa (JMA)
1981–82	Unnamed cyclone · 1981	Australian region	45 kt (52 mph), 10-minute, BoM	988 hPa (BoM)
2016–17	Unnamed tropical depression · 2016	Australian region	30 kt (35 mph), 10-minute, BoM	994 hPa (BoM)
1987–88	Unnamed cyclone · 1987	South Pacific	35 kt (40 mph), 1-minute, JTWC	Not recorded
2024	Unnamed tropical depression · 2024	North Indian	25 kt (29 mph), 3-minute, IMD	1002 hPa (IMD)

Ended on December 20

18 storms had their last recorded position on this date.

Season	Storm	Ocean	Last position	Dates
1994–95	Cyclone Annette	Australian region	32.4°S, 130.8°E	Dec 10 to 20, 1994
1987	Typhoon Phyllis	Western Pacific	10.0°N, 111.5°E	Dec 9 to 20, 1987
1960	Typhoon Phyllis	Western Pacific	19.0°N, 134.4°E	Dec 11 to 20, 1960
1952	Tropical storm Faye	Western Pacific	12.3°N, 111.1°E	Dec 13 to 20, 1952
2006	Tropical storm Trami	Western Pacific	12.8°N, 123.9°E	Dec 15 to 20, 2006
2004	Tropical storm Talas	Western Pacific	19.8°N, 133.0°E	Dec 9 to 20, 2004
2010–11	Unnamed tropical depression · 2010	Australian region	29.7°S, 109.2°E	Dec 15 to 20, 2010
1980	Unnamed cyclone · 1980	North Indian	10.9°N, 68.8°E	Dec 10 to 20, 1980
1982–83	Tropical depression Clera	Southwest Indian	11.6°S, 58.5°E	Dec 19 to 20, 1982
1993	Unnamed tropical depression · 1993	North Indian	11.0°N, 80.0°E	Dec 19 to 20, 1993

Show 8 more storms

Season	Storm	Ocean	Last position	Dates
1917–18	Unnamed storm · 1917	Australian region	22.3°S, 123.2°E	Dec 17 to 20, 1917
1904–05	Unnamed storm · 1904	Southwest Indian	15.9°S, 39.4°E	Dec 11 to 20, 1904
1972	Unnamed storm · 1972	North Indian	8.3°N, 82.4°E	Dec 20, 1972
1967–68	Unnamed storm · 1967	South Pacific	29.0°S, 148.0°W	Dec 14 to 20, 1967
1952–53	Unnamed storm · 1952	Southwest Indian	24.0°S, 55.1°E	Dec 15 to 20, 1952
1925	Unnamed storm · 1925	Western Pacific	15.0°N, 131.1°E	Dec 14 to 20, 1925
1925	Unnamed storm · 1925	North Indian	12.9°N, 86.9°E	Dec 19 to 20, 1925
1911–12	Unnamed storm · 1911	Southwest Indian	15.6°S, 43.4°E	Dec 18 to 20, 1911

Also active on December 20

110 more storms were active on this date, the most notable first. Storms listed above are not repeated.

Season	Storm	Ocean	Dates	Peak
1997	Typhoon Paka	Central Pacific → Western Pacific	Nov 28 to Dec 23, 1997	100 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2021	Typhoon Rai	Western Pacific	Dec 11 to 21, 2021	105 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2019	Typhoon Phanfone	Western Pacific	Dec 19 to 29, 2019	80 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1971–72	Cyclone Althea	Australian region → South Pacific	Dec 19 to 30, 1971	90 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1993	Tropical storm Nell	Western Pacific	Dec 18, 1993 to Jan 1, 1994	60 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1959	Typhoon Gilda	Western Pacific	Dec 11 to 22, 1959	150 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
2020–21	Cyclone Yasa	South Pacific	Dec 11 to 21, 2020	125 kt · 10-minute (FMS)
2001	Typhoon Faxai	Western Pacific	Dec 13 to 26, 2001	105 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2009–10	Cyclone Laurence	Australian region	Dec 8 to 23, 2009	110 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2022–23	Cyclone Darian	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 12, 2022 to Jan 2, 2023	125 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2012–13	Cyclone Evan	South Pacific	Dec 10 to 27, 2012	100 kt · 10-minute (FMS)
1981	Typhoon Kit	Western Pacific	Dec 9 to 22, 1981	100 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1990	Typhoon Russ	Western Pacific	Dec 13 to 24, 1990	100 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2018–19	Cyclone Cilida	Southwest Indian	Dec 16 to 28, 2018	115 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1963	Typhoon Susan	Western Pacific	Dec 18 to 29, 1963	135 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1979–80	Cyclone Claudette	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 9 to 28, 1979	110 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2013–14	Cyclone Amara	Southwest Indian	Dec 14 to 28, 2013	110 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
2008–09	Cyclone Billy	Australian region	Dec 16, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009	95 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1976–77	Cyclone Ted	Australian region	Dec 15 to 21, 1976	100 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2018–19	Cyclone Kenanga	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 14 to 24, 2018	40 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1977	Typhoon Mary	Western Pacific	Dec 18, 1977 to Jan 8, 1978	85 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1990–91	Cyclone Joy	South Pacific → Australian region	Dec 15 to 27, 1990	90 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1986	Typhoon Marge	Western Pacific	Dec 9 to 25, 1986	85 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1980–81	Cyclone Carol	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 13 to 24, 1980	110 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2025–26	Cyclone Grant	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 18, 2025 to Jan 6, 2026	119 kt · 1-minute (Real-time)

Show 85 more storms

Season	Storm	Ocean	Dates	Peak
1981–82	Cyclone Gyan	South Pacific	Dec 18 to 29, 1981	100 kt · 10-minute (MetService NZ)
1996–97	Cyclone Fergus	South Pacific → Australian region → South Pacific	Dec 19, 1996 to Jan 1, 1997	80 kt · 10-minute (FMS)
1986	Typhoon Norris	Western Pacific	Dec 19, 1986 to Jan 3, 1987	85 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1978–79	Cyclone Angele	Southwest Indian	Dec 13, 1978 to Jan 5, 1979	82 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1984–85	Cyclone Frank	Australian region	Dec 19 to 28, 1984	85 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2018–19	Cyclone Owen	Australian region	Nov 30 to Dec 22, 2018	85 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1983–84	Cyclone Bakoly	Southwest Indian	Dec 19 to 31, 1983	92 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1991–92	Cyclone Alexandra	Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 29, 1991	56 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1981–82	Cyclone Benedicte	Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 25, 1981	72 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1995–96	Cyclone Gertie	Australian region → South Pacific	Dec 14 to 24, 1995	75 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1989–90	Cyclone Felicity	Australian region → South Pacific	Dec 12 to 22, 1989	75 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1993–94	Cyclone Cecilia	Southwest Indian	Dec 11 to 21, 1993	55 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
2003–04	Cyclone Cela	Southwest Indian	Dec 4 to 22, 2003	65 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1996	Tropical storm Fern	Western Pacific	Dec 17 to 30, 1996	60 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1986–87	Cyclone Patsy	South Pacific	Dec 12 to 22, 1986	60 kt · 10-minute (MetService NZ)
2019–20	Cyclone Calvinia	Southwest Indian	Dec 17, 2019 to Jan 3, 2020	65 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1988–89	Cyclone Eseta	South Pacific	Dec 17 to 28, 1988	55 kt · 10-minute (MetService NZ)
1979	Tropical storm Ben	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 23, 1979	45 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1973–74	Cyclone Una	Australian region → South Pacific	Dec 14 to 22, 1973	55 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2016–17	Cyclone Yvette	Australian region	Dec 18 to 25, 2016	45 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1980	Tropical storm Ed	Western Pacific	Dec 14 to 24, 1980	45 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2017	Tropical storm Kai-Tak	Western Pacific	Dec 12 to 23, 2017	40 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1967	Tropical storm Ivy	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 21, 1967	60 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1996–97	Cyclone Ophelia	Australian region	Dec 13 to 27, 1996	55 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
1994	Tropical storm Bobbie	Western Pacific	Dec 14 to 29, 1994	50 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1985	Tropical storm Irving	Western Pacific	Dec 13 to 22, 1985	50 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
2008–09	Cyclone Cinda	Southwest Indian	Dec 13 to 24, 2008	50 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
2009–10	Cyclone David	Southwest Indian	Dec 12 to 31, 2009	45 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1976–77	Cyclone Harry	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 15 to 21, 1976	55 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2004	Tropical storm Noru	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 23, 2004	40 kt · 10-minute (JMA)
1972	Tropical storm Violet	Western Pacific	Dec 11 to 21, 1972	55 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1977–78	Cyclone Celimene	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 13 to 23, 1977	50 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2007–08	Cyclone Dama	Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 24, 2007	35 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1992–93	Cyclone Ken	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 24, 1992	40 kt · 10-minute (BoM)
2005	Unnamed tropical storm · 2005	Western Pacific	Dec 15 to 21, 2005	45 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1992	Unnamed cyclone · 1992	North Indian	Dec 18 to 24, 1992	50 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
2007–08	Cyclone Celina	Southwest Indian	Dec 11 to 23, 2007	40 kt · 10-minute (Météo-France)
1963	Tropical storm Rita	Western Pacific	Dec 15 to 22, 1963	40 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1966–67	Cyclone Clara	Southwest Indian	Dec 19, 1966 to Jan 2, 1967	40 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1979–80	Cyclone Berenice	Southwest Indian	Dec 15 to 21, 1979	35 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1962–63	Cyclone Cecile	Southwest Indian	Dec 16 to 29, 1962	35 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1987	Unnamed tropical depression · 1987	North Indian	Dec 17 to 23, 1987	30 kt · 3-minute (IMD)
2005	Unnamed tropical depression · 2005	North Indian	Dec 14 to 24, 2005	30 kt · 3-minute (IMD)
1971–72	Storm Agnes	Southwest Indian	Dec 9 to 24, 1971	Not recorded
1966–67	Storm Colette	Southwest Indian	Dec 11 to 22, 1966	Not recorded
1961–62	Storm Ada	Southwest Indian	Dec 19 to 24, 1961	Not recorded
2005–06	Unnamed cyclone · 2005	Southwest Indian → Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 29, 2005	35 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1968–69	Storm Amber	Australian region → Southwest Indian → Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 15 to 24, 1968	Not recorded
1960–61	Unnamed storm · 1960	Australian region	Dec 14 to 24, 1960	Not recorded
1970–71	Storm Janet	Australian region → Southwest Indian	Dec 19 to 25, 1970	Not recorded
1998	Unnamed tropical depression · 1998	Western Pacific	Dec 18 to 22, 1998	30 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1996	Unnamed tropical depression · 1996	Western Pacific	Dec 12 to 21, 1996	30 kt · 1-minute (JTWC)
1973–74	Storm Christiane	Southwest Indian	Dec 13 to 22, 1973	Not recorded
1972–73	Storm Beatrice	Southwest Indian	Dec 7 to 25, 1972	Not recorded
1970–71	Storm Dominique	Southwest Indian	Dec 11 to 28, 1970	Not recorded
1968–69	Storm Beatie	Australian region	Dec 18 to 24, 1968	Not recorded
1967–68	Storm Belinda	Southwest Indian	Dec 8 to 23, 1967	Not recorded
1967–68	Storm Carmen	Southwest Indian	Dec 19 to 28, 1967	Not recorded
1964–65	Storm Connie	Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 21, 1964	Not recorded
1920–21	Unnamed storm · 1920	Australian region	Dec 16 to 24, 1920	Not recorded
1964	Unnamed storm · 1964	North Indian	Dec 17 to 24, 1964	Not recorded
1958–59	Unnamed storm · 1958	Southwest Indian	Dec 17 to 21, 1958	Not recorded
1951–52	Unnamed storm · 1951	South Pacific	Dec 19, 1951 to Jan 3, 1952	Not recorded
1950–51	Unnamed storm · 1950	Southwest Indian	Dec 18 to 28, 1950	Not recorded
1948–49	Unnamed storm · 1948	Southwest Indian	Dec 14 to 27, 1948	Not recorded
1941	Unnamed storm · 1941	Western Pacific	Dec 12 to 21, 1941	Not recorded
1940	Unnamed storm · 1940	Western Pacific	Dec 8 to 24, 1940	Not recorded
1939	Unnamed storm · 1939	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 24, 1939	Not recorded
1935	Unnamed storm · 1935	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 24, 1935	Not recorded
1920–21	Unnamed storm · 1920	Australian region	Dec 17 to 25, 1920	Not recorded
1911–12	Unnamed storm · 1911	Southwest Indian	Dec 16 to 21, 1911	Not recorded
1907–08	Unnamed storm · 1907	Southwest Indian	Dec 11 to 21, 1907	Not recorded
1899–00	Unnamed storm · 1899	Southwest Indian	Dec 10 to 23, 1899	Not recorded
1899–00	Unnamed storm · 1899	Southwest Indian	Dec 11 to 26, 1899	Not recorded
1886	Unnamed storm · 1886	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 23, 1886	Not recorded
1974–75	Unnamed storm · 1974	South Pacific	Dec 18 to 24, 1974	Not recorded
1971	Unnamed storm · 1971	North Indian	Dec 14 to 21, 1971	Not recorded
1963–64	Unnamed storm · 1963	South Pacific	Dec 17 to 22, 1963	Not recorded
1954–55	Unnamed storm · 1954	Australian region → South Pacific	Dec 19 to 22, 1954	Not recorded
1949–50	Unnamed storm · 1949	South Pacific	Dec 15 to 21, 1949	Not recorded
1947	Unnamed storm · 1947	North Indian	Dec 19 to 22, 1947	Not recorded
1934–35	Unnamed storm · 1934	Southwest Indian	Dec 18 to 25, 1934	Not recorded
1923	Unnamed storm · 1923	North Indian	Dec 17 to 22, 1923	Not recorded
1914	Unnamed storm · 1914	North Indian	Dec 19 to 21, 1914	Not recorded
1912	Unnamed storm · 1912	Western Pacific	Dec 16 to 21, 1912	Not recorded

Questions about December 20

What is the strongest storm on record on December 20?

Of the storms active on December 20, Typhoon Paka (1997) had the highest peak wind recorded by a U.S. agency: 160 kt (184 mph), 1-minute sustained (NHC). That is the storm's peak over its whole life, which may fall on another day. Agencies that average wind over 10 minutes report lower numbers for the same storm.

Has a storm ever made landfall on December 20?

Yes. 14 storms on record came ashore on December 20. The most recent was Unnamed tropical depression · 2016 (2016): coast crossing (estimated) near 14.7°S, 128.5°E. Some coast crossings are estimated from the track, and each one is labelled.

How many storms were active on December 20?

188 storms on record were active on December 20, in 102 different years from 1861 to 2025. The count uses calendar dates in UTC and covers every ocean basin in NOAA's IBTrACS archive and the National Hurricane Center's HURDAT2.

Replay every December 20 storm on its track. See the whole track, the wind at each step and the agency that measured it, on your phone.

Get it on Google Play

Sources. Storm tracks and events from NOAA's best-track archives, exactly as the Hurricane Calendar app shows them. Dates are calendar dates in UTC. Each wind speed keeps the agency that recorded it and its averaging period; nothing is converted between agencies. A missing value is shown as not recorded, never as zero. Storms that may still have been active when the archive was updated are left out.

International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS) v04r01, all basins (CSV), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
HURDAT2 Atlantic hurricane database, 1851-2025 (released 2026-09-12), NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
HURDAT2 Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database, 1949-2025 (released 2026-09-14), NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC). Retrieved 2026-09-26.