Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Classification Utilizing Machine Learning

This study evaluates the ability of three machine learning methods—decision tree classifier (DTC), random forest classifier (RFC), and XGBoost classifier (XGBC)—to classify and predict tropical cyclone (TC) rapid intensification (RI) and non-RI over the Southwest Pacific Ocean basin (SWPO) from 1982 to 2023. Among the 324 TCs within the domain, 81 were identified as RI TCs, exhibiting a 24-h intensity increase of at least 15 ms−1 at least once in their lifetime. Environmental variables used for the input matrix are extracted from the nearest grid cell corresponding to each RI and non-RI event’s geographic location and time of occurrence. Additionally, the geographic location of each event and its initial intensity positions (24-h prior) are also included in the model. The XGBC, with 10-fold cross-validation, became the optimum classifier by achieving the highest classification accuracy, as well as the lowest probability of false detection and the highest AUC score on the unseen data. The model identified the longitude of RI and non-RI events, initial intensity latitude, extent of initial intensity, and relative humidity at 850 hPa as the most important variables in the classification decision. This study will advance storm preparedness strategies for the SWPO nations through correctly predicting RI-TCs and prioritizing early prediction of contributing environmental variables.