After rapid intensification, Surigae becomes 1st super typhoon of 2021 By (0) Super Typhoon Surigae churned over the Philippine SeaI on Saturday. Image courtesy of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center April 17 (UPI) -- The first typhoon of 2021 has formed in the western Pacific Basin as "Surigae" underwent rapid intensification over the Philippine Sea, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said Saturday. By late Saturday afternoon, local time, Surigae had intensified to 10-minute average sustained wind speeds of 115 mph and was located about 325 nautical miles east of Legazpi, Philippines. It was moving northwest at about 12 mph. Advertisement With this level of strengthening, the Surigae became the first tropical system of the year to reach super typhoon status, the JTWC said.