Throughout 2013, 139 tropical cyclones formed in seven different areas called basins. Of these, 67 have been named by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained winds of 35 knots. The strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone of the year was Typhoon Haiyan, which was estimated to have a minimum barometric pressure of 895 hPa (26.43 inHg) and caused at least 6,300 deaths in the Philippines. The costliest tropical cyclone of the year was Hurricane Manuel, which was responsible for at least $4.2 billion worth of damages in Mexico. 21 major tropical cyclones formed in 2013, including five Category 5 tropical cyclones. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2013, as calculated by Colorado State University was 618.5 units.

Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. Upon making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the deadliest Philippine typhoons on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. In terms of JTWC-estimated 1-minute sustained winds, Haiyan is tied with Meranti in 2016 for being the second strongest landfalling tropical cyclone on record, only behind Goni of 2020. As of January 2014, bodies were still being found. Haiyan was also the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2013.