Tropical cyclogenesis had become much favorable during late June with formations of Jelawat and Ewiniar. It was also during the same time when NOAA had stated that the weak 2006–07 El Niño had started. From mid July to early August, three "back-to-back" storms made landfall over in China, which were Bilis, Kaemi and Prapiroon. With all three combined, more than 900 people have been dead and damages were reported more than US$5 billion. Shortly thereafter, environments throughout most of the basin became favorable with less shear, more convection and warmer water, as three simultaneous storms, Maria, Saomai and Bopha, formed and affected three different landmasses such as Japan, China and Taiwan, respectively. Later in the same month, Hurricane Ioke had entered the basin from the Central Pacific as the strongest Central Pacific storm in recorded history, as a Category 5 powerful storm.