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WESTERN PACIFIC · 2012 SEASON

Typhoon Bopha (2012)

Recorded track and intensity · 25 Nov 2012–9 Dec 2012

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
BOPHA: complete recorded track, 25 Nov 2012–9 Dec 2012Recorded track from 25 Nov 2012 to 9 Dec 2012. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.TAIWAN26 Nov, 00:00 UTC27 Nov, 00:00 UTC28 Nov, 00:00 UTC29 Nov, 00:00 UTC30 Nov, 00:00 UTC1 Dec, 00:00 UTC2 Dec, 00:00 UTC3 Dec, 00:00 UTC4 Dec, 00:00 UTC5 Dec, 00:00 UTC6 Dec, 00:00 UTC7 Dec, 00:00 UTC8 Dec, 00:00 UTC9 Dec, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 525 NOV9 DEC

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DepressionTropical stormCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5Post-tropical
All times UTC

Wind speed & pressure

3 Dec, 18:00 UTC
Wind speed 150 ktPressure 911 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa25 Nov30 Nov4 Dec9 Dec

Forward speed & ACE

3 Dec, 18:00 UTC
Forward speed 14 ktCumulative ACE 24.60 10⁴ kt²
0010202040kt10⁴ kt²25 Nov30 Nov4 Dec9 Dec

Hover or tap either graph to follow the track. The slider controls both graphs. Each line uses its matching colored axis.

Forward speed measures the center’s motion. ACE accumulates squared one-minute winds at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC during tropical or subtropical stages at 34 kt or above. Missing observations make ACE partial. Missing measurements remain gaps.

Maximum sustained wind150 kt

173 mph / 278 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure911 hPa

3 Dec 2012 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration13.75 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance5,690 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Bopha is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 2012 season. Its archived track begins on 25 Nov 2012, 12:00 UTC at 3.4°N, 157.4°E. US-agency wind is not available for this first observation. These dates describe the available observations, which may include stages before and after the tropical cyclone phase.

The first Category 5 observation appears on 3 Dec 2012, 12:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 150 knots (173 mph / 278 km/h), first recorded on 3 Dec 2012, 18:00 UTC at 7.6°N, 127.2°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 911 hPa on 3 Dec 2012, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 330 hours and approximately 5,690 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 18°N, 119.5°E on 9 Dec 2012, 06:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 9 Dec 2012, 03:00 UTC.

This summary is calculated from the NOAA IBTrACS archive. Category 5 describes the storm’s peak recorded wind intensity, not its intensity at landfall or the severity of impacts at any location. Landfall times, damage and casualties have not been independently reviewed for this page.

METHODOLOGY

Data sources and limitations

The map and summary are generated from NOAA’s IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive’s pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth’s 1:10m land data.

Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm’s center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.

Archive retrieved

NOAA IBTrACS archive · Field documentation

Sources & methodology

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