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WESTERN PACIFIC · 2015 SEASON

Typhoon Dolphin (2015)

Recorded track and intensity · 6 May 2015–24 May 2015

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
DOLPHIN: complete recorded track, 6 May 2015–24 May 2015Recorded track from 6 May 2015 to 24 May 2015. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIAINDIATAIWANPacific Ocean7 May, 00:00 UTC8 May, 00:00 UTC9 May, 00:00 UTC10 May, 00:00 UTC11 May, 00:00 UTC12 May, 00:00 UTC13 May, 00:00 UTC14 May, 00:00 UTC15 May, 00:00 UTC16 May, 00:00 UTC17 May, 00:00 UTC18 May, 00:00 UTC19 May, 00:00 UTC20 May, 00:00 UTC21 May, 00:00 UTC22 May, 00:00 UTC23 May, 00:00 UTC24 May, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 56 MAY24 MAY

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

Wind speed & pressure

16 May, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 918 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa6 May12 May18 May24 May

Forward speed & ACE

16 May, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 11 ktCumulative ACE 17.61 10⁴ kt²
003017.56035kt10⁴ kt²6 May12 May18 May24 May

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 wind140 kt

161 mph / 259 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure918 hPa

16 May 2015 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration17.63 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance9,660 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Dolphin is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 2015 season. Its archived track begins on 6 May 2015, 12:00 UTC at 4.2°N, 158.3°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 16 May 2015, 09:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 16 May 2015, 12:00 UTC at 16.5°N, 140.6°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 918 hPa on 16 May 2015, 12:00 UTC.

The full record spans 423 hours and approximately 9,660 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 56.1°N, 179.4°E on 24 May 2015, 03:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 20 May 2015, 21:00 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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