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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1981 SEASON

Typhoon Elsie (1981)

Recorded track and intensity · 22 Sept 1981–6 Oct 1981

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
ELSIE: complete recorded track, 22 Sept 1981–6 Oct 1981Recorded track from 22 Sept 1981 to 6 Oct 1981. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIAINDIATAIWANPacific Ocean23 Sep, 00:00 UTC24 Sep, 00:00 UTC25 Sep, 00:00 UTC26 Sep, 00:00 UTC27 Sep, 00:00 UTC28 Sep, 00:00 UTC29 Sep, 00:00 UTC30 Sep, 00:00 UTC1 Oct, 00:00 UTC2 Oct, 00:00 UTC3 Oct, 00:00 UTC4 Oct, 00:00 UTC5 Oct, 00:00 UTC6 Oct, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 522 SEP6 OCT

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

Wind speed & pressure

28 Sep, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 150 ktPressure 895 hPa
0880809501601020kthPa22 Sep27 Sep2 Oct6 Oct

Forward speed & ACE

28 Sep, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 6 ktCumulative ACE 13.64 10⁴ kt²
0025205040kt10⁴ kt²22 Sep27 Sep2 Oct6 Oct

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 measurements remain gaps.

Maximum sustained wind150 kt

173 mph / 278 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure895 hPa

27 Sept 1981 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration14 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance7,880 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Elsie is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1981 season. Its archived track begins on 22 Sept 1981, 18:00 UTC at 9°N, 151°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 27 Sept 1981, 15:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 150 knots (173 mph / 278 km/h), first recorded on 28 Sept 1981, 00:00 UTC at 16.7°N, 135.3°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 895 hPa on 27 Sept 1981, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 336 hours and approximately 7,880 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 56°N, 153°E on 6 Oct 1981, 18:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 2 Oct 1981, 09:00 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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