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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1989 SEASON

Typhoon Gay (1989)

Recorded track and intensity · 31 Oct 1989–10 Nov 1989

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
GAY: complete recorded track, 31 Oct 1989–10 Nov 1989Recorded track from 31 Oct 1989 to 10 Nov 1989. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.INDIA1 Nov, 00:00 UTC2 Nov, 00:00 UTC3 Nov, 00:00 UTC4 Nov, 00:00 UTC5 Nov, 00:00 UTC6 Nov, 00:00 UTC7 Nov, 00:00 UTC8 Nov, 00:00 UTC9 Nov, 00:00 UTC10 Nov, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 531 OCT10 NOV

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

Wind speed & pressure

8 Nov, 18:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure Not recorded
0960809901601020kthPa31 Oct3 Nov7 Nov10 Nov

Forward speed & ACE

8 Nov, 18:00 UTC
Forward speed 11 ktCumulative ACE 24.75 10⁴ kt²
0010152030kt10⁴ kt²31 Oct3 Nov7 Nov10 Nov

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 pressure970 hPa

3 Nov 1989 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration9.75 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance3,740 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Gay is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1989 season. Its archived track begins on 31 Oct 1989, 12:00 UTC at 7.2°N, 105.2°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 8 Nov 1989, 15:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 8 Nov 1989, 18:00 UTC at 14.8°N, 80.3°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 970 hPa on 3 Nov 1989, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 234 hours and approximately 3,740 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 18.1°N, 74°E on 10 Nov 1989, 06:00 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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