1997 Western Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Ginger 1997
Typhoon Ginger developed near the International Date Line in September 1997 and turned northeast over the Pacific. Its remnants later brought strong winds and rain to the western United States.
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167 mph
Sep 27, 1997 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
A compact eye at peak strength
Ginger developed from a disturbance near the Date Line on September 21. It moved north as its circulation organized, became a tropical storm and reached typhoon strength on September 25. A period of rapid intensification followed.
Maximum one-minute winds reached 145 kt on September 27, equivalent to Category 5, and the archive records a minimum central pressure of 925 hPa. Satellite imagery showed a small, distinct eye surrounded by deep thunderstorms and large feeder bands. Ginger then turned northeast and weakened while accelerating out of the tropics.
Remnants reach the Pacific Northwest
After Ginger became extratropical at the end of September, its remnants crossed toward North America. On October 2, the system brought rain and strong winds to the western United States. Gusts reached 69 mph along the Oregon coast, while Felida, Washington, recorded about 1.3 inches of rain. High winds caused brief power failures affecting about 450 people.
Further reading
QUICK ANSWERS
Ginger in brief
What was Typhoon Ginger's highest wind speed?
167 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Sep 27, 1997, 12:00 AM UTC.
What category was Typhoon Ginger?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on Sep 27, 1997, 12:00 AM UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Typhoon Ginger's lowest pressure?
925 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Sep 27, 1997, 12:00 PM UTC.
When did Typhoon Ginger occur?
The archived track runs from Sep 21, 1997, 12:00 PM UTC to Oct 1, 1997, 12:00 AM UTC, with the tropical stage from Sep 23, 1997, 12:00 AM UTC to Sep 30, 1997, 09:00 AM UTC.
Where did Typhoon Ginger form?
In the Western Pacific basin, in the 1997 season. Its first archived position is 10.3°N, 174.7°E on Sep 21, 1997, 12:00 PM UTC.
Did Typhoon Ginger make landfall?
No archived position places Typhoon Ginger's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
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 and Field documentation
Sources & methodology