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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1989 SEASON

Typhoon Gordon (1989)

Recorded track and intensity · 9 Jul 1989–19 Jul 1989

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
GORDON: complete recorded track, 9 Jul 1989–19 Jul 1989Recorded track from 9 Jul 1989 to 19 Jul 1989. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.JAPANPHILIPPINESTAIWAN9 Jul, 00:00 UTC10 Jul, 00:00 UTC11 Jul, 00:00 UTC12 Jul, 00:00 UTC13 Jul, 00:00 UTC14 Jul, 00:00 UTC15 Jul, 00:00 UTC16 Jul, 00:00 UTC17 Jul, 00:00 UTC18 Jul, 00:00 UTC19 Jul, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 59 JUL19 JUL

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

Wind speed & pressure

15 Jul, 06:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 915 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa9 Jul12 Jul15 Jul19 Jul

Forward speed & ACE

15 Jul, 06:00 UTC
Forward speed 11 ktCumulative ACE 9.53 10⁴ kt²
001012.52025kt10⁴ kt²9 Jul12 Jul15 Jul19 Jul

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 pressure915 hPa

15 Jul 1989 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration10.25 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance5,860 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Gordon is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1989 season. Its archived track begins on 9 Jul 1989, 00:00 UTC at 20°N, 160.2°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 15 knots. These dates describe the available observations, which may include stages before and after the tropical cyclone phase.

The first Category 5 observation appears on 15 Jul 1989, 06:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 15 Jul 1989, 06:00 UTC at 16.9°N, 125.2°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 915 hPa on 15 Jul 1989, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 246 hours and approximately 5,860 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 23°N, 106.3°E on 19 Jul 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

Browse all Category 5 storm pages