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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1952 SEASON

Typhoon Hester (1952–1953)

Recorded track and intensity · 27 Dec 1952–6 Jan 1953

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
HESTER: complete recorded track, 27 Dec 1952–6 Jan 1953Recorded track from 27 Dec 1952 to 6 Jan 1953. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.28 Dec, 00:00 UTC29 Dec, 00:00 UTC30 Dec, 00:00 UTC31 Dec, 00:00 UTC1 Jan, 00:00 UTC2 Jan, 00:00 UTC3 Jan, 00:00 UTC4 Jan, 00:00 UTC5 Jan, 00:00 UTC6 Jan, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 527 DEC6 JAN

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

Wind speed & pressure

31 Dec, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 160 ktPressure 960 hPa
0940809801601020kthPa27 Dec30 Dec3 Jan6 Jan

Forward speed & ACE

31 Dec, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 20 ktCumulative ACE 17.80 10⁴ kt²
0020204040kt10⁴ kt²27 Dec30 Dec3 Jan6 Jan

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 wind160 kt

184 mph / 296 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure950 hPa

1 Jan 1953 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration9.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance8,870 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Hester is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1952 season. Its archived track begins on 27 Dec 1952, 18:00 UTC at 6.4°N, 170.6°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 55 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 31 Dec 1952, 00:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 160 knots (184 mph / 296 km/h), first recorded on 31 Dec 1952, 12:00 UTC at 12.1°N, 141.1°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 950 hPa on 1 Jan 1953, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 228 hours and approximately 8,870 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 26°N, 176°E on 6 Jan 1953, 06:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 4 Jan 1953, 15:00 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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