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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1951 SEASON

Typhoon Iris (1951)

Recorded track and intensity · 28 Apr 1951–14 May 1951

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
IRIS: complete recorded track, 28 Apr 1951–14 May 1951Recorded track from 28 Apr 1951 to 14 May 1951. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIAJAPAN29 Apr, 00:00 UTC30 Apr, 00:00 UTC1 May, 00:00 UTC2 May, 00:00 UTC3 May, 00:00 UTC4 May, 00:00 UTC5 May, 00:00 UTC6 May, 00:00 UTC7 May, 00:00 UTC8 May, 00:00 UTC9 May, 00:00 UTC10 May, 00:00 UTC11 May, 00:00 UTC12 May, 00:00 UTC13 May, 00:00 UTC14 May, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 528 APR14 MAY

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

Wind speed & pressure

4 May, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 150 ktPressure 910 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa28 Apr3 May9 May14 May

Forward speed & ACE

4 May, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 14 ktCumulative ACE 14.30 10⁴ kt²
002017.54035kt10⁴ kt²28 Apr3 May9 May14 May

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 wind150 kt

173 mph / 278 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure909 hPa

3 May 1951 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration16.25 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance9,180 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Iris is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1951 season. Its archived track begins on 28 Apr 1951, 12:00 UTC at 6.3°N, 144.9°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 3 May 1951, 18:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 150 knots (173 mph / 278 km/h), first recorded on 4 May 1951, 00:00 UTC at 11.8°N, 129.2°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 909 hPa on 3 May 1951, 12:00 UTC.

The full record spans 390 hours and approximately 9,180 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 37°N, 160°E on 14 May 1951, 18:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 11 May 1951, 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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