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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1989 SEASON

Typhoon Irma (1989)

Recorded track and intensity · 20 Nov 1989–5 Dec 1989

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
IRMA: complete recorded track, 20 Nov 1989–5 Dec 1989Recorded track from 20 Nov 1989 to 5 Dec 1989. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.20 Nov, 00:00 UTC21 Nov, 00:00 UTC22 Nov, 00:00 UTC23 Nov, 00:00 UTC24 Nov, 00:00 UTC25 Nov, 00:00 UTC26 Nov, 00:00 UTC27 Nov, 00:00 UTC28 Nov, 00:00 UTC29 Nov, 00:00 UTC30 Nov, 00:00 UTC1 Dec, 00:00 UTC2 Dec, 00:00 UTC3 Dec, 00:00 UTC4 Dec, 00:00 UTC5 Dec, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 520 NOV5 DEC

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

Wind speed & pressure

30 Nov, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 925 hPa
0920809701601020kthPa20 Nov25 Nov30 Nov5 Dec

Forward speed & ACE

30 Nov, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 9 ktCumulative ACE 9.77 10⁴ kt²
0015153030kt10⁴ kt²20 Nov25 Nov30 Nov5 Dec

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 pressure925 hPa

30 Nov 1989 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration15.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance6,960 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Irma is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1989 season. Its archived track begins on 20 Nov 1989, 00:00 UTC at 17.2°N, 173.9°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 20 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 30 Nov 1989, 00:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 30 Nov 1989, 00:00 UTC at 13.2°N, 134.3°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 925 hPa on 30 Nov 1989, 00:00 UTC.

The full record spans 372 hours and approximately 6,960 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 22.6°N, 144.5°E on 5 Dec 1989, 12:00 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