hurricanesmapped

WESTERN PACIFIC · 1997 SEASON

Typhoon Isa (1997)

Recorded track and intensity · 9 Apr 1997–24 Apr 1997

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
ISA: complete recorded track, 9 Apr 1997–24 Apr 1997Recorded track from 9 Apr 1997 to 24 Apr 1997. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.JAPANPHILIPPINESTAIWAN9 Apr, 00:00 UTC10 Apr, 00:00 UTC11 Apr, 00:00 UTC12 Apr, 00:00 UTC13 Apr, 00:00 UTC14 Apr, 00:00 UTC15 Apr, 00:00 UTC16 Apr, 00:00 UTC17 Apr, 00:00 UTC18 Apr, 00:00 UTC19 Apr, 00:00 UTC20 Apr, 00:00 UTC21 Apr, 00:00 UTC22 Apr, 00:00 UTC23 Apr, 00:00 UTC24 Apr, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 59 APR24 APR

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

Wind speed & pressure

20 Apr, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 145 ktPressure 940 hPa
0940809801601020kthPa9 Apr14 Apr19 Apr24 Apr

Forward speed & ACE

20 Apr, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 7 ktCumulative ACE 30.34 10⁴ kt²
002022.54045kt10⁴ kt²9 Apr14 Apr19 Apr24 Apr

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 wind145 kt

167 mph / 269 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure940 hPa

20 Apr 1997 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration15.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance7,480 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Isa is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1997 season. Its archived track begins on 9 Apr 1997, 00:00 UTC at 6.2°N, 153°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 19 Apr 1997, 15:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 145 knots (167 mph / 269 km/h), first recorded on 20 Apr 1997, 00:00 UTC at 16.6°N, 137.7°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 940 hPa on 20 Apr 1997, 00:00 UTC.

The full record spans 372 hours and approximately 7,480 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 36.5°N, 164.6°E on 24 Apr 1997, 12:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 23 Apr 1997, 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

Browse all Category 5 storm pages