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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1962 SEASON

Typhoon Karen (1962)

Recorded track and intensity · 7 Nov 1962–18 Nov 1962

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
KAREN: complete recorded track, 7 Nov 1962–18 Nov 1962Recorded track from 7 Nov 1962 to 18 Nov 1962. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.JAPANPHILIPPINESTAIWAN8 Nov, 00:00 UTC9 Nov, 00:00 UTC10 Nov, 00:00 UTC11 Nov, 00:00 UTC12 Nov, 00:00 UTC13 Nov, 00:00 UTC14 Nov, 00:00 UTC15 Nov, 00:00 UTC16 Nov, 00:00 UTC17 Nov, 00:00 UTC18 Nov, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 57 NOV18 NOV

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

Wind speed & pressure

9 Nov, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 160 ktPressure 920 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa7 Nov10 Nov14 Nov18 Nov

Forward speed & ACE

9 Nov, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 5 ktCumulative ACE 6.43 10⁴ kt²
0035357070kt10⁴ kt²7 Nov10 Nov14 Nov18 Nov

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 wind160 kt

184 mph / 296 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure900 hPa

13 Nov 1962 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration11.13 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance9,020 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Karen is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1962 season. Its archived track begins on 7 Nov 1962, 06:00 UTC at 6°N, 154°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 8 Nov 1962, 21:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 160 knots (184 mph / 296 km/h), first recorded on 9 Nov 1962, 00:00 UTC at 10.4°N, 153.1°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 900 hPa on 13 Nov 1962, 00:00 UTC.

The full record spans 267 hours and approximately 9,020 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 35.1°N, 178.8°E on 18 Nov 1962, 09:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 17 Nov 1962, 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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