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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1955 SEASON

Typhoon Louise (1955)

Recorded track and intensity · 20 Sept 1955–2 Oct 1955

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
LOUISE: complete recorded track, 20 Sept 1955–2 Oct 1955Recorded track from 20 Sept 1955 to 2 Oct 1955. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIAPHILIPPINESINDIAPacific Ocean20 Sep, 00:00 UTC21 Sep, 00:00 UTC22 Sep, 00:00 UTC23 Sep, 00:00 UTC24 Sep, 00:00 UTC25 Sep, 00:00 UTC26 Sep, 00:00 UTC27 Sep, 00:00 UTC28 Sep, 00:00 UTC29 Sep, 00:00 UTC30 Sep, 00:00 UTC1 Oct, 00:00 UTC2 Oct, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 520 SEP2 OCT

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

Wind speed & pressure

25 Sep, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 150 ktPressure 935 hPa
0920809701601020kthPa20 Sep24 Sep28 Sep2 Oct

Forward speed & ACE

25 Sep, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 10 ktCumulative ACE 15.68 10⁴ kt²
0040208040kt10⁴ kt²20 Sep24 Sep28 Sep2 Oct

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 pressure930 hPa

24 Sept 1955 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration12.25 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance8,370 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Louise is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1955 season. Its archived track begins on 20 Sept 1955, 00:00 UTC at 13°N, 150°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 25 Sept 1955, 00:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 150 knots (173 mph / 278 km/h), first recorded on 25 Sept 1955, 12:00 UTC at 24.9°N, 140.2°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 930 hPa on 24 Sept 1955, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 294 hours and approximately 8,370 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 61°N, 180°E on 2 Oct 1955, 06:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 30 Sept 1955, 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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