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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1988 SEASON

Typhoon Nelson (1988)

Recorded track and intensity · 30 Sept 1988–12 Oct 1988

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
NELSON: complete recorded track, 30 Sept 1988–12 Oct 1988Recorded track from 30 Sept 1988 to 12 Oct 1988. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIAPacific Ocean1 Oct, 00:00 UTC2 Oct, 00:00 UTC3 Oct, 00:00 UTC4 Oct, 00:00 UTC5 Oct, 00:00 UTC6 Oct, 00:00 UTC7 Oct, 00:00 UTC8 Oct, 00:00 UTC9 Oct, 00:00 UTC10 Oct, 00:00 UTC11 Oct, 00:00 UTC12 Oct, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 530 SEP12 OCT

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

Wind speed & pressure

4 Oct, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 915 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa30 Sep4 Oct8 Oct12 Oct

Forward speed & ACE

4 Oct, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 8 ktCumulative ACE 10.73 10⁴ kt²
003017.56035kt10⁴ kt²30 Sep4 Oct8 Oct12 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 measurements remain gaps.

Maximum sustained wind140 kt

161 mph / 259 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure915 hPa

4 Oct 1988 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration12.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance8,580 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Nelson is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1988 season. Its archived track begins on 30 Sept 1988, 06:00 UTC at 11.8°N, 141.7°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 4 Oct 1988, 12:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 4 Oct 1988, 12:00 UTC at 20°N, 124.7°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 915 hPa on 4 Oct 1988, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 300 hours and approximately 8,580 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 49°N, 180°E on 12 Oct 1988, 18:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 8 Oct 1988, 21:00 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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