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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1997 SEASON

Typhoon Paka (1997)

Recorded track and intensity · 7 Dec 1997–23 Dec 1997

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
PAKA: complete recorded track, 7 Dec 1997–23 Dec 1997Recorded track from 7 Dec 1997 to 23 Dec 1997. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.8 Dec, 00:00 UTC9 Dec, 00:00 UTC10 Dec, 00:00 UTC11 Dec, 00:00 UTC12 Dec, 00:00 UTC13 Dec, 00:00 UTC14 Dec, 00:00 UTC15 Dec, 00:00 UTC16 Dec, 00:00 UTC17 Dec, 00:00 UTC18 Dec, 00:00 UTC19 Dec, 00:00 UTC20 Dec, 00:00 UTC21 Dec, 00:00 UTC22 Dec, 00:00 UTC23 Dec, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 57 DEC23 DEC

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

Wind speed & pressure

18 Dec, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 160 ktPressure 920 hPa
0920809701601020kthPa7 Dec12 Dec17 Dec23 Dec

Forward speed & ACE

18 Dec, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 8 ktCumulative ACE 50.20 10⁴ kt²
0010352070kt10⁴ kt²7 Dec12 Dec17 Dec23 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 wind160 kt

184 mph / 296 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure920 hPa

17 Dec 1997 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration15.75 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance5,810 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Paka is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1997 season. Its archived track begins on 7 Dec 1997, 06:00 UTC at 7.4°N, 179.9°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 50 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 14 Dec 1997, 21:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 160 knots (184 mph / 296 km/h), first recorded on 18 Dec 1997, 00:00 UTC at 14.3°N, 139.7°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 920 hPa on 17 Dec 1997, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 378 hours and approximately 5,810 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 20.1°N, 131.6°E on 23 Dec 1997, 00:00 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