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SOUTH PACIFIC · 1998 SEASON

Cyclone Ron (1998)

Recorded track and intensity · 1 Jan 1998–9 Jan 1998

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
RON: complete recorded track, 1 Jan 1998–9 Jan 1998Recorded track from 1 Jan 1998 to 9 Jan 1998. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.FIJIVANUATUNEW CALEDONIA2 Jan, 00:00 UTC3 Jan, 00:00 UTC4 Jan, 00:00 UTC5 Jan, 00:00 UTC6 Jan, 00:00 UTC7 Jan, 00:00 UTC8 Jan, 00:00 UTC9 Jan, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 51 JAN9 JAN

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

Wind speed & pressure

5 Jan, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 145 ktPressure 900 hPa
0900809501601000kthPa1 Jan3 Jan6 Jan9 Jan

Forward speed & ACE

5 Jan, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 5 ktCumulative ACE 11.54 10⁴ kt²
0015153030kt10⁴ kt²1 Jan3 Jan6 Jan9 Jan

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 pressure900 hPa

5 Jan 1998 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration7.75 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance3,340 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Ron is listed in the South Pacific basin for the 1998 season. Its archived track begins on 1 Jan 1998, 06:00 UTC at 9°S, 165.5°W. 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 5 Jan 1998, 06:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 145 knots (167 mph / 269 km/h), first recorded on 5 Jan 1998, 12:00 UTC at 12.9°S, 175.5°W. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 900 hPa on 5 Jan 1998, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 186 hours and approximately 3,340 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 29.3°S, 168°W on 9 Jan 1998, 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

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