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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1955 SEASON

Typhoon Ruth (1955)

Recorded track and intensity · 12 Dec 1955–18 Dec 1955

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
RUTH: complete recorded track, 12 Dec 1955–18 Dec 1955Recorded track from 12 Dec 1955 to 18 Dec 1955. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.JAPANTAIWAN12 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 UTCPeak · Category 512 DEC18 DEC

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

Wind speed & pressure

15 Dec, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 180 ktPressure 940 hPa
0920909601801000kthPa12 Dec14 Dec16 Dec18 Dec

Forward speed & ACE

15 Dec, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 11 ktCumulative ACE 12.96 10⁴ kt²
0030156030kt10⁴ kt²12 Dec14 Dec16 Dec18 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 wind180 kt

207 mph / 333 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure925 hPa

16 Dec 1955 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration6.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance6,000 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Ruth is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1955 season. Its archived track begins on 12 Dec 1955, 00:00 UTC at 6.2°N, 142.3°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 15 Dec 1955, 09:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 180 knots (207 mph / 333 km/h), first recorded on 15 Dec 1955, 12:00 UTC at 15.7°N, 129.3°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 925 hPa on 16 Dec 1955, 00:00 UTC.

The full record spans 156 hours and approximately 6,000 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 33.5°N, 163.5°E on 18 Dec 1955, 12:00 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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