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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1991 SEASON

Typhoon Ruth (1991)

Recorded track and intensity · 16 Oct 1991–3 Nov 1991

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
RUTH: complete recorded track, 16 Oct 1991–3 Nov 1991Recorded track from 16 Oct 1991 to 3 Nov 1991. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.JAPANPHILIPPINES16 Oct, 00:00 UTC17 Oct, 00:00 UTC18 Oct, 00:00 UTC19 Oct, 00:00 UTC20 Oct, 00:00 UTC21 Oct, 00:00 UTC22 Oct, 00:00 UTC23 Oct, 00:00 UTC24 Oct, 00:00 UTC25 Oct, 00:00 UTC26 Oct, 00:00 UTC27 Oct, 00:00 UTC28 Oct, 00:00 UTC29 Oct, 00:00 UTC30 Oct, 00:00 UTC31 Oct, 00:00 UTC1 Nov, 00:00 UTC2 Nov, 00:00 UTC3 Nov, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 516 OCT3 NOV

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

Wind speed & pressure

24 Oct, 06:00 UTC
Wind speed 145 ktPressure 900 hPa
0880809501601020kthPa16 Oct22 Oct28 Oct3 Nov

Forward speed & ACE

24 Oct, 06:00 UTC
Forward speed 10 ktCumulative ACE 12.09 10⁴ kt²
0020204040kt10⁴ kt²16 Oct22 Oct28 Oct3 Nov

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 pressure895 hPa

24 Oct 1991 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration18 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance8,830 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Ruth is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1991 season. Its archived track begins on 16 Oct 1991, 00:00 UTC at 6°N, 156°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 15 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 23 Oct 1991, 21:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 145 knots (167 mph / 269 km/h), first recorded on 24 Oct 1991, 06:00 UTC at 14.8°N, 134.3°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 895 hPa on 24 Oct 1991, 12:00 UTC.

The full record spans 432 hours and approximately 8,830 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 33.5°N, 159.5°E on 3 Nov 1991, 00:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 30 Oct 1991, 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

Browse all Category 5 storm pages