WESTERN PACIFIC · 2012 SEASON

Typhoon Sanba (2012)

Recorded track and intensity · 10 Sept 2012–18 Sept 2012

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
SANBA: complete recorded track, 10 Sept 2012–18 Sept 2012Recorded track from 10 Sept 2012 to 18 Sept 2012. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIAJAPANINDIA10 Sep, 00:00 UTC11 Sep, 00:00 UTC12 Sep, 00:00 UTC13 Sep, 00:00 UTC14 Sep, 00:00 UTC15 Sep, 00:00 UTC16 Sep, 00:00 UTC17 Sep, 00:00 UTC18 Sep, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 510 SEP18 SEP

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

Wind speed & pressure

13 Sep, 18:00 UTC
Wind speed 155 ktPressure 907 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa10 Sep12 Sep15 Sep18 Sep

Forward speed & ACE

13 Sep, 18:00 UTC
Forward speed 9 ktCumulative ACE 8.91 10⁴ kt²
0020154030kt10⁴ kt²10 Sep12 Sep15 Sep18 Sep

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 wind155 kt

178 mph / 287 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure907 hPa

13 Sept 2012 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration8.75 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance4,810 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Sanba is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 2012 season. Its archived track begins on 10 Sept 2012, 00:00 UTC at 8.6°N, 134.8°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 13 Sept 2012, 12:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 155 knots (178 mph / 287 km/h), first recorded on 13 Sept 2012, 18:00 UTC at 17.2°N, 129.7°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 907 hPa on 13 Sept 2012, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 210 hours and approximately 4,810 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 48°N, 135°E on 18 Sept 2012, 18:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 17 Sept 2012, 09:00 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