hurricanesmapped

WESTERN PACIFIC · 2023 SEASON

Typhoon Saola (2023)

Recorded track and intensity · 22 Aug 2023–4 Sept 2023

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
SAOLA: complete recorded track, 22 Aug 2023–4 Sept 2023Recorded track from 22 Aug 2023 to 4 Sept 2023. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.PHILIPPINESTAIWAN22 Aug, 00:00 UTC23 Aug, 00:00 UTC24 Aug, 00:00 UTC25 Aug, 00:00 UTC26 Aug, 00:00 UTC27 Aug, 00:00 UTC28 Aug, 00:00 UTC29 Aug, 00:00 UTC30 Aug, 00:00 UTC31 Aug, 00:00 UTC1 Sep, 00:00 UTC2 Sep, 00:00 UTC3 Sep, 00:00 UTC4 Sep, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 522 AUG4 SEP

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

Wind speed & pressure

29 Aug, 18:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 917 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa22 Aug26 Aug30 Aug4 Sep

Forward speed & ACE

29 Aug, 18:00 UTC
Forward speed 9 ktCumulative ACE 23.15 10⁴ kt²
00522.51045kt10⁴ kt²22 Aug26 Aug30 Aug4 Sep

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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 wind140 kt

161 mph / 259 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure917 hPa

29 Aug 2023 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration13 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance3,180 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Saola is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 2023 season. Its archived track begins on 22 Aug 2023, 00:00 UTC at 18.2°N, 128°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 29 Aug 2023, 15:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 29 Aug 2023, 18:00 UTC at 19.9°N, 121.9°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 917 hPa on 29 Aug 2023, 18:00 UTC.

The full record spans 312 hours and approximately 3,180 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 19.9°N, 109.1°E on 4 Sept 2023, 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