WESTERN PACIFIC · 2006 SEASON
Typhoon Saomai (2006)
Recorded track and intensity · 4 Aug 2006–12 Aug 2006
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Wind speed & pressure
9 Aug, 12:00 UTCForward speed & ACE
9 Aug, 12:00 UTCHover 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.
161 mph / 259 km/h
9 Aug 2006 · tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
Track and intensity summary
Saomai is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 2006 season. Its archived track begins on 4 Aug 2006, 00:00 UTC at 7°N, 151.3°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 9 Aug 2006, 12:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 9 Aug 2006, 12:00 UTC at 25.4°N, 125.3°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 898 hPa on 9 Aug 2006, 12:00 UTC.
The full record spans 198 hours and approximately 4,800 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 30.2°N, 113.3°E on 12 Aug 2006, 06:00 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