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WESTERN PACIFIC · 2011 SEASON

Typhoon Songda (2011)

Recorded track and intensity · 19 May 2011–2 Jun 2011

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
SONGDA: complete recorded track, 19 May 2011–2 Jun 2011Recorded track from 19 May 2011 to 2 Jun 2011. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.ASIA20 May, 00:00 UTC21 May, 00:00 UTC22 May, 00:00 UTC23 May, 00:00 UTC24 May, 00:00 UTC25 May, 00:00 UTC26 May, 00:00 UTC27 May, 00:00 UTC28 May, 00:00 UTC29 May, 00:00 UTC30 May, 00:00 UTC31 May, 00:00 UTC1 Jun, 00:00 UTC2 Jun, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 519 MAY2 JUN

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

Wind speed & pressure

26 May, 06:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 918 hPa
0900809601601020kthPa19 May24 May28 May2 Jun

Forward speed & ACE

26 May, 06:00 UTC
Forward speed 10 ktCumulative ACE 13.02 10⁴ kt²
0020154030kt10⁴ kt²19 May24 May28 May2 Jun

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 wind140 kt

161 mph / 259 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure918 hPa

26 May 2011 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration13.25 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance8,520 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Songda is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 2011 season. Its archived track begins on 19 May 2011, 18:00 UTC at 8.3°N, 141.6°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 26 May 2011, 06:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 26 May 2011, 06:00 UTC at 15.6°N, 125.8°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 918 hPa on 26 May 2011, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 318 hours and approximately 8,520 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 42°N, 178.2°E on 2 Jun 2011, 00:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 29 May 2011, 03:00 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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