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SOUTH PACIFIC · 1998 SEASON

Cyclone Susan (1997–1998)

Recorded track and intensity · 27 Dec 1997–8 Jan 1998

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
SUSAN: complete recorded track, 27 Dec 1997–8 Jan 1998Recorded track from 27 Dec 1997 to 8 Jan 1998. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.FIJITONGAVANUATUNEW CALEDONIA28 Dec, 00:00 UTC29 Dec, 00:00 UTC30 Dec, 00:00 UTC31 Dec, 00:00 UTC1 Jan, 00:00 UTC2 Jan, 00:00 UTC3 Jan, 00:00 UTC4 Jan, 00:00 UTC5 Jan, 00:00 UTC6 Jan, 00:00 UTC7 Jan, 00:00 UTC8 Jan, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 527 DEC8 JAN

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

Wind speed & pressure

5 Jan, 06:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 900 hPa
0900809501601000kthPa27 Dec31 Dec4 Jan8 Jan

Forward speed & ACE

5 Jan, 06:00 UTC
Forward speed 5 ktCumulative ACE 8.81 10⁴ kt²
0015153030kt10⁴ kt²27 Dec31 Dec4 Jan8 Jan

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 wind140 kt

161 mph / 259 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure900 hPa

5 Jan 1998 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration11.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance3,170 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Susan is listed in the South Pacific basin for the 1998 season. Its archived track begins on 27 Dec 1997, 18:00 UTC at 11.8°S, 180°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 25 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 5 Jan 1998, 06:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 5 Jan 1998, 06:00 UTC at 14.4°S, 170.1°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 900 hPa on 5 Jan 1998, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 276 hours and approximately 3,170 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 23.1°S, 179.8°E on 8 Jan 1998, 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

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