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WESTERN PACIFIC · 1956 SEASON

Typhoon Thelma (1956)

Recorded track and intensity · 16 Apr 1956–25 Apr 1956

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
THELMA: complete recorded track, 16 Apr 1956–25 Apr 1956Recorded track from 16 Apr 1956 to 25 Apr 1956. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.16 Apr, 00:00 UTC17 Apr, 00:00 UTC18 Apr, 00:00 UTC19 Apr, 00:00 UTC20 Apr, 00:00 UTC21 Apr, 00:00 UTC22 Apr, 00:00 UTC23 Apr, 00:00 UTC24 Apr, 00:00 UTC25 Apr, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 516 APR25 APR

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

Wind speed & pressure

20 Apr, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 150 ktPressure 940 hPa
0920809701601020kthPa16 Apr19 Apr22 Apr25 Apr

Forward speed & ACE

20 Apr, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 11 ktCumulative ACE 17.57 10⁴ kt²
001517.53035kt10⁴ kt²16 Apr19 Apr22 Apr25 Apr

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 wind150 kt

173 mph / 278 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure935 hPa

20 Apr 1956 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration9 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance5,330 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Thelma is listed in the Western Pacific basin for the 1956 season. Its archived track begins on 16 Apr 1956, 00:00 UTC at 5.9°N, 147.3°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 35 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 19 Apr 1956, 15:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 150 knots (173 mph / 278 km/h), first recorded on 20 Apr 1956, 00:00 UTC at 13.3°N, 128.7°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 935 hPa on 20 Apr 1956, 06:00 UTC.

The full record spans 216 hours and approximately 5,330 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 30.8°N, 130.6°E on 25 Apr 1956, 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

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