EASTERN PACIFIC · 2018 SEASON

Hurricane Walaka (2018)

Recorded track and intensity · 26 Sept 2018–7 Oct 2018

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
WALAKA: complete recorded track, 26 Sept 2018–7 Oct 2018Recorded track from 26 Sept 2018 to 7 Oct 2018. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.27 Sep, 00:00 UTC28 Sep, 00:00 UTC29 Sep, 00:00 UTC30 Sep, 00:00 UTC1 Oct, 00:00 UTC2 Oct, 00:00 UTC3 Oct, 00:00 UTC4 Oct, 00:00 UTC5 Oct, 00:00 UTC6 Oct, 00:00 UTC7 Oct, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 526 SEP7 OCT

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

Wind speed & pressure

2 Oct, 00:00 UTC
Wind speed 140 ktPressure 921 hPa
0920809701601020kthPa26 Sep30 Sep3 Oct7 Oct

Forward speed & ACE

2 Oct, 00:00 UTC
Forward speed 7 ktCumulative ACE 7.55 10⁴ kt²
002512.55025kt10⁴ kt²26 Sep30 Sep3 Oct7 Oct

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 pressure921 hPa

2 Oct 2018 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration11.25 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance7,700 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Walaka is listed in the Eastern Pacific basin for the 2018 season. Its archived track begins on 26 Sept 2018, 06:00 UTC at 10.7°N, 140.1°W. 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 2 Oct 2018, 00:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 2 Oct 2018, 00:00 UTC at 12.9°N, 169.6°W. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 921 hPa on 2 Oct 2018, 00:00 UTC.

The full record spans 270 hours and approximately 7,700 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 47.8°N, 155.1°W on 7 Oct 2018, 12:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 6 Oct 2018, 09:00 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