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Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks December 1997
[Summaries and Track Data] [Prepared by Gary Padgett]

             GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACKS - DECEMBER 1997

NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
                               and
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180

NOTE:  The tracking and intensity information for Northeast Pacific
       Basin tropical cyclones is based upon operational advisories
       from the Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center
       in Miami, Florida, for systems east of Longitude 140W; and
       from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Honolulu, Hawaii,
       for systems west of Longitude 140W.  The MSW are based on a
       1-min averaging period, which is used by all U.S. civilian
       and military weather services for tropical cyclone warnings.

       The tracking and intensity information for Northwest Pacific
       Basin tropical cyclones is based upon operational warnings from
       the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the U.S. Air Force and Navy
       on the island of Guam.  The MSW are based on a 1-min averaging
       period, which is used by all U.S. civilian and military weather
       services for tropical cyclone warnings.

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Storm Name: PAKA                  Cyclone Number: 05-C    Basin: NEP/NWP

   Date    Time   Lat      Lon   Cen Pres   MSW        Remarks
           (GMT)                   (mb)    (kts)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

97 DEC 02  1200   7.2 N  166.4 W   1000      30
97 DEC 02  1800   7.4 N  166.7 W   1007      35
97 DEC 03  0000   7.4 N  167.3 W   1005      45
97 DEC 03  0600   8.0 N  167.4 W    996      45
97 DEC 03  1200   8.3 N  167.6 W    996      45
97 DEC 03  1800   8.5 N  168.6 W    996      45
97 DEC 04  0000   8.5 N  168.6 W             45
97 DEC 04  0600   8.7 N  169.3 W    996      45
97 DEC 04  1200   9.2 N  170.3 W    996      45
97 DEC 04  1800   8.9 N  170.9 W    992      55
97 DEC 05  0000   9.2 N  172.1 W             50
97 DEC 05  0600   9.1 N  172.7 W    995      50
97 DEC 05  1200   9.4 N  173.0 W   1000      45
97 DEC 05  1800   9.7 N  173.6 W   1000      45
97 DEC 06  0000   9.3 N  176.4 W   1000      40
97 DEC 06  0600   9.0 N  178.0 W   1000      35
97 DEC 06  1200   9.0 N  179.0 W   1000      35
97 DEC 06  1800   8.9 N  179.5 W             35
97 DEC 07  0000   8.4 N  180.0 E             40 Entered NWP basin
97 DEC 07  0600   8.1 N  179.3 E    996      40 Japan: 35kts/9.6N, 179.8W
97 DEC 07  1200   8.3 N  178.5 E    994      45 Japan: 35kts/9.4N, 179.3W
97 DEC 07  1800   8.9 N  177.8 E             55 Japan: 35kts/9.4N, 179.8W
97 DEC 08  0000   8.7 N  177.4 E             50 Japan: 35kts/8.5N, 178.0E
97 DEC 08  0600   7.4 N  177.2 E             45
97 DEC 08  1200   7.4 N  176.4 E             45
97 DEC 08  1800   7.4 N  175.4 E    992      45
97 DEC 09  0000   6.6 N  174.6 E    990      45 Japan: 45kts/7.2N, 175.0E
97 DEC 09  0600   6.6 N  174.1 E             45
97 DEC 09  1200   6.6 N  173.9 E    985      45
97 DEC 09  1800   6.8 N  172.7 E             45
97 DEC 10  0000   6.9 N  171.9 E             50
97 DEC 10  0600   6.9 N  171.1 E             55
97 DEC 10  1200   6.9 N  170.8 E    980      55
97 DEC 10  1800   6.9 N  169.9 E    975      65
97 DEC 11  0000   6.7 N  168.9 E    970      80 Japan: 65 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 11  0600   6.7 N  168.5 E             90 Japan: 65 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 11  1200   6.9 N  167.9 E    965     100 Japan: 70 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 11  1800   7.4 N  166.9 E            105 Japan: 70kts/7.4N, 167.4E
97 DEC 12  0000   7.6 N  166.5 E    960     105 Japan: 70 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 12  0600   7.8 N  165.8 E            115   "      "
97 DEC 12  1200   8.0 N  165.1 E            115   "      "
97 DEC 12  1800   8.4 N  164.1 E    950     115 Japan: 80 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 13  0000   8.8 N  162.8 E            105 Japan: 80 kts (10-min) 
97 DEC 13  0600   8.9 N  161.8 E    955      95 Japan: 75 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 13  1200   9.5 N  160.5 E            105   "      "
97 DEC 13  1800  10.1 N  159.2 E            115   "      "
97 DEC 14  0000  10.4 N  157.4 E    950     115 Japan: 80 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 14  0600  10.7 N  155.8 E            115   "      "
97 DEC 14  1200  11.4 N  154.0 E            120   "      "
97 DEC 14  1800  12.0 N  152.5 E    930     120 Japan: 95 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 15  0000  12.4 N  150.8 E            140   "      "
97 DEC 15  0600  12.6 N  149.5 E            140   "      "
97 DEC 15  1200  13.0 N  148.3 E    925     140   "      "
97 DEC 15  1800  13.2 N  147.1 E            135   "      "
97 DEC 16  0000  13.5 N  146.2 E            120   "      "
97 DEC 16  0600  13.7 N  145.3 E    935     125 Japan: 90 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 16  1200  13.7 N  144.6 E    940     125   "      "
97 DEC 16  1800  13.7 N  143.9 E            125   "      "
97 DEC 17  0000  13.7 N  143.0 E            120   "      "
97 DEC 17  0600  13.7 N  142.1 E    935     125   "      "
97 DEC 17  1200  13.7 N  141.4 E    925     145 Japan: 95 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 17  1800  14.0 N  140.7 E    920     155 Japan: 100 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 18  0000  14.3 N  139.7 E            160   "      "
97 DEC 18  0600  14.6 N  138.9 E            135   "      "
97 DEC 18  1200  14.9 N  138.2 E            135   "      "
97 DEC 18  1800  15.2 N  137.2 E            130   "      "
97 DEC 19  0000  15.3 N  136.3 E    925     115 Japan: 95 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 19  0600  15.5 N  135.4 E    930     115 Japan: 90 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 19  1200  16.1 N  135.1 E            115   "      "
97 DEC 19  1800  16.5 N  134.4 E            115   "      "
97 DEC 20  0000  16.7 N  133.6 E    940     110 Japan: 85 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 20  0600  17.1 N  133.4 E    945      95 
97 DEC 20  1200  17.8 N  132.9 E    950      85  
97 DEC 20  1800  18.1 N  132.3 E    960      70
97 DEC 21  0000  18.3 N  132.3 E    970      60 Japan: 65 kts (10-min)
97 DEC 21  0600  18.0 N  132.5 E    980      50
97 DEC 21  1200  17.4 N  132.2 E    985      35 Japan: 50kts/18.1N,132.2E
97 DEC 21  1800  17.5 N  132.0 E    992      30 Japan: 45kts/18.1N,131.4E
97 DEC 22  0000  18.0 N  131.0 E   1004      30 {Track after 21/1800 UTC
97 DEC 22  0600  18.0 N  131.0 E                from Japanese high seas
97 DEC 22  1200  19.0 N  132.0 E   1006         forecasts.  No wind speed
97 DEC 23  0000  20.0 N  131.0 E   1010         mentioned.}

NOTE:  The MSW given in the table above are based on the 1-min average
       reported by JTWC.  Values reported by Japan in the Remarks column
       are based on 10-min average winds.    The estimated central
       pressures reported above are based on CPHC's advisories while
       Paka was east of the dateline, but are taken from the Japanese
       high seas forecasts after the storm moved west of the dateline.

       It should be pointed out that during Paka's more intense stages,
       Japan's reported 10-min average winds are considerably lower than
       the standard 13% rule-of-thumb reduction from 1-min to 10-min
       winds would call for.  A 1-min wind of 160 kts is equivalent to
       about 140 kts 10-min average wind.
              
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AUSTRALIAN REGION (AUS) - From Longitude 90E Eastward to Longitude 160E

NOTE:      The tracks presented below are based on operational warnings
           from the Australian Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at 
           Darwin, Northern Territory (for Tropical Cyclone Sid) and
           Perth, Western Australia (for Tropical Cyclone Selwyn). 
           The MSW in the tables below are based on a 10-min averaging 
           period.  To convert these to equivalent 1-min average winds,
           multiply by 1.15.   However, the wind speed estimates by
           JTWC mentioned in the Remarks column, are 1-min average
           sustained winds.   To convert these to equivalent 10-min
           average winds, multiply by 0.87.

           JTWC  = Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Guam, Marianas Islands

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Storm Name: SELWYN                Cyclone Number: 09-S    Basin: AUS

   Date    Time   Lat      Lon   Cen Pres   MSW        Remarks
           (GMT)                   (mb)    (kts)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

97 DEC 26  1800  13.5 S  111.9 E   1000      30
97 DEC 27  0000  14.1 S  111.2 E    998      30
97 DEC 27  0600  15.0 S  110.0 E    995      40
97 DEC 27  1200  15.0 S  109.8 E    986      45 JTWC: 65 kts (1-min)
97 DEC 27  1800  15.2 S  109.4 E    980      50
97 DEC 28  0000  15.5 S  109.0 E    980      50
97 DEC 28  0600  15.9 S  108.3 E             50
97 DEC 28  1200  16.3 S  107.7 E    966      70 JTWC: 60 kts (1-min)
97 DEC 28  1800  16.7 S  107.2 E    970      70
97 DEC 29  0000  17.3 S  106.6 E    975      65
97 DEC 29  0600  17.5 S  105.7 E    975      60
97 DEC 29  1200  17.7 S  105.0 E    970      65 JTWC: 50kts/18.1S,104.1E
97 DEC 29  1800  17.5 S  104.2 E    976      55
97 DEC 30  0000  17.2 S  103.1 E    982      50
97 DEC 30  0600  17.1 S  101.9 E             45
97 DEC 30  1200  17.0 S  101.0 E    990      40
97 DEC 30  1800  16.6 S  100.5 E    990      40
97 DEC 31  0000  16.2 S   99.7 E    994      35 Last warning from Perth
97 DEC 31  1200  16.3 S   98.4 E             35 Based on JTWC warning
98 JAN 01  0000  16.3 S   96.2 E             30 Based on JTWC warning
98 JAN 01  1800  17.2 S   93.5 E    998      30
98 JAN 02  0000  17.4 S   92.8 E    998      25

NOTE:  Track based on operational warnings issued by the Perth TCWC.
       Warnings were issued at 0400, 1000, 1600, and 2200 UTC.  Positions
       above have been interpolated to standard synoptic hours.  MSW are
       10-min average winds.
       
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Storm Name: SID                   Cyclone Number: 08-S    Basin: AUS

   Date    Time   Lat      Lon   Cen Pres   MSW        Remarks
           (GMT)                   (mb)    (kts)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

97 DEC 26  0000  11.0 S  131.8 E   1000      30
97 DEC 26  0600  11.0 S  132.6 E    992      40
97 DEC 26  1200  11.2 S  133.3 E    990      40
97 DEC 26  1800  11.5 S  134.8 E    990      40
97 DEC 27  0000  12.0 S  135.8 E    990      40
97 DEC 27  0600  12.4 S  136.8 E    988      40
97 DEC 27  1200  13.2 S  137.4 E    988      45
97 DEC 27  1800  14.2 S  137.4 E    988      45
97 DEC 28  0000  14.4 S  138.4 E    985      50 JTWC: 40kts/15.5S,137.9E
97 DEC 28  0600  15.9 S  138.7 E             40
97 DEC 28  1200  16.6 S  138.8 E             30 JTWC: 35kts/18.1S,138.0E

NOTE:  Track based on operational warnings issued by the Darwin TCWC.
       MSW are 10-min average winds.

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SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (SWP) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E

NOTE:      The track for Tropical Cyclone Pam is a preliminary "best
           track" based on a post-storm analysis by the Fiji Tropical
           Cyclone Warning Centre at Nadi.    It was sent to me by
           Mark Kersemakers of the Fiji Meteorological Service.
           The MSW in the tables below are based on a 10-min averaging 
           period.  To convert these to equivalent 1-min average winds,
           multiply by 1.15.   However, the wind speed estimates by
           JTWC or NPMOC, mentioned in the Remarks column, are 1-min
           average sustained winds.   To convert these to equivalent
           10-min average winds, multiply by 0.87.

           JTWC  = Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Guam, Marianas Islands

           NPMOC = Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center,
                   located at Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu,
                   Hawaii

*************************************************************************
                                            
Storm Name: PAM                   Cyclone Number: 07-P    Basin: SWP

   Date    Time   Lat      Lon   Cen Pres   MSW        Remarks
           (GMT)                   (mb)    (kts)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

97 DEC 05  0000   9.0 S  166.0 W    998      25
97 DEC 05  0600   9.3 S  166.2 W    998      25
97 DEC 05  1200   9.8 S  166.3 W    998      25
97 DEC 05  1800  10.3 S  165.0 W    997      30 NPMOC: 10.5 S, 163.4 W
97 DEC 06  0000  11.0 S  163.2 W    997      30
97 DEC 06  0600  11.5 S  162.7 W    995      35
97 DEC 06  1200  11.8 S  162.5 W    995      35
97 DEC 06  1800  12.7 S  163.1 W    990      40 NPMOC: 65 kts (1-min)
97 DEC 07  0000  14.1 S  163.1 W    985      50
97 DEC 07  0600  14.7 S  163.1 W    985      50 NPMOC: 65 kts (1-min)
97 DEC 07  1200  15.5 S  162.8 W    980      55
97 DEC 07  1800  16.7 S  162.6 W    980      55
97 DEC 08  0000  17.5 S  161.8 W    980      55
97 DEC 08  0600  18.5 S  161.3 W    975      60
97 DEC 08  1200  19.5 S  160.6 W    975      60
97 DEC 08  1800  20.1 S  160.4 W    975      60
97 DEC 09  0000  20.8 S  160.1 W    980      55
97 DEC 09  0600  21.7 S  160.1 W    980      55 NPMOC: 21.7 S, 158.0 W
97 DEC 09  1200  22.8 S  159.0 W    985      50
97 DEC 09  1800  23.1 S  158.5 W    987      45 NPMOC: 35kts/23.5S,155.8W
97 DEC 10  0000  23.5 S  157.3 W    990      40
97 DEC 10  0600  24.0 S  156.3 W    995      35
97 DEC 10  1200  24.9 S  155.4 W    997      30
97 DEC 10  2100  26.0 S  153.0 W                (from NPMOC Sat. Disc.)

NOTE:  This track is a preliminary "best track" from Mark Kersemakers of
       the Fiji TCWC.   Operationally, hurricane warnings were issued
       for TC Pam from 08/1200 UTC until 09/0000 UTC when highest winds
       were reported as 65 kts.  These were reduced slightly in post-
       storm analysis.

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Document: trak9712.htm
Updated: 18th March 2008

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