Characteristics of Typhoon Clara
Track and Movement Characteristics
The life cycle of Typhoon Clara (198116) began over the northwest Pacific at 08:00 on September 14, 1981, with an initial position at 11°N, 144°E. Throughout its lifecycle, the typhoon maintained a steady northwestward trend, with no significant track turns or prolonged stagnation. From formation to dissipation, its center moved continuously westward from 144°E to 114°E and northward from 11°N to 24.8°N, covering a substantial distance. Although its track extended into the northern South China Sea and approached the coast of China, no landfall was recorded. It weakened into a tropical depression over land or near the coast at 20:00 on September 22 before monitoring ended. This near-coast but non-landfall track meant that its main effects on coastal areas came from wind and rain associated with the outer circulation rather than direct damage from the center.
Intensity evolution and historical comparison
Clara underwent a typical rapid intensification, peak-intensity maintenance, and gradual weakening cycle. It initially developed slowly as a tropical depression, then intensified into a tropical storm at 08:00 on September 16. It subsequently entered a period of rapid intensification, particularly from September 18 to 19, when central pressure plummeted from 979 hPa to 934 hPa and maximum sustained winds surged from 30 m/s to 55 m/s. It reached super typhoon status at 20:00 on September 19. Its peak intensity occurred during this phase, with a minimum central pressure of 924 hPa and maximum sustained winds of 60 m/s, demonstrating exceptional explosive intensification. After September 20, as it moved northward, its intensity began fluctuating and declining. Central pressure rose above 940 hPa and wind speeds gradually decreased until it weakened into a tropical depression before dissipating.
In a direct comparison with other typhoons of the same name, Clara in 1981 displayed significant intensity superiority. Its peak central pressure was lower and its maximum sustained winds were stronger than those of Clara in 1988, which peaked as a tropical storm at 995 hPa; Clara in 1976, which peaked as a typhoon at 978 hPa; and Clara in 1967, which peaked as a severe typhoon at 962 hPa. Even compared with Clara in 1984, which also reached severe typhoon status at 940 hPa, the minimum central pressure of 924 hPa recorded by Clara in 1981 indicated a tighter core structure, greater intensity, and the strongest peak among all typhoons sharing this name.
Typhoon Clara routes
| Time | Position | Intensity | Wind · Pressure | Move toward |
|---|
| 09-14 08:00 | 11°N
144°E | Tropical Depression | - m/s
1006 hPa | - |
| 09-14 20:00 | 11.5°N
141.2°E | Tropical Depression | 10 m/s
1006 hPa | W |
| 09-15 08:00 | 11.8°N
138.7°E | Tropical Depression | 12 m/s
1004 hPa | W |
| 09-15 20:00 | 12°N
137°E | Tropical Depression | 15 m/s
1002 hPa | W |
| 09-16 08:00 | 12.2°N
135.1°E | Tropical Storm | 20 m/s
998 hPa | W |
| 09-16 20:00 | 12.4°N
133.9°E | Tropical Storm | 20 m/s
996 hPa | W |
| 09-17 08:00 | 12.5°N
132.5°E | Tropical Storm | 20 m/s
996 hPa | W |
| 09-17 20:00 | 13.7°N
130.8°E | Severe Tropical Storm | 25 m/s
992 hPa | NW |
| 09-18 08:00 | 14.5°N
129.2°E | Severe Tropical Storm | 30 m/s
979 hPa | WNW |
| 09-18 20:00 | 15.2°N
127.3°E | Typhoon | 35 m/s
969 hPa | WNW |
| 09-19 08:00 | 16.6°N
125.4°E | Typhoon | 40 m/s
950 hPa | NW |
| 09-19 20:00 | 18.1°N
123.5°E | Super Typhoon | 55 m/s
934 hPa | NW |
| 09-20 08:00 | 18.7°N
122°E | Super Typhoon | 55 m/s
940 hPa | W |
| 09-20 20:00 | 19.6°N
120.4°E | Severe Typhoon | 45 m/s
952 hPa | NW |
| 09-21 08:00 | 20.6°N
118.5°E | Typhoon | 40 m/s
960 hPa | WNW |
| 09-21 20:00 | 21.6°N
117°E | Typhoon | 35 m/s
960 hPa | NW |
| 09-22 08:00 | 23.5°N
115.1°E | Severe Tropical Storm | 25 m/s
985 hPa | NW |
| 09-22 20:00 | 24.8°N
114°E | Tropical Depression | 10 m/s
1000 hPa | NNW |
Sampled rows shown; all 35 track points are available on the interactive map or via the public API .
FAQ
Typhoon Clara was the 1981 Typhoon.
Typhoon Clara's international code is 198116, is 1981's 16th Typhoon, international name CLARA.
Where does Typhoon Clara's track data come from?
Path. Data sources: China Meteorological Administration Tropical Cyclone Best Track Dataset (CMA-STI); wind speed refers to 2-min sustained wind speed. Track points at intermediate times are encrypted based on original operational positioning data, while wind speed and pressure are interpolated using best-track anchor points.
What is the highest level of Typhoon Clara?
Typhoon Clara peak intensity is Super Typhoon, max wind 60m/s, minimum central pressure 924 hPa.
Typhoon Clara Landfall.
According to records, Typhoon Clara is not in our coastal landfall.
Where can I view typhoon Clara's live track map?
TyphoonSays (taifengshuo.com) provides typhoon Clara's Track history map, multinational meteorological agency Forecast comparison, windshield range with IntensityTrend, page address: https://taifengshuo.com/typhoon/198116.
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