page_title: Timeline of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season
section_title: March
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season / Season summary / March
caption_attribution_description: English: Track map of Typhoon Maysak of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season. The points show the location of the storm at 6-hour intervals. The colour represents the storm's maximum sustained wind speeds as classified in the Saffir–Simpson scale (see below), and the shape of the data points represent the nature of the storm, according to the legend below. Saffir–Simpson scale Tropical depression≤38 mph≤62 km/h Category 3111–129 mph178–208 km/h Tropical storm39–73 mph63–118 km/h Category 4130–156 mph209–251 km/h Category 174–95 mph119–153 km/h Category 5≥157 mph≥252 km/h Category 296–110 mph154–177 km/h Unknown Storm type Tropical cyclone Subtropical cyclone Extratropical cyclone / Remnant low / Tropical disturbance / Monsoon depression
context_page_description: This timeline documents all of the events of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season. Most of the tropical cyclones formed between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator between 100°E and the International Date Line. This area, called the Western Pacific basin, is the responsibility of the Japanese Meteorological Agency. They host and operate the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, located in Tokyo. The Japanese Meteorological Agency is also responsible for assigning names to all tropical storms that are formed within the basin. However, any storm that enters or forms in the Philippine Area of Responsibility will be named by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration using a local name. Also of note - the Western Pacific basin is monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center, which gives all Tropical depressions a number with a "W" suffix.
context_section_description: March 10
  06:00 UTC - The JMA starts monitoring a tropical depression that is located about 330 km (205 mi) to the northeast of Bairiki in Kiribati.
  March 11
  03:00 UTC — The tropical depression forms and was designated as 03W by the JTWC.
  06:00 UTC — The JMA reports that the tropical depression has developed into a tropical storm.
  March 14
  12:00 UTC — According to both agencies, Bavi had reached its peak strength as a strong tropical storm.
  March 17
  18:00 UTC — The PAGASA had reported that Bavi had entered their area, giving the name Betty.
  21:00 UTC — All three agencies downgrade Bavi to a tropical depression, as moderate to high vertical wind shear caused Bavi's circulation to become exposed.
  March 23
  00:00 UTC — Tropical Depression Bavi (Betty) had fully dissipated west of Manila.
  March 27
  03:00 UTC — The JTWC starts designating a tropical depression to 04W.
  15:00 UTC — As of the JTWC, 04W intensified into a tropical storm.
  18:00 UTC — The JMA followed suit of upgrading it. With this, it was named Maysak.
  March 28
  12:00 UTC — Maysak starts to show signs of a developing eye, as it was upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA.
  18:00 UTC — The JMA upgrades Maysak to a typhoon, even though the JTWC still classifies it as a tropical storm.
  21:00 UTC — Finally, the JTWC upgrades Maysak to a Category 1 typhoon.
  March 29
  18:00 UTC — Maysak intensifies into a Category 2 typhoon as it starts to develop a ragged eye.
  March 30
  06:00 UTC — Maysak starts to undergo rapid deepening as its eye became more clearer.
  18:00 UTC — Due to more favorable environments for the storm, the JTWC upgraded Maysak to a Category 4 super typhoon, as the typhoon strengthened in size as well.
  March 31
  09:00 UTC — The JTWC upgrades Maysak to a Category 5 super typhoon with 1-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph).
caption: Track of Typhoon Maysak during late-March
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