 On November 25 , 2012 , a tropical depression developed to the south of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia . Initially tracking northwest and later due west under the influence of a strong subtropical ridge to its north , the system intensified into a tropical storm the following day at which time it received the name Bopha . The storm passed roughly 65 km ( 40 mi ) south of the Nomoi Islands early on November 28 . After slowly intensifying for several days Bopha underwent a period of rapid intensification from November 30 to December 1 , with its central pressure falling from 990 mbar ( hPa ; 29 @.@ 39 inHg ) to 945 mbar ( hPa ; 27 @.@ 91 inHg ) . The system reached its initial peak intensity on December 2 with winds of 185 km / h ( 115 mph ) according to the Japan Meteorological Agency . The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ( JTWC ) estimated Bopha to have been a much stronger storm , with one @-@ minute sustained winds of 250 km / h ( 155 mph ) , a high @-@ end Category 4 on the Saffir – Simpson hurricane wind scale ( SSHWS ) . 
