 A long tracked system , the initial tropical disturbance which led to Marge was noted near the International Dateline on December 10 . Moving north of due west the disturbance was slow to organize , becoming a tropical depression on December 14 southwest of Enewetak . The system strengthened into a tropical storm on December 15 , and a typhoon by December 17 . Early on December 20 , Marge peaked in intensity before turning south of due west due to a strong surface high to its north . On December 21 , Marge moved into the southern Philippines which accelerated its weakening trend . On December 22 , Marge regained tropical storm status and soon after moving into the South China sea , the cyclone weakened into a tropical depression late on December 23 . The depression moved westward for another day before dissipating on December 24 . Marge 's circulation aided the global journey of the Rutan Voyager aircraft , which went on to circle the Earth on one tank of fuel . 
