Tropical Storm Dujuan continued to strengthen on Thursday and it reached typhoon intensity.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Dujuan was located at latitude 19.4°N and longitude 132.1°E which put it about 575 miles (930 km) south-southeast of Okinawa.  Dujuan was moving toward the north-northwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 980 mb.

The circulation around Typhoon Dujuan is becoming increasingly well organized.  A spiral band wrapped entirely around the center of circulation creating a large eye in the middle of the typhoon.  Additional spiral bands are forming, especially in the southern half of the circulation.  Thunderstorms in the eyewall are generating upper level divergence which is increasing with time.  Recent satellite images suggest that they eye may be contracting which would be another sign of intensification.

Dujuan is in an environment that favors intensification.  The Sea Surface Temperatures are warm and the speed of the upper level winds is decreasing.  An upper level ridge west of Dujuan is producing some northerly winds over the top of the typhoon, but the vertical wind shear is decreasing.  Intensification is likely and a period of rapid intensification is possible.  Dujuan could become the equivalent of a major hurricane in 24 to 48 hours.

Typhoon Dujuan is between a subtropical ridge to its northeast and another ridge to its northwest.  As a result, it moved slowly toward the northwest on Thursday.  Dujuan is expected to continue to move in a general northwesterly direction for another day or two.  The ridge west of Dujuan is expected to extend north of the typhoon during the weekend.  When the ridge extends north of Dujuan, it will steer the typhoon more toward the west.

On its anticipated track Typhoon Dujuan could approach the southwestern Ryukyu Islands including Ishigaki JIma in 60 to 72 hours.  Dujuan could be near Taiwan in about three and a half days and it could reach the coast of China in less than five days.  Dujuan could be a large and powerful typhoon capable of bringing strong winds and heavy rain by the time it reaches those areas.