Typhoon Noru Skirts Coast of Shikoku on Way to Honshu

The eye of Typhoon Noru skirted the coast of Shikoku on Sunday as it moved closer to a landfall on Honshu.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Noru was located at latitude 33.6°N and longitude 134.5°W which put it about 85 miles (135 km) southwest of Osaka, Japan.  Noru was moving toward the northeast at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 970 mb.

The structure of Typhoon Noru improved on Sunday.  The circulation contracted around an eye with a diameter of approximately 20 miles (32 km).  They eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in the ring of storms.  Additional spiral bands were revolving around the core of Typhoon Noru.

An upper level trough northwest of Japan steered Typhoon Noru toward the northeast on Sunday.  The eye of Noru moved near the south coast of Shikoku.  The eye passed south of Kochi and very near Muroto, Toyo and Kainan.  Typhoon Noru brought gusty winds and heavy rain to the southern parts of Shikoku.

Typhoon Noru is expected to continue to move toward the northeast on Monday.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Noru is expected to skirt the east coast of Shikoku and make landfall on Honshu near Wakayama.   After it makes landfall, Typhoon Noru is forecast to pass near Osaka and Kyoto.  Typhoon Noru will weaken as it moves across Honshu, but it will produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain.  The rain could cause floods in some locations.