Typhoon Noul continued to intensify on Wednesday as it passed north of Palau.  At 10:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Noul was located at latitude 10.7°N and longitude 133.7°E which put it about 270 miles north of Palau and about 550 miles east of the Philippines.  Noul was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 125 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 955 mb.

Noul is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It is moving close to the axis of an upper level ridge and so the vertical wind shear is low.  The environment is favorable for further intensification and Noul could eventually reach the equivalent of a major hurricane.

A subtropical ridge north of Noul is steering it toward the west-northwest and that motion is expected to continue for several days.   On its projected track Noul could approach the Philippines in two days and it could be near Luzon in three days.  As Noul nears Luzon it is expected to turn more toward the north.  If the circulation is intact after it crosses Luzon, it could head toward Taiwan.