Tag Archives: Chichi Jima

Typhoon Lan Rapidly Intensifies to Equivalent of a Major Hurricane

Typhoon Lan rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane over the Western North Pacific Ocean south of Japan on Thursday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Lan was located at latitude 27.1°N and longitude 142.8°E which put it about 615 miles (995 km) south-southeast of Tokyo, Japan. Lan was moving toward the north at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 936 mb.

Typhoon Lan intensified to the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Thursday. A circular eye with a diameter of 28 miles (45 km) developed at the center of Lan’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Lan. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon in all directions. The removal of large quantities of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Lan increased when Lan intensified rapidly on Thursday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Lan’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Lan was 25.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 14.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size (HWISI) was 39.1. Typhoon Lan was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Harvey when Harvey hit Texas in 2017.

Typhoon Lan will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Lan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Lan is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours unless the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall. If concentric eyewalls form, then an eyewall replacement cycle could cause Typhoon Lan to weaken.

Typhoon Lan will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Lan toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Lan will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Chichi Jima during the next 24 hours. Typhoon Lan could approach Honshu in four days.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Storm Khanun produced gusty winds and locally heavy rain over South Korea. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Depression Khanun was located at latitude 38.9°N and longitude 127.0°E which put it about 85 miles (135 km) north-northeast of Seoul, South Korea. Khanun was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Typhoon Hinnamnor Rapidly Intensifies to Equivalent of a Major Hurricane

Typhoon Hinnamnor rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane on Monday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Hinnamnor was located at latitude 27.3°N and longitude 140.4°E which put it about 835 miles (1345 km) east of Okinawa. Hinnamnor was moving toward the west at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (230 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Typhoon Hinnamnor rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane in a very favorable environment over the Western North Pacific Ocean northwest of Chichi Jima. A small circular eye was at the center of Hinnamnor’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Hinnamnor. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. The removal of large quantities of mass allowed the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The circulation around Typhoon Hinnamnor was small. Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Hinnamnor. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 85 miles (135 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Hinnamnor was 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 9.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 29.8.

Typhoon Hinnamnor will move through an area favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Hinnamnor will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 30˚C. It will move through region where the winds at all levels of the troposphere are blowing from the east. Since the winds at different levels are blowing from the same direction, there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Hinnamnor is likely to continue to intensify rapidly during the next 24 hours. Hinnamnor could strengthen to the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Typhoon Hinnamnor will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends over Japan. The high pressure system will steer Hinnamnor toward the west during the 48 hours. On its anticipated track Typhoon Hinnamnor could approach the Ryukyu Islands in 48 hours. Hinnamnor will continue to produce strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain on Chichi Jima during the next few hours until it moves farther away. Typhoon Hinnamnor is likely to be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it approaches the Ryukyu Islands.

Hinnamnor Rapidly Intensifies to a Typhoon Near Chichi Jima

Former Tropical Storm Hinnamnor rapidly intensified to a typhoon near Chichi Jima on Monday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Hinnamnor was located at latitude 27.4°N and longitude 142.2°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) north of Chichi Jima. Hinnamnor was moving toward the west at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Hinnamnor rapidly intensified to a typhoon in a favorable environment over the Western North Pacific Ocean near Chichi Jima. A small circular eye formed at the center of Hinnamnor’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Hinnamnor. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.

The circulation around Typhoon Hinnamnor was small. Winds to typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Hinnamnor. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 85 miles (135 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Hinnamnor was 12.7. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 7.8 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 20.5.

Typhoon Hinnamnor will move through an area favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Hinnamnor will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 30˚C. It will move through region where the winds at all levels of the troposphere are blowing from the east. Since the winds at different levels are blowing from the same direction, there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Hinnamnor is likely to continue to intensify rapidly during the next 24 hours. Hinnamnor could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Hinnamnor will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends over Japan. The high pressure system will steer Hinnamnor toward the west during the 48 hours. On its anticipated track Typhoon Hinnamnor could approach the Ryukyu Islands in 48 hours. Hinnamnor will continue to produce strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain on Chichi Jima during the next few hours until it moves farther away. Typhoon Hinnamnor could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it approaches the Ryukyu Islands.

Typhoon Sanvu Brings Wind and Rain to Chichi Jima

Typhoon Sanvu is bringing a prolonged period of gusty winds and heavy rain to Chichi JIma, Japan.  Sanvu strengthened during the past several days while it meandered around Chichi Jima.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center to Typhoon Sanvu was located at latitude 28.1°N and longitude 142.0°E which put it about 60 miles (95 km) north-northwest of Chichi Jima, Japan.  Sanvu was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

The organization of Typhoon Sanvu has been slowly improving.  An eye developed at the center of Sanvu as the typhoon moved slowly over Chichi Jima.  A broken ring of thunderstorms surrounds the eye.  The strongest winds are occurring in the ring of storms.  A primary band of thunderstorms wraps around the western and southern sides of the center of circulation.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms are developing outside the core of Typhoon Sanvu.  Most of the bands are developing in the southern half of the circulation.  Thunderstorms in the core of Sanvu are producing upper level divergence which is pumping mass away to the north of the typhoon.

Typhoon Sanvu will move through an environment favorable for intensification for several more days.  It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  An upper level ridge east of Sanvu is producing southerly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation, but there is not much vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Sanvu is likely to continue to strengthen for another 24 to 48 hours.  Eventually, Sanvu will move over colder water and the wind shear will increase.  It will start to weaken when that happens.

Sanvu is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which steering the typhoon toward the north.  When Typhoon Sanvu moves farther north, it will be steered by an upper level trough over Japan.  Southwesterly winds will steer Sanvu toward the northeast at a faster speed in a day or two.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Sanvu would stay east of Tokyo, but it could affect the northernmost islands of Japan in four or five days.  Conditions in Chichi Jima should improve slowly as Typhoon Sanvu moves farther away.

Typhoon Krovanh Nearing Iwo To

Typhoon Krovanh continued to intensify on Thursday and it is now the equivalent of a Major Hurricane.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Krovanh was located at latitude 24.1°N and longitude 142.5°E which put it about 105 miles (170 km) southeast of Iwo To.  Krovanh was moving toward the north-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 935 mb.  The weather station on Iwo To is currently reporting sustained winds of 33 m.p.h. (53 km/h) with wind gusts to 48 m.p.h. (77 km/h).

Typhoon Krovanh has probably reached its peak intensity.  It may be pulling in some drier air from the northwest.  It also looks like an upper level trough near Japan is beginning to cause southwesterly winds over the top of the typhoon.  There is a gap in the eyewall on the south side and clouds are beginning to obscure the eye on satellite imagery.  Vertical wind shear will increase as Krovanh moves farther north and it gets closer to the upper level trough.  Krovanh will also start to move over cooler Sea Surface Temperatures which will increase the rate at which it weakens.

Typhoon Krovanh is moving around the western end of the subtropical ridge that has been steering it.  It will start to turn toward the northeast on Friday as the upper level trough begins to steer the typhoon.  On its anticipated track the center of Krovanh will pass within about 50 to 60 miles (80 to 95 km) of Iwo To during the next few hours and then it will be very near Chichi Jima in about 18 hours.  Krovanh could cause gusty winds, heavy rain and large waves as it passed near those two islands.

Krovanh Becomes a Typhoon Southeast of Iwo To

Krovanh continued to intensify rapidly on Wednesday and it reached typhoon status.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Krovanh was located at latitude 21.5°N and longitude 144.5°E which put it about 330 miles (530 km) southeast of Iwo To.  Krovanh was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 961 mb.

Typhoon Krovanh remains in a very favorable environment.  It is over water with warm Sea Surface Temperatures and the upper level winds are light.  The absence of significant vertical wind shear has allowed upper level divergence to continue to pump away mass in all directions.  The structure of the inner core of Krovanh improved as it intensified and the typhoon now has a well developed eye surrounded by a nearly complete eyewall.  The favorable environment could allow Krovanh to intensify for another 24 to 36 hours.  When the typhoon begins to approach latitude 30°N, it will begin to be affected by the upper level westerly winds in the middle latitudes.  The increased vertical wind shear will begin to weaken Krovanh.

Typhoon Krovanh is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge.  The ridge should steer Krovanh toward the northwest for another 24 hours.  When it reaches the western end of the ridge, the typhoon will start moving toward the north.  As the upper level westerly winds start to affect Krovanh, those winds will accelerate it toward the northeast.  On its anticipated track Krovanh could be approaching Iwo To in about 24 hours and it could be near Chichi Jima in about 36 hours.  Krovanh could be a strong typhoon when it passes those islands.