Typhoon Lingling sped toward the Korean peninsula on Friday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Lingling was located at latitude 34.8°N and longitude 125.0°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) west of Mokpo, South Korea.  Lingling was moving toward the north at 30 m.p.h. (48 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and thee were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 955 mb.

Typhoon Lingling was weakening gradually while it was speeding toward the north.  Lingling was moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 26°C.  An upper level trough over eastern Asia was producing strong southerly winds which blowing toward the top of the typhoon.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  The circulation around Typhoon Lingling was also pulling in drier air from Asia around the southern side of the circulation.  Even though it was weakening, Lingling remained a dangerous typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 45 miles (75 km) from the center of circulation.  The stronger winds were primarily in the eastern half of the circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 220 miles (350 km) from the center.

The upper trough over eastern Asia was steering Typhoon Lingling rapidly toward the north.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Lingling could reach the west coast of North Korea in less than 12 hours.  Lingling will be capable of causing serious damage.  It will also drop locally heavy rain over the Korean peninsula which could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Storm Faxai strengthened into a typhoon east of iwo To.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Faxai was located at latitude 26.1°N and longitude 145.6°E which put it about 325 miles (520 km) east of Iwo To.  Faxai was moving toward the west-northwest at 21 m.p.h. (34 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 979 mb.  Typhoon Faxai is forecast to move toward the northwest and strengthen.  Faxai could intensify into the equivalent of a major hurricane.  Typhoon Faxi could approach the area around Tokyo, Japan in less than 72 hours.