Tag Archives: Laoang

Typhoon Surigae Rapidly Intensifies to Equivalent of Cat. 5 Hurricane

Typhoon Surigae rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simspson Scale on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Surigae was located at latitude 12.3°N and longitude 128.8°E which put it about 275 miles (445 km) east-southeast of Laoang, Philippines. Surigae was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 180 m.p.h. (290 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 215 m.p.h. (345 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 900 mb.

Typhoon Surigae continued to intensify rapidly on Saturday. There was a circular eye with a diameter of 20 miles (32 km) at the center of Surigae. 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 Surigae. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the typhoon in all directions.

Typhoon Surigae was a large and powerful typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Surigae. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 215 miles (345 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Surigae was 42.2. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 23.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 65.9.

Typhoon Surigae will move through an environment capable of supporting a powerful typhoon during the next 24 hours. Surigae will be over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures will be near 30°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce southeasterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation. However, the winds at lower levels in the atmosphere will also blow from the southeast and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Surigae may have attained its maximum intensity even though it will move through a very favorable environment. If the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then an eyewall replacement cycle could cause Surigae to weaken.

Typhoon Surigae will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next several days. The high will steer Surigae toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. After that time Typhoon Surigae will move more toward the north. On its anticipated track the core Typhoon Surigae with the strongest winds is forecast to pass east of the Philippines.

Tropical Storm Etau Nears Vietnam, Vamco Threatens Philippines

Tropical Storm Etau neared Vietnam on Monday and newly formed Tropical Storm Vamco threatened the Philippines. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Etau was located at latitude 12.8°N and longitude 111.6°E which put it about 170 miles (280 km) east of Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. Etau was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Etau was asymmetrical. Etau was moving under the southern part of an upper level ridge over eastern Asia. The ridge was producing easterly winds which were blowing toward the top of Etau. Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear. The shear was causing the stronger thunderstorms to occur in bands on the western side of Tropical Storm Etau. The bands in the eastern side of Etau consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) in the northern half of Tropical Storm Etau. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 50 miles in the southern half of Etau.

Tropical Storm Etau will move south of a high pressure system over eastern Asia. The high will steer Etau toward the west during the next two days. On its anticipated track the center of Etau will make landfall in Vietnam near Tuy Hoa in about 12 hours.

Tropical Storm Etau will move through an environment that should allow it to maintain its intensity until it makes landfall in Vietnam. Etau will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C. The upper level ridge over eastern Asia will continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear which will limit intensification.

Since the stronger thunderstorms are in the western half of Tropical Storm Etau, heavy rain will fall over central Vietnam before the center of Etau makes landfall. Etau will drop locally heavy rain over central Vietnam, northern Cambodia, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand. The ground is already saturated in that region and flash floods are likely.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Vamco developed east of the Philippines. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Vamco was located at latitude 12.8°N and longitude 130.6°E which put it about 370 miles (605 km) east of Laoang, Philippines. Vamco was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb. Tropical Storm Vamco is forecast to move toward Luzon and to strengthen into a typhoon.

Typhoon Vongfong Makes Landfall on Samar

Typhoon Vongfong made landfall on Samar on Thursday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Vongfong was located at latitude 12.5°N and longitude 124.5°E which put it about 10 miles (15 km) west of Catarman, Philippines.  Vongfong was moving toward the west-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Typhoon Vongfong made landfall on the coast of Samar north of Dolores on Thursday.  Vongfong was the equivalent of a major hurricane at the time of landfall.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  After Typhoon Vongfong made landfall, it moved west-northwest along the northern coast of Samar.  The center of Vongfong passed near Laoang and Catarman.  There have been reports of wind damage in northern Samar.  Typhoon Vongfong also dropped heavy rain in some locations and flash floods may have occurred.

Typhoon Vongfong began to weaken after the center moved over Samar.  The eye was no longer evident on conventional satellite images.  The winds speeds were decreasing slowly.  Winds to typhoon extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

Typhoon Vongfong will move around the western end of a high pressure system centered southeast of Japan.  The high will steer Vongfong toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Vongfong will move across eastern Luzon.  The center of Vongfong will move near Bulan, Ligao, Naga, Daet, and Labo.  Typhoon Vongfong will also bring wind and rain to Sorsogon, Legaspi and Tabaco.  Heavy rain could flash floods in areas of steep terrain.

Typhoon Vongfong Nears Landfall in Samar

Typhoon Vongfong neared landfall in Samar on Wednesday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Vongfong was located near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 125.8°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) east of Dolores, Philippines.  Vongfong was moving toward the west at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and  there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 959 mb.

Typhoon Vongfong was a small but strong tropical cyclone.  There was a small circular eye at the center of circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms.  The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.

Winds to typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Typhoon Vongfong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 75 miles (120 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Vongfong was 19.2.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 5.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 24.8.  Typhoon Vongfong was capable of causing localized serious damage.

Typhoon Vongfong will move around the western end of a high pressure system centered southeast of Japan.  The high will steer Vongfong toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Vongfong will make landfall on the coast of northern Samar north of Dolores during the next 6 to 12 hours.  The center of Vongfong could be near Laoang in about 12 hours.  Typhoon Vongfong could move over southeastern Luzon later on Thursday.  The center of Vongfong could be near Legaspi in 18 hours.

The small inner core of Typhoon Vongfong will be capable of causing localized serious wind damage in northern Samar and southeastern Luzon.  Vongfong could bring strong winds to Dolores, Laoang, Catarman, Bulan, Sorsogon and Legaspi.  Typhoon Vongfong will drop locally heavy rain over northern Samar, southeastern Luzon and Catanduanes Island.  Flash floods could occur in some locations.  Vongfong could cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) in parts of northern Samar and southeastern Luzon.

Tropical Storm Fengshen Forms East of Northern Marianas

Tropical Storm Fengshen formed east of the Northern Marianas on Tuesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Fengshen was located at latitude 17.1°N and longitude 157.1°E which put it about 805 miles (1300 km) east of Saipan.  Fengshen was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

More thunderstorms developed near the center of a cluster of thunderstorms east of the Northern Marianas on Tuesday and the Japan Meteorological Society designated the system as Tropical Storm Fengshen.  The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Fengshen was asymmetrical.  Stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of the circulation.  Bands in the eastern half of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Fengshen was moving south of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge was producing easterly winds which were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear was contributing to the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.

Tropical Storm Fenshen will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Fengshen will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  The upper level ridge will continue to cause vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Fengshen will intensify gradually and it could strengthen into a typhoon during the next two to three days.

Tropical Storm Fengshen will move around the western end of the ridge over the Western North Pacific.  The ridge will steer Fengshen toward the west-northwest during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Tropical Storm Fengshen will move more toward the north in about 36 hours when it reaches the western end of the ridge.  On its anticipated track Fengshen will pass northeast of the Northern Marianas.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression 27W developed east of Luzon.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression 27W was located at latitude 12.1°N and longitude 130.9°E which put it about 315 miles (510 km) east of Laoang, Philippines.  The depression was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.