Tag Archives: Placer

Malakas Intensifies to a Typhoon North of Yap

Former Tropical Storm Malakas intensified to a typhoon north of Yap on Monday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Malakas was located at latitude 14.5°N and longitude 135.6°E which put it about 365 miles (585 km) north-northwest of Yap. Malakas was moving toward the north-northwest at 9 m.p.h (15 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 976 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Malakas intensified to a typhoon on Monday over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western, southern and eastern sides of the center of Malakas. An eyewall appeared to be forming, but the rainband had not yet wrapped completely around the northern side of the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Malakas. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Malakas. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Malakas will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Malakas will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Malakas’ circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be large enough to prevent strengthening. Typhoon Malakas will intensify during the next 36 hours. Malakas could intensify more rapidly after an inner core with an eye and an eyewall develops. Typhoon Malakas could strengthen to a the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Malakas will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next several days. The high pressure system will steer Malakas toward the north during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Typhoon Malakas will remain west of the Marianas during the next several days. Malakas will move toward the northeast after it moves around the western end of the high pressure system. Typhoon Malakas could approach Iwo To in three days.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression Megi dropped heavy rain over the central Philippines. There were reports of mudslides and casualties caused by the heavy rain. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Depression Megi was located at latitude 11.3°N and longitude 124.0°E which put it about 40 miles (65 km) south-southeast of Placer, Philippines. Megi was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h (8 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 1004 mb.

Strengthening Typhoon Phanfone Makes Landfall in Central Philippines

A strengthening Typhoon Phanfone made landfall in the central Philippines on Tuesday morning.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Phanfone was located at latitude 11.6°N and longitude 124.1°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) southeast of Placer, Philippines.  Phanfone was moving toward the west-northwest at 19 m.p.h. (31 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.

Typhoon Phanfone strengthened quickly as it made landfall in the central Philippines.  A small circular eye became more distinct on  satellite imagery.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center.  The Hurricane intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Phanfone was 17.8.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 10.8 and the Hurricane Wind intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 28.6.

The center of Typhoon Phanfone made landfall near Guiuan on Samar.  The center of Phanfone passed near Tacloban on Leyte before it moved over the Visayan Sea.  Typhoon Phanfone brought strong winds and heavy rain to Samar and Leyte.  The winds were strong enough to cause serious damage and regional power outages.  The heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Typhoon Phanfone moved through a favorable environment that allowed to strengthen.  Phanfone moved over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 29°C.  It moved through a region where the upper level winds were weak and there was little vertical wind shear.  The core of Phanfone moved quickly over narrow portions of Samar and Leyte and the core remained intact.  Typhoon Phanfone could strengthen while the enter moves across the Visayan Sea and it could intensify into the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Phanfone will move south of a subtropical ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next several days.  The ridge will steer Phanfone toward the west-northwest.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Phanfone will pass near Masbate and the northern end of Panay Island.  Phanfone could be near Mindoro in about 12 hours.  Typhoon Phanfone will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Masbate, the northern end of Panay Island, the northern end of Negros and Mindoro.  Conditions will improve gradually when Phanfone moves away from Samar and Leyte.