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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.

Tropical Storm Khanun Hits South Korea

Tropical Storm Khanun hit South Korea on Wednesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Khanun was located at latitude 35.5°N and longitude 128.4°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km) south-southeast of Chinhae, South Korea. Khanun was moving toward the north at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.

Tropical Storm Khanun hit the southern coast of South Korea on Wednesday night. The center of Khanun made landfall near Busan and Chinhae. Tropical Storm Khanun brought gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the southern half of South Korea. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (285 km) from the center of Khanun’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Khanun will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next 24 hours. The high pressure system will steer Khanun toward the north-northwest. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Khanun will be near Seoul in less than 12 hours. Khanun will continue to produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain in South Korea on Thursday. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Storm Lan intensified to a typhoon. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Lan was located at latitude 25.4°N and longitude 143.7°E which put it about 165 miles (265 km) east of Iwo To. Lan was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 975 mb. Typhoon Lan is forecast to move toward Honshu and to strengthen.

Typhoon Soulik Strikes Cheju Island

Typhoon Soulik struck Cheju Island on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Soulik was located at latitude 33.0°N and longitude 125.7°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) west of Cheju Island.  Soulik was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 969 mb.

Typhoon Soulik had a large eye and the eastern eyewall, which was the strongest part of the circulation, moved directly over Cheju Island on Wednesday.  The island would have experienced winds to typhoon force and heavy rain.  The heavy rain could produce flash floods.  Typhoon Soulik weakened as it approached Cheju.  The circulation appeared to draw some drier air around the western and southern side of the circulation.  The heaviest rain was falling in the northern and eastern quadrants of the typhoon.  Soulik was moving over cooler water and an upper level trough over eastern Asia was causing vertical wind shear.

The upper level trough will turn Typhoon Soulik toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Soulik could pass near the southwestern tip of South Korea in about 12 hours.  Soulik could make landfall near Kunsan in about 24 hours.  The eastern side of Typhoon Soulik, which is the stronger side, will pass over much of South Korea during the next 24 hours.  Soulik will produce gusty winds and it will drop locally heavy rain.  The rain could produce flash floods on the Korean peninsula.

Elsewhere over the tropical Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Cimaron moved closer to Japan.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Cimaron was located at latitude 29.4°N and longitude 135.6°E which put it about 335 miles (540 km) south of Osaka, Japan.  Cimaron was moving toward the northwest at 23 m.p.h. (37 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 956 mb.

Typhoon Cimaron is forecast to move quickly toward Japan during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Cimaron will approach the coasts of Shikoku and Honshu between Tokushima and Tanabe in about 12 hours.  Cimaron is forecast to be a typhoon when it makes landfall in Japan.  It will bring strong winds and Cimaron will drop locally heavy rain.  Flash floods could occur, especially in regions of steeper terrain.

Typhoon Soulik Threatens South Korea, Cimaron Heads Toward Japan

Typhoon Soulik threatened South Korea on Tuesday night and Typhoon Cimaron headed toward Japan.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Soulik was located at latitude 30.8°N and longitude 127.3°E which put it about 200 miles (320 km) south-southeast of Cheju, South Korea.  Soulik was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 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 956 mb.

There was a large eye with a diameter of 65 miles (105 km) at the center of Typhoon Soulik.  A ring of strong thunderstorms surround the eye, but there were some breaks in the ring of storms.  The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Soulik.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 250 miles (400 km) from the center.

Typhoon Soulik will move around the western end of a subtropical ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will steer Soulik more toward the north during the next 24 to 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Soulik will be near Cheju Island in 18 to 24 hours.  Soulik could be near Seoul, South Korea in less than 48 hours.   Typhoon Soulik will move over cooler water when it moves northward.  Vertical wind shear will also increase as an upper level trough approaches the typhoon from the west.  Soulik is likely to be a typhoon when it approaches Cheju Island.  It will drop heavy rain over South Korea and there will be a risk for flash floods.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Cimaron was located at latitude 24.8°N and longitude 139.3°E which put it about 95 miles (150 km) west-southwest of Iwo To.  Cimaron was moving toward the northwest at 19 m.p.h. (31 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (205 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 944 mb.

Upper level divergence from Typhoon Soulik had less of an effect on the outflow from Typhoon Cimaron and Cimaron strengthened on Tuesday.  Typhoon Cimaron strengthened into the equivalent of a major hurricane.  Cimaron was moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge.   On its anticipated track Typhoon Cimaron could be near the coast of Shikoku and Honshu in about 36 hours.