Monthly Archives: October 2017

Powerful Typhoon Lan Speeds Toward Japan

Powerful Typhoon Lan sped toward Japan on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Lan was located at latitude 28.9°N and longitude 134.5°E, which put it about 575 miles (925 km) southwest of Tokyo, Japan.  Lan was moving toward the north-northeast at 27 m.p.h. (43 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 145 m.p.h. (230 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 170 m.p.h. (275 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 928 mb.

Lan is a large and powerful typhoon.  There is an eye at the center of circulation, but the eye has become less clear during the past few hours.  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounds the eye and the strongest winds are occurring in that ring of storms.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the core of Typhoon Lan.  The outer bands in the western half of the circulation consist primarily of low clouds and showers.  Winds to typhoon force extend out about 45 miles (75 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 335 miles (540 km) from the center.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Lan was 29.9.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 20.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 50.5.

Typhoon Lan has reached its maximum intensity and it will weaken during the next several days.  Lan is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C, but it will move over colder water when it moves farther north.  Westerly winds in the upper levels are starting to increase the vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Lan also appears to be drawing cooler and drier air into the western side of the circulation.  Cooler water, more vertical wind shear and drier air will cause steady weakening of Typhoon Lan.

Typhoon Lan is moving around the western end of a ridge which is steering the typhoon rapidly toward the north-northeast.  Westerly winds in the upper levels will carry Lan quickly toward Japan.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Lan will approach Honshu and the area near Tokyo in 12 to 18 hours.  Lan will still be a strong typhoon when it gets to Japan.  Typhoon will bring strong winds and drop locally heavy rain over the area around Tokyo.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods.

Typhoon Lan Intensifies Into Equivalent of a Major Hurricane

Typhoon Lan intensified into the equivalent of a major hurricane on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Lan was located at latitude 20.9°N and longitude 130.3°E which put it about 450 miles (720 km) south-southeast of Okinawa.  Lan was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 942 mb.

Typhoon Lan has a large and powerful circulation.  There is a large circular eye at the center of circulation.  The eye has a diameter of 60 miles (96 km) and it is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms.  The strongest winds are occurring in that ring of storms.  Multiple bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the core of the circulation.  Typhoon Lan is generating strong upper level divergence which is pumping mass away to the northeast of the typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extend out about 100 miles (160 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 330 miles (530 km) from the center.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Lan is 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 37.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 57.8.  Those indices indicate that Typhoon Lan is capable of causing widespread major damage.

Typhoon Lan will move through an environment that will be favorable for further intensification during the next 24 hours.  Lan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 31°C.  An upper level ridge centered east of Lan is producing southerly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  There are also southerly winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere and thus there is not much vertical wind shear.  The southerly winds in the upper levels are actually enhancing the upper level divergence to the northeast of Typhoon Lan.  Warm water and little vertical wind shear will allow Typhoon Lan to strengthen during the next day or so.  When Lan moves farther north, it will reach the upper level westerly winds in the middle latitudes.  The vertical wind shear will increase at that time, and Typhoon Lan will start to weaken.

Typhoon Lan is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which is steering the typhoon toward the north.  As Typhoon Lan moves farther toward the north, it will begin to move toward the north-northeast.  When Lan reaches the upper level westerlies on Sunday, it will turn more toward the northeast.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Lan will pass east of Okinawa and the Ryuku Islands on Saturday.  Typhoon Lan will approach Honshu in about 48 hours.

Typhoon Lan will still be a large powerful typhoon when it approaches Honshu.  Lan will be capable of producing strong gusty winds and very heavy rainfall.  Flash floods could occur when Typhoon Lan moves across Japan.

Typhoon Lan Heads North and Strengthens

Typhoon Lan headed northward and strengthened on Thursday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Lan was located at latitude 19.2°N and longitude 130.0°E which put it about 550 miles (885 km) south-southeast of Okinawa.  Lan was moving toward the north at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Lan strengthened into a large powerful typhoon on Thursday.  A big circular eye developed at the core of Typhoon Lan.  The eye was not perfectly clear.  There was a small area of convection at the center of the eye and there was a clear moat around that area.  A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Multiple bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the typhoon.  Lan is a very large typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out up to 140 miles (225 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out up to 305 miles (490 km) from the center

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Lan was 16.5.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 46.8 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 63.3.  The circulation of Typhoon Lan is almost as large as the circulation of Hurricane Sandy was when Sandy hit the U.S. in 2012.

Typhoon Lan will be moving through an environment favorable for further intensification.  Lan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  It will move through and area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Lan could intensify into the equivalent of a major hurricane during the next day or two.

Typhoon Lan is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which is steering the typhoon toward the north.  Lan is likely to continue to move toward the north on Friday.  The typhoon will be affected by westerly winds when it moves farther north.  Those winds will cause Typhoon Lan to move more toward the north-northeast during the weekend.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Lan could pass southeast of Okinawa in 24 to 36 hours.  Lan could approach Honshu within three days.

Tropical Cyclone Forms Over Northern Bay of Bengal

A tropical cyclone formed over the northern Bay of Bengal on Thursday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of the tropical cyclone was located at latitude 20.0°N and longitude 86.5°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) south-southwest of Paradip, India.  The cyclone was moving toward the north-northeast at 18 m.p.h. (30 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 999 mb.

A center of low pressure developed within a broader area of showers and thunderstorms over the northern Bay of Bengal on Thursday.  A wide band of showers and thunderstorms wrapped around the eastern side of the circulation.  The center of circulation was west of that primary rainband.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms formed in other parts of the circulation.  The circulation exhibited enough organization and characteristics to be classified as a tropical cyclone.  The Indian Meteorological Department was giving the the system a classification of depression.

The tropical cyclone is being steered north by a ridge of high pressure to its east.  On its anticipated track the tropical cyclone with make landfall on the coast of the northern Bay of Bengal within 12 hours.  Although the tropical cyclone is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 31°C and there is not much vertical wind shear, it does not have much time to intensify before the center moves inland.  The tropical cyclone could strenthen a little more prior to landfall.  It will bring a storm surge of several feet (one to two meters) to the coast along the northern Bay of Bengal.  The tropical cyclone will also drop locally heavy rain and flooding could occur in some parts of India and Bangladesh.

Lan Strengthens to a Typhoon East of the Philippines

Tropical Storm Lan strengthened east of the Philippines on Tuesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated it a typhoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Lan was located at latitude 11.2°N and longitude 132.4°E which put it about 515 miles (830 km) east of the Philippines.  Lan was moving toward the north-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 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. (150 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

The circulation of Typhoon Lan became much more well organized on Tuesday.  Several long rainbands developed in the circulation and other smaller bands formed in the periphery of the typhoon.  The circulation of Typhoon Lan was circular and symmetrical.  Thunderstorms near the core of Lan began to generate strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the typhoon in all directions.  The upper level divergence allowed the surface pressure to decrease and the wind speed to increase.  Lan is a large typhoon.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 230 miles (370 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Lan will move through an environment favorable for intensification.  Lan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  Typhoon Lan will move through an area where the upper level winds will be weak and there will be little vertical wind shear during the next several days.  Typhoon Lan will continue to strengthen and there could be a period of rapid intensification after a well formed eye develops at the center of circulation.

Typhoon Lan was in an area where the steering currents were weak and it moved little on Tuesday.  An upper level ridge north of Lan blocked the typhoon from moving northward.  A weakness is forecast to develop in the ridge and the models are forecasting that Typhoon Lan will move northward during the rest of this week.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Lan will remain east of the Philippines.  Lan could be southeast of Okinawa in three or four days.

Former Hurricane Ophelia Brings Strong Winds to Ireland

Former Hurricane Ophelia brought strong winds to Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom on Monday.  Although former Hurricane Ophelia had made a transition to an extratropical cyclone before it reached Ireland, it was still a very powerful storm when it moved across that region.  There were reports of several fatalities, damage and power outages across Ireland.  Met Eireann (the Irish meteorological agency) reported the following wind gusts during the passage of former Hurricane Ophelia.

At the Fastnet Lighthouse (anemometer at 200 feet [61 meters] ) there was a gust of 191 km/h (118 m.p.h.).  Sherkin Island reported a wind gust of 135 km/h (84 m.p.h.) before the power went out.  Cork airport reported a wind gust of 126 km/h (78 m.p.h.) before the power went out. Shannon airport reported a wind gust of 122 km/h (76 m.p.h.).  Roches Point reported a wind gust of 156 km/h (97 m.p.h.).  The Kinsale Platform reported a wind gust of 141 km/h (87 m.p.h.) and the Dublin airport reported a wind gust of 104 km/h (65 km/h).

Tropical Storm Lan Develops Northwest of Palau

Tropical Storm Lan developed northwest of Palau on Monday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Lan was located at latitude 10.7°N and longitude 132.1°E which put it about 275 miles (445 km) north-northwest of Koror, Palau.  Lan was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 993 mb.

A more distinct center of circulation developed within Tropical Storm Lan, but the low pressure system was still in the process of organizing.  The low level center of circulation of Lan was at the end of a long rainband that extends from the western periphery around the southern and eastern parts of the tropical storm.  That low level center appeared to be on the northern side of a much larger counterclockwise rotation.  Most of the stronger showers and thunderstorms were occurring in the long rainband.  A few new, thinner bands of showers and thunderstorms seemed to be forming inside the long rainband to west of the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Lan will be moving through an environment that will be favorable for intensification.  Lan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  An upper level ridge north of Lan is producing easterly winds which were blowing toward the top of the circulation.  There was some vertical wind shear, but it was not strong enough to prevent the intensification of Tropical Storm Lan.  Tropical Storm Lan is likely to intensify more slowly while the circulation organizes.  Once the center of circulation become tighter, then Lan could intensify more quickly.  A period of rapid intensification could occur, if Lan becomes a typhoon and an eye develops.

The ridge north of Lan and the counterclockwise flow to its south are combining to steer the tropical storm toward the west.  Numerical models are indicating that a weakness will develop in the ridge north of Tropical Storm Lan.  If that happens, then the steering current could weaken for 12 to 24 hours and Tropical Storm Lan might not move much.  If the break in the ridge becomes more pronounced, then Tropical Storm Lan could start to move more toward the north.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Lan is expected to remain east of the Philippines, but the tropical storm could move closer to the northern Philippines if the forecast weakness in the ridge does not occur.

Typhoon Khanun Makes Landfall in Southern China

Typhoon Khanun made landfall near Zhanjiang in southern China on Sunday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Khanun was located at latitude 20.9°N and longitude 109.3°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km/h) south-southeast of Beihai, China.  Khanun was moving toward the west at 17 m.p.h. (27 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. (150 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 969 mb.

Typhoon Khanun brought gusty winds and locally heavy rain over coastal sections of southern China on Sunday.  Khanun has weakened since it made landfall.  An upper level ridge centered over eastern China is producing easterly winds which are blowing over the top of the circulation.  Those winds are causing strong vertical wind shear, which is pushing the upper half of the circulation to the west of low level circulation.  The circulation is pulling drier air from Asia into the western part of Typhoon Khanun and the drier air is wrapping around the southern and eastern sides of the circulation.   Interaction with land and strong vertical wind shear will continue to weaken Khanun on Monday.  Khanun will bring rain to southern China and northern Vietnam as it weakens.

Elsewhere over the western North Pacific Ocean Tropical Depression Twentyfive-W formed west of Yap.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Twentyfive-W was located at latitude 10.3°N and longitude 136.1°E which put it about 125 miles (200 km) west-northwest of Yap.  It was moving toward the north-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 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 999 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Depression Twentyfive-W is still organizing.  Most of the showers and thunderstorms are in a primary rainband that wraps around the eastern side of the circulation.  The depression is moving through an area favorable for intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are weak and there is not much vertical wind shear.  Tropical Depression Twentyfive-W is likely to be become a tropical storm during the next 24 hours and it could become a typhoon in a couple of days.  The depression is forecast to move toward the north-northwest as it moves around the western end of a subtropical ridge over the Pacific Ocean.

Khanun Intensifies Into a Typhoon Southeast of Hong Kong

Tropical Storm Khanun intensified into a typhoon southeast of Hong Kong on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Khanun was located at latitude 20.1°N and longitude 114.2°W which put it about 170 miles (275 km) south-southeast of Hong Kong.  Khanun was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (29 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 965 mb.

The circulation of Typhoon Khanun became much more well organized on Saturday.  A small circular eye formed at the center of circulation.  A tight ring of strong thunderstorms formed around the eye.  The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Khanun.  There were many more showers and thunderstorms in the western half of the circulation.  The storms in the core of Khanun were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the west of the typhoon.  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 Khanun will move through an environment favorable for intensification for about another 12 to 18 hours.  Khanun will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  An upper level ridge north of Typhoon Khanun is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  The easterly winds are causing some vertical wind shear, but the shear is not strong enough to prevent intensification.  The circulation of Typhoon Khanun will interact with land in 12 to 18 hours and that interaction should halt further intensification.

The ridge north of Khanun has been steering the typhoon toward the west-northwest.  The ridge is forecast to strengthen on Sunday and it will steer Typhoon Khanun more toward the west.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Khanun will pass south of Hong Kong and Macao on Sunday.  Khanun will approach the south coast of China near Zhanjiang in 12 to 18 hours.  Typhoon Khanun will bring strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain to southern China west of Hong Kong and Macao.  The heavy rain could cause flooding in some locations.  Typhoon Khanun will be weaker when it moves over the Gulf of Tongking in about 24 hours.

Ophelia Strengthens to Major Hurricane South of the Azores

Hurricane Ophelia strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Saturday morning as it moved south of the Azores.  That made Ophelia a major hurricane.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Ophelia was located at latitude 34.8°N and longitude 26.6°W which put it about 220 miles (355 km) south of the Azores.  Ophelia was moving toward the northeast at 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 135 m.p.h. (220 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 960 mb.

It is very unusual to have such a strong hurricane near the Azores, but Ophelia contains all of the elements of a major hurricane.  There is a circular eye at the center of circulation.  The eye is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds are occurring in that ring of storms.  Well formed rainbands exists in the outer portions of the circulation.  Storms in the core of Ophelia are generating upper level divergence which is pumping mass away to the northeast of the hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extend out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 125 miles (205 km) from the center.

Hurricane Ophelia is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 25°C.  Normally, water at that temperature would be considered to be too cool to support the development of a major hurricane.  However, the temperature of the air in the upper troposphere is also cool and so the atmosphere is unstable enough to allow for the development of deep convection.  An upper level trough west of Ophelia is producing southwesterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  There are also southwesterly winds in the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere and so the vertical wind shear is not strong enough to inhibit intensification

Hurricane Ophelia will be moving over cooler water and it is likely to weaken gradually during the next several days.  When Ophelia moves over the cooler water it will make a transition to an extratropical cyclone.  The size of the circulation will increase during the transition.  Hurricane Ophelia will evolve into a large very powerful extratropical cyclone during the next several days.

The trough west of Ophelia is steering the hurricane toward the northeast.  Hurricane Ophelia is expected to turn more toward the north during the next two or three days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Ophelia will pass east of the Azores later today.  The strong extratropical cyclone that Ophelia will transition into could approach Ireland and the United Kingdom by Monday morning.  That cyclone will bring very strong winds and heavy rain to that region.