Tropical Storm Wipha strengthened as it moved closer to Hong Kong on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Wipha was located at latitude 21.1°N and longitude 117.1°E which put the center about 240 miles (390 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Wipha was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.
Tropical Storm Wipha strengthened on Saturday as it moved closer to Hong Kong. The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Wipha’s circulation. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Storm Wipha. Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Wipha’s circulation. Bands in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Storm Wipha consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Wipha generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the southwest of the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Wipha was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 195 miles (315 km) from the center of Wipha’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Wipha will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Wipha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southeastern side of an upper level ridge that is over China. The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Wipha’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification but the wind shear may be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Wipha could intensify during the next 12 hours. Wipha could strengthen to a typhoon during that time.
Tropical Storm Wipha will move around the southern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean and eastern China. The high pressure system will steer Wipha toward the west-northwest during the next 18 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Wipha will be near Hong Kong in 18 hours.
Tropical Storm Wipha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Hong Kong. Heavy rain could cause flash floods and mudslides. Tropical Storm Wipha will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern Guangdong.
