Former Tropical Storm Saudel strengthened to a typhoon over the South China Sea on Wednesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Saudel was located at latitude 17.1°N and longitude 116.0°E which put it about 515 miles (830 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam. Saudel was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 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 979 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Saudel intensified after the circulation moved over the South China Sea west of Luzon. Satellite imagery provided indications that a small circular eye might be forming at the center of circulation. The inner end of a rainband was wrapping around the potential eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that rainband. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Saudel. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Saudel. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center.

Typhoon Saudel will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Saudel will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  It will be in a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Saudel will intensify during the next day or so. After that time an upper level ridge over eastern Asia will generate easterly winds which blow toward the top of Saudel’s circulation during the weekend. Those winds will cause more vertical wind shear, which could cause Saudel to weaken.

Typhoon Saudel will move south of a ridge of high pressure over eastern Asia.  The ridge will steer Saudel toward the west during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Saudel will approach Hainan Island in about 48 hours. Saudel could approach the coast of Vietnam in about 72 hours.