Typhoon Molave intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane east of Vietnam on Monday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Molave was located at latitude 13.4°N and longitude 114.1°E which put it about 465 miles (750 km) east-southeast of Da Nang, Vietnam. Molave was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 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. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 952 mb.

Typhoon Molave intensified steadily on Monday and it strengthened into the equivalent of a major hurricane over the South China Sea east of Vietnam. An eye appeared at the center of Typhoon Molave intermittently on satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Molave. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the typhoon.

The circulation around Typhoon Molave increased in size on Monday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Molave. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 190 miles (305 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Molave was 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 20.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 40.9. Typhoon Molave was capable of causing major damage.

Typhoon Molave will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Molave will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge. The ridge will produce easterly winds which will cause some vertical wind shear. The wind shear will limit the intensification during the next 12 hours. The upper level easterly winds could get stronger later on Tuesday. Stronger winds would cause more vertical wind shear which could cause Molave to start to weaken.

Typhoon Molave will move south of a high pressure system over eastern Asia. The high will steer Molave toward the west. On its anticipated track Typhoon Molave will approach the coast of Vietnam near Quy Nhon in about 24 hours. Molave will be capable of causing serious wind damage when it makes landfall. Wind blowing water toward the coast could cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along the coast of central Vietnam. Typhoon Molave will drop locally heavy rain over central Vietnam, southern Laos, northern Cambodia and northeastern Thailand. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some of those places.