Typhoon Nangka has moved steadily northward toward Japan during the past several days.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Nangka was located at latitude 26.0°N and longitude 136.4°E which put it about 580 miles (935 km) south of Kobe, Japan.  Nangka was moving toward the north at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 Nangka went through several eyewall replacement cycles in recent days which produced fluctuations in its intensity.  It currently has a circular, slightly ragged eye.  The circulation is still fairly symmetrical although the thunderstorms appear to be taller and stronger in the eastern half of the circulation.  There is strong upper level divergence to the east of the circulation.  Nangka remains over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 28°C.  There is little vertical wind shear and the typhoon has the potential for some intensification during the next 24 hours.

A subtropical ridge located east of Nangka is steering it toward the north and that general steering pattern is expected to continue during the next two days.  On its anticipated track Nangka could approach the island of Shikoku in about 48 hours.  The typhoon will move over cooler SSTs when it nears Japan, which will weaken it somewhat.  However, Nagka is a large powerful typhoon.  It has a Hurricane Intensity Index of 17.8 and a Hurricane Size Index of 26.7, which gives it a Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index of 44.5.  At its current size and intensity Nanga is capable of producing widespread serious damage.