Typhoon In-Fa Moves Toward Southwestern Ryukyu Islands

Typhoon In-Fa moved toward the southwestern Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon In-Fa was located at latitude 23.9°N and longitude 126.5°E which put it about 155 miles (250 km) east-southeast of Ishigaki, Japan. In-Fa was moving toward the west-southwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 951 mb.

Typhoon In-Fa moved closer to the southwestern Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday. In-Fa was a large, powerful typhoon. A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (50 km) was at the center of Typhoon In-Fa. The eye was nearly surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. There was a break in the eastern side of the ring around the eye. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon In-Fa. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.

The circulation around Typhoon In-Fa was large. Winds to typhoon force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of In-Fa. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon In-Fa was 19.2. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 25.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 44.3.

Typhoon In-Fa will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. In-Fa will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon In-Fa is likely to strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane during the next 24 hours.

Typhoon In-Fa will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high will steer In-Fa toward the west. On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon In-Fa will be near the southwestern Ryukyu Islands in 36 hours. In-Fa will be capable of causing widespread major damage. It will also cause a significant storm surge. Typhoon In-Fa will drop heavy rain and flash floods are likely. The core of In-Fa could be northeast of Taiwan in 60 hours. In-Fa will also drop heavy rain on parts of Taiwan and flash floods are likely there as well.

Elsewhere, Tropical Depression Cempaka was moving over southern China. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Depression Cempaka was located at latitude 22.5°N and longitude 110.3°E which put it about 5 miles (10 km) east of Yulin, China. Cempaka was moving toward the northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.