Tropical Storm Lupit dropped very heavy rain on Taiwan on Friday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Lupit was located at latitude 25.1°N and longitude 120.5°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) west of Taipei, Taiwan. Lupit was moving toward the east at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Bands of rain on the eastern side of Tropical Storm Lupit dropped very heavy rain over much of Taiwan on Friday. Radar estimates of the rainfall by Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau were as high as two feet (0.6 meters) in some locations. Southerly and southeasterly winds on the eastern side of Tropical Storm Lupit were pushing air up the slopes of mountains on Taiwan. The enhanced rising motion was contributing to prolonged periods of very heavy rain. The very heavy rainfall was creating a very high danger of widespread flash floods.

Tropical Storm Lupit began to strengthen slowly after the center of circulation moved over the Taiwan Strait. The circulation around Lupit was asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms and highest wind speeds were in bands on the eastern side of Tropical Storm Lupit. Bands in the western half of Lupit consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Northerly winds circulating around the western side of the tropical storm were transporting drier air into the western half of Lupit. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles on the eastern side of Lupit. The in the western side of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Lupit will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high will steer Lupit toward the east during the next 12 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Lupit could be near Taipei in six hours. Lupit will continue to drop very heavy rain over Taiwan during the next 12 hours and the risk of flash floods will be very high. The high pressure system will steer Tropical Storm Lupit toward the northeast during the weekend. Lupit could also bring gusty winds and heavy rain to portions of the Ryukyu Islands.

Tropical Storm Lupit will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next several days. Lupit will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the northeastern part of an upper level ridge. The upper level winds are weaker in that part of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Lupit is likely to intensify during the weekend unless the center passes over northern Taiwan. If the center crosses northern Taiwan, then mountains will disrupt the low level circulation.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Mirinae was spinning south of Japan and Tropical Storm Nida was speeding away to the east of Japan. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Mirinae was located at latitude 29.0°N and longitude 137.3°E which put it about 480 miles (775 km) south-southwest of Tokyo, Japan. Mirinae was moving toward the east-northeast at 21 m.p.h. (33 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Nide was located at latitude 38.1°N and longitude 156.6°E which put it about 775 miles (1250 km) east-southeast of Misawa, Japan. Nida was moving toward the east-northeast at 22 m.p.h. (35 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 980 mb.