Former Tropical Storm Mindulle strengthened to a typhoon south-southwest of Iwo To on Friday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Mindulle was located at latitude 17.1°N and longitude 138.1°E which put it about 565 miles (910 km) south-southwest of Iwo To. Mindulle moving toward the northwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Mindulle strengthened to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean on Friday night. A circular eye developed at the center of Typhoon Mindulle. A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Mindulle. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Mindulle. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 145 miles (230 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Mindulle will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Mindulle will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move into a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Mindulle will continue to intensify during the next 48 hours. Mindulle could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Mindulle will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next several days. The high will steer Mindulle slowly toward the northwest during the next several days. On its anticipated track Typhoon Mindulle could be southwest of Iwo To by the end of the weekend.