Tropical Storm Meari brought rain to Tokyo on Saturday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Meari was located at latitude 35.4°N and longitude 139.2°E which put it about 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Tokyo, Japan. Meari was moving toward the northeast at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

Tropical Storm Meari brought rain to the region around Tokyo on Saturday morning. The heaviest rain was falling in bands in the eastern and southern parts of Meari’s circulation. Much of the heavier rain was falling south and east of Tokyo. Bands in the northern and western parts of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The strongest winds were occurring along the coast of Honshu southeast of Tokyo.

Tropical Storm Meari was moving under the southern part of an upper level trough centered northwest of Japan. The upper level trough was producing southwesterly winds that were steering Meari toward the northeast. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Meari will move east of Japan during the next 24 hours. The rain over Honshu will diminish when Meari moves away from the coast.

Tropical Storm Meari will move through an environment unfavorable for a tropical cyclone during the next several days. Meari will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are colder than 26˚C. The upper level trough will continue to produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Meari’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The combination of colder Sea Surface Temperatures and moderate vertical wind shear could cause Tropical Storm Meari to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Meari could strengthen a little during the transition to an extatropical cyclone.