Typhoon Noru moved over the South China Sea toward Vietnam on Monday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Noru was located at latitude 15.9°N and longitude 113.3E which put it about 380 miles (615 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam. Noru was moving toward the west at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

Typhoon Noru strengthened on Monday afternoon as it moved toward central Vietnam. A small circular eye was present at the center of Noru’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Noru. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.

The circulation around Typhoon Noru increased in size on Monday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Noru’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 180 miles (290 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Norw was 17.8. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 34.7. Typhoon Nora was capable of causing regional serious damage.

Typhoon Noru will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Noru will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge over eastern China. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Noru’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Typhoon Noru is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours. Noru could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Noru will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Noru toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Typhoon Noru will hit the coast of Vietnam near Da Nang in 24 hours. Typhoon Noru will be capable of causing major damage when it hits central Vietnam. Noru will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to central Vietnam. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Kulap passed near Iwo To. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Kulap was located at latitude 27.4°N and longitude 141.8°E which put it about 140 miles (225 km) north-northeast of Iwo To. Kulap was moving toward the north at 20 m.p.h. (32 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 997 mb.