Former Tropical Storm Guchol strengthened to a typhoon on Wednesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Guchol was located at latitude 16.1°N and longitude 131.6°E which put it about 670 miles (1080 km) south of Minamidiatojima, Japan. Guchol was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Guchol strengthened to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean west of the Marianas on Wednesday night. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Typhoon Guchol. A circular eye was visible on satellite images at the center of Guchol’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core or Typhoon Guchol. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Guchol. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Guchol will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Guchol will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Guchol is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Typhoon Guchol will move around the western part of high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Guchol toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. Guchol will move toward the northeast later this week after it passes the western end of the high pressure system. On its anticipated track Typhoon Guchol could be between Minamidaitojima and Iwo To in four days.