Typhoon Guchol moved toward the north over the Western North Pacific Ocean on Friday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Guchol was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 130.0°E which put it about 465 miles (750 km) south of Minamidiatojima, Japan. Guchol was moving toward the north at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 970 mb.

Typhoon Guchol was showing evidence of weakening on Friday morning. A circular eye with a diameter of 50 miles (80 km) was at the center of Guchol’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. There was a break in the northwestern part of the ring of storms. Other thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and eastern sides of Typhoon Guchol. Bands in the northern and western parts of Guchol’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of circulation 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 Guchol. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 185 miles (295 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Guchol will move through an environment that will become less favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Guchol will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. Typhoon Guchol will move closer to an upper level trough west of Japan. The upper level trough will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the northern part of Guchol’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. The increase in wind shear will make the environment less favorable for intensification. Typhoon Guchol could weaken 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 north during the next 24 hours. The upper level trough west of Japan will steer Guchol toward the northeast during the weekend. On its anticipated track Typhoon Guchol could pass between Minamidaitojima and Iwo To during fthe weekend.