Tropical Storm Doksuri Intensifies East of the Philippines

Tropical Storm Doksuri intensified east of the Philippines on Saturday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Doksuri was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 128.7°E which put it about 830 miles (1340 km) southeast of Taipei, Taiwan. Doksuri was moving toward the west-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

Tropical Storm Doksuri exhibited better organization as it intensified over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines on Saturday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the eastern side of the center of Doksuri’s circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. More thunderstorms developed in bands in the eastern half of Tropical Storm Doksuri. Bands in the western half of Doksuri still consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Doksuri.

Tropical Storm Doksuri will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Doksuri will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Doksuri will intensify during the next 24 hours. Doksuri is likely to strengthen to a typhoon on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Doksuri will move around the southwestern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Doksuri toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Doksuri will move closer to northern Luzon. Doksuri could reach Taiwan in less than four days.