Former Tropical Storm Doksuri rapidly intensified to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of Luzon on Sunday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Doksuri was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 127.4°E which put it about 475 miles (765 km) southeast of Aparri, Philippines. Doksuri was moving toward the west-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 972 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Doksuri rapidly intensified to a typhoon during the past 12 hours. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Doksuri’s circulation. An eye at the center of circulation was evident on conventional and microwave satellite images. 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 of Typhoon Doksuri. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. The removal of large quantities of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Doksuri increased while Doksuri rapidly intensified. Winds to typhoon force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Doksuri’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 215 miles (345 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Doksuri was 13.9. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 22.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 36.0.

Typhoon Doksuri will move through an environment very 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. Typhoon Doksuri is likely to continue to intensify rapidly during the next 24 hours. Doksuri could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon 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, Typhoon Doksuri could be near northeastern Luzon within 48 hours. Doksuri could approach southern Taiwan in 72 hours.