Typhoon Doksuri Rapidly Intensifies to Equivalent of a Major Hurricane

Typhoon Doksuri rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane on Sunday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Doksuri was located at latitude 15.5°N and longitude 126.3°E which put it about 390 miles (615 km) southeast of Aparri, Philippines. Doksuri was moving toward the west-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (230 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Typhoon Doksuri rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of Luzon on Sunday. An eye with a diameter of 40 miles (65 km) was at the center of Doksuri’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 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 when 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 220 miles (355 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Doksuri was 20.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 22.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 43.3. Doksuri was capable of causing widespread major damage.

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 will continue to intensify during the next 24 hours. Doksuri could intensify rapidly at times.

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 36 hours. Doksuri could approach southern Taiwan in 60 hours.