Typhoon Doksuri Brings Wind and Rain to the Northern Philippines

Typhoon Doksuri brought strong winds and heavy rain to the northern Philippines on Tuesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Doksuri was located at latitude 19.2°N and longitude 121.3°E which put it about 40 miles (65 km) north-northeast of Claveria, Philippines. Doksuri was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 936 mb.

Powerful Typhoon Doksuri brought strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of northern Luzon, the Babuyan Islands, and the Batanes Islands on Tuesday. The eye of Typhoon Doksuri was just north of the coast of northern Luzon. The southern part of the eyewall of Doksuri was over the coast. Strong winds in other parts of the eyewall of Typhoon Doksuri were pounding the Babuyan Islands and the Batanes Islands.

The circulation around Typhoon Doksuri continued to be very well organized even though the southern part of the typhoon was over northern Luzon. A circular eye with a diameter of 28 miles (44 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.

Doksuri continued to be a large typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Doksuri’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Doksuri was 28.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 26.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 55.2. Typhoon Doksuri was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Frances when Frances was east of Florida in 2004. Doksuri was capable of causing widespread severe damage.

Typhoon Doksuri will move through an environment favorable for a powerful typhoon 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. However, much of the circulation around the southern part of Typhoon Doksuri will pass over northern Luzon. The flow of air over land is likely to somewhat disrupt the circulation around Doksuri. In addition, some of the circulation around the northern side of Doksuri will pass over Taiwan on Wednesday. Interactions with land are likely to cause Typhoon Doksuri to weaken during the next 24 hours.

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, the core of Typhoon Doksuri will move slowly away from northern Luzon during the next 24 hours. The strongest part of Doksuri will continue to lash the Babuyan Islands and the Batanes Islands north of Luzon until the typhoon moves farther away. Doksuri will produce strong winds and very heavy rain in the Babuyan Islands and the Batanes Islands for another 24 hours. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Typhoon Doksuri could cause a storm surge of up to 15 feet (5 meters) along the coast of some of the islands where the wind pushes water toward the shore. Heavy rain will also continue to fall over parts of northern Luzon on Wednesday. The core of Doksuri could be south of Taiwan in less than 24 hours. Typhoon Doksuri will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Taiwan. The heaviest rain will fall on the eastern side of mountains where the winds around Doksuri will push air up the slopes.