Tropical Storm Khanun intensified over the Western North Pacific Ocean south-southeast of Okinawa on Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Khanun was located at latitude 18.1°N and longitude 132.8°E which put it about 680 miles (1100 km) south-southeast of Okinawa. Khanun was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 Khanun intensified steadily on Saturday, but there still were few thunderstorms near the center of Khanun. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Khanun’s circulation. Bands in the other parts of Tropical Storm Khanun consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms in the inner ends of rainbands in the southern and eastern parts of Khanun generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The circulation around Tropical Storm Khanun was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 265 miles (425 km) from the center of Khanun.

Tropical Storm Khanun will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Khanun 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 Khanun is likely to continue to intensify during the next 24 hours. Khanun is likely to strengthen to a typhoon on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Khanun will move around the southwestern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Khanun toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Khanun will move toward the Ryukyu Islands. Khanun could approach Okinawa in less than 48 hours. Khanun is likely to be a typhoon when it approaches Okinawa.