Tropical Storm Khanun Brings Wind and Rain to Kyushu

Tropical Storm Khanun brought wind and rain to Kyushu on Tuesday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Khanun was located at latitude 31.2°N and longitude 129.1°E which put it about 85 miles (135 km) west-southwest of Kagoshima, Japan. Khanun was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 979 mb.

Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Khanun brought winds and rain to Kyushu on Tuesday. There was an elliptical area of relatively clear skies at the center of Khanun’s circulation. A broken ring of thunderstorms with a diameter of 70 miles (110 km) surrounded the relatively clear area. The strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Khanun. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of Khanun’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Khanun will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Khanun will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚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 could intensify a little during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Khanun will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Khanun toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Khanun will make landfall in South Korea in less than 24 hours. Khanun will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to South Korea. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Khanun will continue to produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain in Kyushu during the next 24 hours.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Lan intensified east of Iwo To. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Lan was located at latitude 24.4°N and longitude 146.6°E which put it about 335 miles (540 km) east of Iwo To. Lan was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 988 mb.