Powerful Typhoon Saola neared Hong Kong on Thursday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Saola was located at latitude 21.9°N and longitude 115.9°E which put it about 140 miles (225 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Saola was moving toward the west-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 935 mb.

Powerful Typhoon Saola moved steadily closer to Hong Kong on Thursday night. A circular eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) was at the center of Saola’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 Saola’s circulation. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the typhoon.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Saola remained relatively constant on Thursday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Saola’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saola was 28.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 17.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 45.5. Typhoon Saola was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ida when Ida hit Louisiana in 2021.

Typhoon Saola will move through an environment that will become less favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Saola will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move through a region where the upper level ridge winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, the circulation around Typhoon Saola could pull in some drier air over China when Saola gets closer to Hong Kong. In addition, if the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then concentric eyewalls could form. Typhoon Saola is likely to weaken during the next 24 hours, when drier air gets pulled into its circulation.

Typhoon Saola will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Saola toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Saola will be near Hong Kong in 12 hours.

Typhoon Saola could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it reaches Hong Kong. Saola will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the area around Hong Kong. Widespread electricity outages are likely. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. There will also be a significant storm surge where the wind blows the water toward the coast.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Haikui was moving toward Taiwan and Tropical Storm Kirogi was spinning east-southeast of Iwo To. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Haikui was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 129.1°E which put it about 535 miles (865 km) east of Taiwan. Haikui was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 21.0°N and longitude 150.9°E which put it about 715 miles (1155 km) east-southeast of Iwo To. Kirogi was moving toward the northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.