Typhoon Ewiniar Passes South of Okinawa

Typhoon Ewiniar passed south of Okinawa on Tuesday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Ewiniar was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 128.6°E which put it about 350 miles (565 km) south of Okinawa. Ewiniar was moving toward the northeast at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 980 mb.

Typhoon Ewiniar was weakening as it passed south of Okinawa on Tuesday. An upper level trough west of Japan was producing southwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Ewiniar’s circulation. Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear was causing Typhoon Ewiniar to weaken.

The vertical wind shear was also affecting the structure of Typhoon Ewiniar. An eye was no longer visible at the center of Ewiniar’s circulation. Thunderstorms were occurring in a band that wrapped around the southern and eastern sides of the center of circulation. Bands in the other parts of Typhoon Ewiniar consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Ewiniar still generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.

The circulation around Typhoon Ewiniar was still small. Winds to typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Ewiniar’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Ewiniar will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ewiniar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. The upper level trough west of Japan will continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear. Since the circulation around Ewiniar is small, the wind shear will cause Typhoon Ewiniar to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Typhoon Ewiniar will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system and the upper level trough west coast of Japan will steer Ewiniar toward the northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Ewiniar will pass near Minamidaitojoma in 12 to 18 hours. Ewiniar will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Minamidaitojima.