Former Tropical Storm Krathon rapidly intensified to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean south of Taiwan on Sunday morning.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Krathon was located at latitude 19.3°N and longitude 123.7°E which put the center about 330 miles (530 km) south-southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Krathon was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

Former Typhoon Krathon rapidly intensified to a typhoon south of Taiwan on Sunday.  A circular eye formed at the center of Krathon’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 Krathon.  Storms near the core of Krathon’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped large quatities of mass mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Krathon increased as it intensified.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) in the eastern side of Krathon’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 165 miles (265 km) from the center of Typhoon Krathon.

Typhoon Krathon will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Krathon will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge south of Japan.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear,  Tropical Storm Krathon will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Krathon could continue to intensify rapidly today.  Typhoon Krathon is likely strengthen to a the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Krathon will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system south of Japan.  The high pressure system will steer Krathon toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Krathon will move closer to Taiwan.  The center Krathon’s circulation will approach the southern end of Taiwan in 48 hours.  Typhoon Krathon is will be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it approaches Taiwan.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Jebi brought wind and rain to Iwo To.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Jebi was located at latitude 24.4°N and longitude 141.0°E which put the center about 40 miles (65 km) south of Iwo To.  Jebi was moving toward the north-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.