Former Tropical Storm Wipha intensified to a typhoon near Hong Kong on Saturday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Wipha was located at latitude 21.6°N and longitude 113.9°E which put the center about 55 miles (95 km) south-southeast of Hong Kong.  Wipha was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 970 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Wipha intensified to a typhoon on Saturday night near Hong Kong.  The center of Typhoon Wipha was still over water just to the south-southeast of Hong Kong.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Wipha’s circulation. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Typhoon Wipha. Bands in the northern part of Wipha’s circulation  consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Wipha generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the southwest of the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The strongest winds were occurring in the southern side of Typhoon Wipha.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) in the southern half of Wipha’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 155 miles (250 km from the center of Typhoon Wipha.

Typhoon Wipha will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours . Wipha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southeastern side of an upper level ridge that is over China.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Wipha’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification but the wind shear may be enough to prevent intensification. Typhoon Wipha could intensify a little more during the next 12 hours.

Typhoon Wipha will move around the southern part of a high pressure system over eastern China.  The high pressure system will steer Wipha toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Wipha will pass just south of Hong Kong during the next few hours.  The center of Wipha’s circulation will also pass just south of Macau.  The center of Typhoon Wipha could be near Yangjiang in 18 hours.

Typhoon Wipha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Hong Kong.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods and mudslides.  Wipha will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern Guangdong including Macau.  Typhoon Wipha will produce strong wins and heavy rain in southern Guangxi and in Hainan.