Former Tropical Storm Kajiki strengthened to a typhoon over the South China Sea southeast of Hainan on Saturday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Kajiki was located at latitude 17.3°N and longitude 110.6°E which put the center about 85 miles (135 km) south-southeast of Lingshui, China.  Kajiki was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 985 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Kajiki strengthened to a typhoon on Saturday night. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Typhoon Kajiki.  A small circular eye was visible at the center of Kajiki’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 center of Typhoon Kajiki.  Storms near the center of Kajiki generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Kajiki increased as Kajiki strengthened on Saturday.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Kajiki’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 145 miles (235 km) from the center of Typhoon Kajiki.

Typhoon Kajiki will move through an environment that is favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Kajiki will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over China.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kajiki’s circulation.  The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will also blow from the northeast.  So, there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Kajiki will intensify during the next 24 hours as long as the center passes south of Hainan.

Typhoom Kajiki will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China.  The high pressure system will steer Kajiki toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Kajiki will pass south of Hainan during the next 12 hours.  Kajiki will approach northern Vietnam in 24 hours.

Typhoon Kajiki will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hainan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Typhoon Kajiki will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to northern Vietnam.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods there as well.  Typhoon Kajiki could cause a storm surge of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) along the coast of northern Vietnam.