Former Tropical Storm Bualoi strengthened to a typhoon as it moved over the South China Sea on Friday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Bualoi was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 114.2°E which put the center about 400 miles (645 km) east of Da Nang Vietnam.  Bualoi was moving toward the west-northwest at 28 m.p.h. (45 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Bualoi strengthened to a typhoon on Friday evening.  Even though Bualoi strengthened to a typhoon, the distribution of thunderstorms was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern and southern parts of Typhoon Bualoi.  Bands in the western and northern parts of Bualoi consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Bualoi generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Typhoon Bualoi was relatively small.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Bualoi’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Typhoon Bualoi.

Typhoon Bualoi will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Bualoi 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 easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Bualoi’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the moderate shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Typhoon Bualoi could intensify during the next 24 hours.

Typhoon Bualoi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China.  The high pressure system will steer Bualoi toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Bualoi will move toward the coast of northern Vietnam.  Bualoi could reach the coast in 36 hours.

Typhoon Bualoi will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of northern Vietnam.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some location.  Bualoi could cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along portions of the coast.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Neoguri was still meandering far to the east of Japan.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Neoguri was located at latitude 31.8°N and longitude 156.3°E which put the center about 925 miles (1490 km) east of Tokyo, Japan.  Neoguri was moving toward the east at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.