Tropical Storm Nakri moved south of Japan on Saturday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Nakri was located at latitude 29.1°N and longitude 132.0°E which put the center about 320 miles (515 km) south-southwest of Kochi, Japan.  Nakri was moving toward the north-northeast at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.

Tropical Storm Nakri started to strengthen on Saturday as it moved south of Japan.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Nakri’s circulation.  An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Storm Nakri.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Nakri’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Nakri generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the east of the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Tropical Storm Nakri was relatively small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Nakri’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Nakri will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Nakri will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough that is west of Japan.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Nakri’s circulation.  However, the winds in the lower atmosphere will also blow from the west.  So, there will not be a lot of vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Nakri will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Nakri could strengthen to a typhoon on Sunday.

The upper level trough that is west of Japan will steer Tropical Storm Nakri toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Nakri will move south of Honshu on Sunday.