Former Tropical Storm Nakri strengthened to a typhoon south of Japan on Sunday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Nakri was located at latitude 32.0°N and longitude 137.4°E which put the center about 285 miles (460 km) southwest of Tokyo, Japan.  Nakri was moving toward the east-northeast at 16 m.p.h. (26 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 982 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Nakri strengthened to a typhoon south of Japan on Sunday.  A small circular eye was present at the center of Typhoon Nakri.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the northern and eastern parts of Nakri’s circulation.  Bands in the southern and western sides of Typhoon Nakri consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Nakri generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the east of the typhoon.

Winds to typhoon force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of Typhoon Nakri.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 110 miles (175 km) in the eastern half of Nakri’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the western side of Typhoon Nakri.

Typhoon 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 westerly 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. Typhoon Nakri is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

The upper level trough that is west of Japan will steer Typhoon Nakri toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Nakri will pass south of Tokyo in 12 hours.