Tropical Storm Hagupit produced gusty winds on Yap on Friday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Hagupit was located at latitude 8.8°N and longitude 136.6°E which put the center about 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Yap. Hagupit was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.
Even though the center of Tropical Storm Hagupit passed south of Yap on Friday, Hagupit still produced gusty winds on Yap. A weather station at the Yap International Airport (PTYA) reported a wind gust of 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) on Friday.
Tropical Storm Hagupit weakened a little on Friday. Some of the thunderstorms in bands in the western half of Hagupit’s circulation dissipated. Numerous thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Hagupit. Thunderstorms near the center of Hagupit generated a little less upper level divergence that pumped less mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of less mass caused the surface pressure to increase.
The strongest winds were occurring in the northeastern part of Tropical Storm Hagupit. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 85 miles (135 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Hagupit’s circulation. The winds in the other parts of Tropical Storm Hagupit were blowing at less than tropical storm force.
Tropical Storm Hagupit will move into an environment that will become more unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Hagupit will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southern end of an upper level trough that is south of Japan. The upper level trough will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Hagupit’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Tropical Storm Hagupit will weaken when the vertical wind shear increases.
Tropical Storm Hagupit will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Hagupit toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Hagupit will move away from Yap. Hagupit will pass north of Palau during the weekend.
Tropical Storm Hagupit will continue to produce gusty winds on Yap during the next few hours until Hagupit moves farther away, Hagupit will also bring passing showers and thunderstorms to Yap. Locally heavy rainfall could cause flash floods in some locations.