Former Tropical Storm Bavi strengthened to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Marianas on Thursday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Bavi was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 156.1°E which put the center about 790 miles (1275 km) east of Guam. Bavi was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.
Former Tropical Storm Bavi strengthened to a typhoon on Thursday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Bavi’s circulation. A circular eye formed at the center of Typhoon Bavi. 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 Bavi’s circulation. Storms near the center of Bavi 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 Bavi increased on Thursday as Bavi intensified. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of Typhoon Bavi.
Typhoon Bavi will more through an environment that will be very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Bavi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Bavi will intensify during the next 24 hours. Bavi could intensify rapidly at times. Typhoon Bavi could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane during the next 24 hours.
Typhoon Bavi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Bavi could reach the Marianas in less than 72 hours.
Typhoon Bavi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the Marianas. Bavi could be capable of causing catastrophic damage. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations.
Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Depression 10W strengthened to Tropical Storm Maysak southeast of Hainan. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Maysak was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 110.2°E which put the center about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Sanya, China. Maysak was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 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.