Former Tropical Storm Noul intensified to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean east-southeast of Hong Kong on Friday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Noul was located at latitude 21.1°N and longitude 117.8°E which put the center about 285 miles (455 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Noul was moving toward the 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 980 mb.
Former Tropical Storm Noul intensified to a typhoon on Friday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Noul’s circulation. A small circular eye formed at the center of Typhoon Noul. 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 core of Typhoon Noul. Storms near the core of Noul generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The distribution of wind speed around Typhoon Noul was fairly symmetrical. Winds to typhoon force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Noul’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of Typhoon Noul.
Typhoon Noul will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Noul will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is centered over eastern China. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Noul will intensify during the next 12 hours.
Typhoon Noul will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Noul toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Noul will make landfall on the coast of southeastern China northeast of Hong Kong in 15 hours.
Typhoon Noul will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to eastern Guangdong, southern Fujian, and Jiangxi. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Typhoon Noul could cause a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) along parts of the coast of southeastern China.