Typhoon Saudel moved toward the Ryukyu Islands on Sunday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Saudel was located at latitude 23.5°N and longitude 137.2°E which put the center about 670 miles (1085 km) east-southeast of Okinawa. Saudel was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 945 mb.
Typhoon Saudel strengthened a little on Sunday as it moved toward the Ryukyu Islands. A circular eye with a diameter of 12 miles (19 km) was at the center of Saudel’s circulation. 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 Typhoon Saudel. Storms near the center of Saudel 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 Saudel increased again on Sunday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Saudel’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 195 miles (315 km) from the center of Typhoon Saudel.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saudel is 23.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 27.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 51.1. Typhoon Saudel is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Wilma when Wilma hit South Florida in 2005.
Typhoon Saudel will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Saudel 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 Saudel could intensify during the next 24 hours unless an eyewall replacement cycle occurs. If the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then concentric eyewalls could form. If concentric eyewalls form, then an eyewall replacement cycle would cause Typhoon Saudel to weaken, at least temporarily.
Typhoon Saudel 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 Saudel toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Saudel will approach the Ryukyu Islands in 48 hours.