Tropical Storm Dujuan moved east of Iwo To on Thursday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Dujuan was located at latitude 25.3°N and longitude 143.8°E which put the center about 200 miles (325 km) east of Iwo To. Dujuan was moving toward the west at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.
Tropical Storm Dujuan strengthened on Thursday as it moved over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of Iwo To. More thunderstorms developed near the center of Dujuan’s circulation. Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the northern side of Tropical Storm Dujuan. Bands in the southern half of Dujuan’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Dujuan generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Dujuan was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 290 miles (465 km) from the center of Dujuan’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Dujuan will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Dujuan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the northern part of an upper level low that is south of Iwo To. The upper level low will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Dujuan’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Dujuan could intensify to a typhoon during the next 24 hours.
The upper level low that is south of Iwo To will pull Tropical Storm Dujuan toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Dujuan will pass north of Iwo To on Friday.
Tropical Storm Dujuan will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Iwo To on Friday.