Tropical Storm Chanthu Passes East of Tokyo

Tropical Storm Chanthu brought wind and rain to the east coast of Honshu as the center passed east of Tokyo on Tuesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Chanthu was located at latitude 37.4°N and longitude 141.6°E which put it about 105 miles (170 km) northeast of Tokyo, Japan.  Chanthu was moving toward the north-northeast at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 995 mb.

Tropical Storm Chanthu is starting the transition from a tropical cyclone to an extratropical cyclone.  It is still moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 26°C, but Chanthu will move over colder water during the next 24 hours.  An upper level trough west of Japan will sweep northwesterly winds over the top of Tropical Storm Chanthu.  The increased vertical wind shear will tilt the circulation of Chanthu toward the northeast.  The trough also contains cooler air.  A combination of cooler SSTs, more vertical wind shear and cooler air aloft will alter the structure of Chanthu and it will begin to look more like an extratropical cyclone on Wednesday.

The upper level trough will steer Chanthu in a generally north-northeasterly direction during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Chanthu will move roughly parallel to the coast of Honshu.  Chanthu is expected to move across Hokkaido later on Wednesday.

The rainbands in Tropical Storm Chanthu are capable of producing locally heavy rainfall.  Some flooding is possible in eastern Honshu and Hokkaido.  Wind damage should be minimal although fishing boats and other vessels along the northeast coast of Japan will have to deal with wind and waves.