Tropical Storm Nanmadol was quickly nearing Kyushu on Monday.  At 1:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Nanmadol was located at latitude 31.0°N and longitude 127.4°E which put it about 215 miles (345 km) southwest of Sasebo, Japan.  Nanmadol was moving toward the north-northeast at 24 m.p.h. (39 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 986 mb.

The structure of Tropical Storm Nanmadol was still consistent with its designation of a tropical cyclone, but there were signs that it could be about to start the transition to an extratropical cyclone.  There was a core of thunderstorms around the center of circulation.  The strongest winds were occurring in the inner core which extended out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center.  Several rainbands were on the eastern side of the circulation.  There were far fewer showers and thunderstorms in the western half of the circulation.  There were some indications that Nanmadol could be pulling cooler, drier, more stable air into the western side of the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Nanmadol has probably reached its maximum intensity and it is likely to weaken during the next two days.  Nanmadol is currently over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27°C.  However, it has reached the upper level westerly in the middle latitudes and the vertical wind shear is increasing.  Nanmadol will weaken faster when it moves across Japan.

The westerly winds in the middle latitudes have turned Tropical Storm Nanmadol toward the north-northeast.  As Nanmadol moves farther north, the speed of the westerlies will increase and the tropical storm is forecast to move quickly toward the east-northeast across southern Japan.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Nanmadol will reach Kyushu in a few hours.  Nanmadol will also move over Shikoku and Honshu.  Tropical Storm Nanmadol will bring a brief period of gusty winds and the potential for locally heavy rain when it moves across southern Japan.