Typhoon Maysak Crossing Chuuk

The core of Typhoon Maysak is passing very near Chuuk.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Maysak was located at latitude 7.3°N and longitude 151.8°E which put it about 15 miles south-southwest of Chuuk and about 600 miles east-southeast of Guam.  It was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind sped was 80 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 100 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb.

Maysak is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is around 29°C.  The upper level winds are blowing from the east, but they are only generating modest amounts of vertical wind shear.  The circulation is very well organized and upper level outflow is pumping out mass in all directions.  In this favorable environment Typhoon Maysak is expected to continue to intensify for another two or three days.

A strong subtropical ridge is steering Maysak toward the west and that motion is expected to continue for another day or two.  The ridge is expected to weaken somewhat later next week and Maysak could move more toward the west-northwest during the middle portion of the week.    On its projected track Maysak would pass south of Guam in about 36 hours and it could be approaching Yap in 48 to 60 hours.