Former Tropical Storm Man-yi strengthened to a typhoon southwest of Guam on Wednesday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Man-yi was located at latitude 11.1°N and longitude 141.1°E which put it about 300 miles (485 km) southwest of Guam.  Man-yi was moving toward the west-northwest at 27 m.p.h. (44 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

Typhoon Man-yi strengthened quickly on Wednesday.  An inner band of thunderstorms wrapped around the center of circulation.  A small eye appeared intermittently on satellite imagery.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Man-yi.  Storms near the core were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 145 miles (230 km) from the center.

Typhoon Man-yi will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification on Thursday.  Man-yi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  So, there will be enough energy in the upper ocean to support further intensification.  Typhoon Man-yi will move south of an upper level ridge.  The ridge will produce strong east-southeasterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will produce moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit upper level outflow to the east of the typhoon and they will slow the rate of intensification.  Despite the moderate vertical wind shear, Typhoon Man-yi is likely to strengthen during the next 24 hours and it could become the equivalent of a major hurricane.

The ridge will steer Typhoon Man-yi rapidly toward the northwest during the next 24 to 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Man-yi will move quickly away from Guam and the Marianas.  Man-yi could move southeast of Okinawa this weekend.

Elsewhere over the rest of the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression 33W was moving quickly westward over the South China Sea.  At 10:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Depression 33W was located at latitude 11.1°N and longitude 116.2°E which put it about 505 miles (815 km) east of Cam Ranh, Vietnam.  It was moving toward the west at 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.