Powerful Typhoon Wutip moved west of Guam on Saturday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Typhoon Wutip was located at latitude 12.9°N and longitude 141.9°E which put it about 170 miles (280 km) west-southwest of Guam.  Wutip was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 924 mb.  Typhoon Wutip was the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Visible and microwave satellite imagery  indicated that Typhoon Wutip may have started an eyewall replacement cycle.  An inner rainband wrapped around the original eye and eyewall.  An outer eyewall formed around the original inner eyewall.  The strongest winds were occurring in the inner eyewall.  The eyewall replacement cycle and the formation of an outer eyewall contributed to an increase in the size of Typhoon Wutip.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 200 miles (320 km) from the center.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Wutip was 33.3.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 21.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 54.8.

Typhoon Wutip will move into an environment that will gradually become less favorable for strong typhoons.  Wutip will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27°C.  The eyewall replacement cycle will cause Typhoon Wutip to weaken when the inner eyewall starts to dissipate.  Wutip also appears to be moving toward a region of drier air.  Rainbands in the western side of Typhoon Wutip seemed to be weakening as they moved into the region of drier air.  Typhoon Wutip will weaken during the next few days.

Typhoon Wutip will move southwest of a subtropical ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will steer Wutip toward the northwest during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Wutip will move away from the Marianas.