Typhoon Kammuri strengthened north of Yap on Wednesday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Kammuri was located at latitude 12.0°N and longitude 138.8°E which put it about 160 miles (260 km) north-northeast of Yap.  Kammuri was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

Typhoon Kammuri continued to get stronger on Wednesday night.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of circulation and an eye was clearing out at the center of Kammuri.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation.  The strongest rainbands were in the western half of Typhoon Kammuri.  Storms near the center were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center.

Typhoon Kammuri will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few days.  Kammuri will move over where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move through an environment where the upper level winds will be weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Kammuri will continue to intensify and it could strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane within 24 to 36 hours.  A period of rapid intensification could occur once an eye and eyewall are fully formed.

Typhoon Kammuri will move near the western end of a subtropical high pressure sytem over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Kammuri could move more toward the northwest during that time period.  A second surface high pressure system will move eastward from Asia.  The second high will eventually block Typhoon Kammuri from moving northward and that high pressure system will steer Kammuri toward the west.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Kammuri could approach the Philippines in five or six days.  Kammuri could be a very strong typhoon when it approaches the Philippines.