Former Tropical Storm Vongfong rapidly intensified into a typhoon east of Samar on Wednesday.  At 11:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Vongfong was located at latitude 12.3°N and longitude 127.6°E which put it about 140 miles (225 km) east of Dolores, Philippines.  Vongfong was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.

Typhoon Vongfong rapidly intensified on Wednesday from a strong tropical storm into a typhoon.  A small circular eye formed at the center of circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Vongfong.  Storms near the core were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the typhoon in all directions.  The removal of mass was allowing the surface pressure to decrease quickly, which caused the rapid intensification.

The circulation around Typhoon Vongfong was small.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Vongfong was 17.8.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 6.4 and the Hurricane Wind intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 24.2.  Typhoon Vongfong was capable of causing localized serious damage.

Typhoon Vongfong will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Vongfong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29.5°C.  It will move under a small upper level ridge east of the Philippines.  The upper level winds in the ridge are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Vongfong will continue to intensify rapidly in the short term.  Vongfong is likely to strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane during the next 6 to 12 hours.

Typhoon Vongfong will move around the western end of a high pressure system centered southeast of Japan.  The high will steer Vongfong toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  Typhoon Vongfong will start to move more toward the north-northwest in a day or so, when it nears the western end of the high pressure system.  On its anticipated track the core of Typhoon Vongfong could approach northern Samar in about 18 hours.  Vongfong could approach Catanduanes Island and southeastern Luzon in about 24 hours.  Outer bands on the western side of Typhoon Vongfong could start to drop heavy rain over parts of Samar during the next 12 to 18 hours.