Tropical Storm Leepi approached Kyushu late on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Leepi was located at latitude 29.8°N and longitude 135.3°E which put it about 335 miles (545 km) east-southeast of Kagoshima, Japan. Leepi was moving toward the northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.
The circulation of Tropical Storm Leepi became much better organized on Monday. A large circular clear area formed at the center of circulation, which represented the formation of an eye. A primary band of showers and thunderstorms wrapped most of the way around the formative eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that band of storms. Several bands of showers and thunderstorms in the eastern half of the circulation were revolving around the core of Tropical Storm Leepi. Bands northwest of the center consisted mostly of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 110 miles (170 km) from the center of circulation. Storms around the center of Tropical Storm Leepi were generating upper level divergence that was pumping mass away from the tropical storm.
Tropical Storm Leepi will move through an environment that will become less favorable on Tuesday. Leepi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C which means there will be enough energy to support a strong tropical storm. However, an upper level ridge northwest of Japan will produce northeasterly winds which will cause significant vertical wind shear. The wind shear will cause Tropical Storm Leepi to start to weaken when it nears Japan.
The ridge northwest of Japan will steer Tropical Storm Leepi toward the northwest on Tuesday. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Leepi will reach southeastern Kyushu in about 18 hours. Leepi will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Kyushu late on Tuesday. The locally heavy rain could create the potential for flash floods.
Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Bebinca meandered southwest of Hong Kong and Tropical Storm Hector move westward across the International Date Line. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Bebinca was located at latitude 21.1°N and longitude 113.8°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) south-southwest of Hong Kong. Bebinca was moving toward the north-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.
At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Hector was located at latitude 26.2°N and longitude 176.2°E which put it about 760 miles (1225 km) east-northeast of Wake Island. Hector was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (29 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.