Tag Archives: China

Typhoon Chan-hom Approaching Shanghai

Large Typhoon Chan-hom is moving northward toward Shanghai, China.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Chan-hom was located at latitude 28.2°N and longitude 123.1°E which put it about 300 miles (500 km) south-southeast of Shanghai, China.  Chan-hom was moving to the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 956 mb.

Chan-hom still has a very symmetrical circulation, but the intensity of the thunderstorms appears to have weakened in recent hours.  The typhoon is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) are cooler and that is the most likely cause for the decreased intensity of the thunderstorms.  As it nears the coast of China, more of the western half of the circulation will be over land and increased friction will further reduce the wind speeds.  Vertical wind shear may also increase as Chan-hom moves farther north.

Chan-hom is moving around the western end of the subtropical ridge which has been steering it toward the northwest.  As it moves around the end of the ridge, Chan-hom will first turn toward the north and then it could accelerate toward the northeast when it begins to be affected by the mid-latitude westerlies.  On its anticipated track the center of Chan-hom will be near Shanghai in about 24 hours.  Given the large size of Chan-hom, the typhoon could bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the region near Shanghai.

Large Powerful Typhoon Chan-hom Heading for Northeastern China

Large and powerful Typhoon Chan-hom passed south of Okinawa and headed for northeastern China on Thursday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Chan-hom was located at latitude 25.9°N and longitude 125.0°E which put it about 155 miles (250 km) west-southwest of Okinawa and about 400 miles (640 km) south-southeast of Shanghai, China.  Chan-hom was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were gusts to 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 933 mb.

Typhoon Chan-hom has a very symmetrical structure with a well formed eye and numerous rainbands.  Hurricane force winds extend out 75 miles (120 km) in all directions from the center.  Upper level divergence is well developed and it is pumping out mass in all directions.  Chan-hom is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  Given the favorable environment, Chan-hom is likely to remain a powerful typhoon as it approaches the coast of northeastern China.

A subtropical ridge is steering Chan-hom toward the northwest and that steering motion is expected to continue on Friday.  On its anticipated track Chan-hom will approach the coast of China in about 24 hours.  It could make landfall south of Shanghai near Taizhou.  Chan-hom is likely to bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of northeastern China when it makes landfall.

Large Typhoon Chan-hom South-Southeast of Okinawa

Large Typhoon Chan-hom is approaching the far southern islands of Japan.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Chan-hom was located at latitude 22.8°N and longitude 129.2°E which put it about 300 miles (480 km) south-southeast of Okinawa.  Chan-hom was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Typhoon Chan-hom has a very large circulation.  It has a 32 mile (50 km) wide eye and hurricane force winds extend out 40 miles (65 km) in all directions from the center.  The circulation is very symmetrical and upper level divergence is well developed in all directions.  Chan-hom is still over warm Sea Surface Temperatures and there is little wind shear.  Further intensification is possible, although the size of the circulation could limit the rate of intensification.

A subtropical ridge is steering Chan-hom toward the northwest and that steering pattern is expected to continue during the next several days.  On its anticipated track the center of Chan-hom could pass south of Okinawa on Thursday.  Given the large circulation it could bring winds and rain to that island.  The center could come close to Miyako-Jima and that location and other nearby islands could experience typhoon force winds and heavy rain.

Typhoon Linfa Making Landfall East of Hong Kong

The center of Typhoon Linfa is very near the coast of China.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Linfa was located at latitude 22.6°N and longitude 116.4°E which put it about 165 miles east of Hong Kong.  Linfa was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 974 mb.

A mid-level ridge north of Typhoon Linfa is steering it toward the west and that steering pattern is expected to continue in the short term.  On its anticipated track Linfa will move along the coast of China and it could approach Hong Kong in 12 to 18 hours.  Since half of the circulation will be over land and half of the circulation will be over water, Linfa is expected to weaken slowly on Thursday.  It could bring tropical storm force winds and heavy rain to areas near the coast.  Linfa could still be a tropical storm when it moves across Hong Kong.

Chan-hom Intensifies Into a Typhoon

The circulation around Chan-hom organized rapidly on Monday and it intensified into a typhoon.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Chan-hom was located at latitude 18.1°N and longitude 136.8°E which put it about 850 miles (1370 km) southeast of Okinawa.  Chan-hom was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (18 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (140 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

A primary rainband wrapped completely around the center of circulation of Typhoon Chan-hom and a large eye is apparent on satellite images.  Strong thunderstorms around the eye are generating upper level divergence which is pumping out mass and allowing the surface pressure to decrease.  The typhoon is over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is around 28°C and there is plenty of energy in the upper ocean.  Upper level winds are relatively light and there is not much vertical wind shear.  The environment is very favorable for further intensification and rapid intensification is possible.  Chan-hom is expected to continue to intensify and it could become the equivalent of a major hurricane later this week.

A subtropical ridge north of Chan-hom is steering the typhoon toward the west.  The ridge is expected to steer Chan-hom toward the northwest during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Chan-hom could approach the southern islands of Japan in about three days.  It could be a large and powerful typhoon at that time.

Tropical Storm Kujira Makes Landfall on Hainan Island

Tropical Storm Kujira made landfall on the east coast of Hainan Island on Monday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Kujira was located at latitude 19.9°N and longitude 109.1°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) south of Beihai, China.  Kujira was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 992 mb.

Passing across Hainan Island weakened Tropical Storm Kujira on Monday.  In addition, an upper level ridge over southern Asia continues to generate vertical wind shear over the tropical storm.  However, it will move over warm water when the center moves northwest of Hainan Island.  So, Kujira could maintain tropical storm intensity until it makes another landfall in China in about 18 to 24 hours.  The primary risk will be locally heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Kujira Nearing Hainan Island

Tropical Storm Kujira moved slowly northward on Sunday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday night the center of Tropical Storm Kujira was located at latitude 18.0°N and longitude 111.2°E which put it about 150 miles (240 km) south-southeast of Xuwen, China.  Kujira was moving toward the north-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (70 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Although Kujira is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C, vertical wind shear is inhibiting intensification.  An upper level ridge over southern Asia is producing northeasterly winds over the top of Kujira.  As a result of the vertical shear, most of the stronger thunderstorms are occurring southwest of the center of circulation.  As Kujira moves farther north, some of the circulation will move over Hainan Island, which will further limit the potential for intensification.

Kujira is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which is steering the tropical storm toward the north.  The steering pattern is expected to remain in place for the early part of the week.  Kujira could be very close to the east coast of Hainan Island in about 12 hours.  It will move near or just east of Hainan and Kujira could make landfall in China in 24 to 36 hours.  Although it will bring some wind, the primary risk will be locally heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Kujira Forms South of Hainan Island

A surface circulation organized within a larger area of thunderstorms east of Vietnam on Saturday and the system was designated as Tropical Storm Kujira.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Kujira was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 111.4°E which put it about 210 miles (340 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam.  Kujira was moving north-northwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

Tropical Storm Kujira is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  However an upper level ridge over southern Asia is generating northeasterly winds over the top of Kujira.  Those northeasterly winds are producing moderate vertical wind shear, which is causing most of the stronger thunderstorms to be located in the western half of the circulation.  Some spiral bands are beginning to form and a band is wrapping around the southern side of the center of circulation.  It appears that Kujira is becoming more well organized and intensification is likely, although the wind shear could slow that process.

Kujira is in an area where the steering currents are weak.  The tropical storm is near the western end of a subtropical ridge and the highest probability is that it will move north toward Hainan Island and southern China.  Some numerical models project a landfall on Hainan Island, but others have Kujira passing east of the island before making landfall on the coast of China.  In either scenario Kujira could approach Hainan Island in 24 to 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong Near Taiwan

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-Wong was located at latitude 21.5°N and longitude 120.0°W which put it about 250 miles south-southwest of Taipei Taiwan.  Fung-Wong was moving just slightly east of due north at 8 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 75 m.p.h.

Fung-Wong will likely move near or across Taiwan during the next few hours.  Locally heavy rainfall will be possible, especially in locations where the circulation around Fung-Wong pushes air up the slopes of mountains.  Flooding may be an issue in areas that experience heavy rainfall.  The heaviest rainfall will likely occur on the eastern slopes of mountains as Fung-Wong moves across southern Taiwan and brings easterly winds to those areas.  However, the potential for flooding along the western slopes of mountains, especially in northern Taiwan, may exist as the tropical storm moves north of the island and the wind shifts to a more westerly direction.

Fung-Wong will likely weaken as the circulation in the lower levels is disrupted by the mountains.  It could maintain tropical storm intensity and move toward eastern China once the center emerges back over the water.