Low Pressure System Forms South of Java

A small, but well organized area of low pressure developed just to the south of Java on Sunday.  The low pressure system is currently designated as Invest 95S, but it could become a tropical cyclone during the next several days.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Invest 95S was located at latitude 8.9°S and longitude 109.8°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  It was moving toward the northeast at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

The circulation of Invest 95S is small but well formed.  There is a distinct low level center of circulation.  Two well formed narrow rainbands wrapped around the southern and northeastern sides of the center.  Other rainbands developed just outside the core of the circulation.  Storms near the center of circulation were generating some upper level divergence which was pumping out mass and allowing the surface pressure to decrease.

Invest 95S will move through an environment that is mostly favorable for intensification.  It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  Invest 95S is near the center of an upper level ridge.  The upper level winds blowing over the top of the low pressure system are weak and there is not a lot of vertical wind shear.  The proximity of the circulation to Java is the only factor likely to inhibit intensification.  If the center of circulation remains south of Java, then there is a good chance it could intensify into a tropical cyclone.

The ridge north of Invest 95S is steering the system slowly toward the northeast and a general easterly motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.  Guidance from numerical models diverges in a day or so.  Some models to suggest the northeasterly motion will continue and the low pressure system will move across Java.  Other models predict a turn toward the south in a day or so.  There is a high degree of uncertainty about the future track of Invest 95S.

Tropical Storm Kirogi Brings Rain to Southern Vietnam

Tropical Storm Kirogi brought locally heavy rain to southern Vietnam on Saturday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday night the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 10.4°N and longitude 109.8°E which put it about 220 miles (355 km) east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Kirogi was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 1001 mb.

Kirogi is a small tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 90 miles (145 km) from the center of circulation.  The circulation is compact and circular.  Most of the strong storms are in the western half of the circulation.  There are numerous bands of lighter showers in eastern half of the circulation.  An upper level ridge north of Kirogi is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  The vertical wind shear is causing the asymmetrical distribution of the stronger storms.

The ridge is steering Tropical Storm Kirogi toward the west.  The center of Tropical Storm Kirogi will make landfall on the coast of Vietnam near Ham Thuan Nam in a few hours.  Kirogi will continue moving west toward Ho Chi Minh City and then over southeastern Cambodia.  Tropical Storm Kirogi will drop locally heavy rain along the coast from Nha Trang to the Mouths of the Mekong River.  Kirogi will also be capable of producing heavy heavy over parts of the southern Cambodia.  The rainfall could be heavy enough to cause flooding in some locations.

Tropical Storm Kirogi Forms West of the Philippines

Tropical Storm Kirogi formed west of the Philippines on Friday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 10.9°N and longitude 115.7°E which put it about 465 miles (745 km) east of Nha Trang, Vietnam.  Kirogi was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 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 1000 mb.

A low level center of circulation developed near the eastern edge of an area of showers and thunderstorms west of the Philippines on Friday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Kirogi.  The distribution of showers and thunderstorms in Kirogi was asymmetrical.  A primary rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of circulations and most of the stronger storms were west of the center.  There were only bands of low clouds and showers east of the center of Kirogi.  An upper level ridge north of Kirogi was producing easterly winds which were blowing across the top of the tropical storm.  The vertical wind shear created by those winds was causing the asymmetrical distribution of showers and thunderstorms.

Tropical Storm Kirogi will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification.  Kirogi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  The upper level ridge will continue to cause vertical wind shear.  The shear may be strong enough to slow intensification, but it may not strong enough to prevent Tropical Storm Kirogi from strengthening.  The forecast is for Tropical Storm Kirogi to intensify during the next 24 to 36 hours.

The ridge is steering Tropical Storm Kirogi toward the west-northwest and a general westerly motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Kirogi will move across the South China Sea toward Vietnam.  Kirogi could reach the coast of Vietnam near Nha Trang in about 36 hours.  Kirogi will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain when it reaches the coast.  The locally heavy rain could cause flash floods.  There could also be a storm surge of 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) where the wind blows water toward the coast of Vietnam.

Tropical Depression Forms Over Bay of Bengal

A tropical depression formed over the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of the tropical depression was located at latitude 16.2°N and longitude 83.3°E which put it about 105 miles (170 km) south of Visakhapatnam, India.  The depression was moving toward the north-northeast at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

A low level center of circulation developed on the southwestern edge of a cluster of showers and thunderstorms over the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Meteorological Department classified the system as a depression.  The circulation is not particularly well organized.  As noted above, the low level center is on the southwestern side of showers and thunderstorms.  Several bands of showers and storms formed northeast of the center.  There were not many thunderstorms near the center of circulation.  There were bands of showers and lower clouds in the western half of the circulation.  An upper level trough over India is producing southwesterly winds which are blowing over the top of the depression.  Those winds are causing moderate vertical wind shear, which is tilting the upper part of the depression to the northeast of the low level center of circulation.  The depression also appears to be pulling drier air from India around the western side of the circulation.  The combination of wind shear and drier air is probably responsible for the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.

The depression will move through an environment that is marginally favorable for intensification.  It will move over water there the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  So, there is enough energy in the upper ocean to support intensification.  However, the upper level trough over India will continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear, which will inhibit the consolidation of the low level circulation.  The depression is also likely to continue to draw in drier air from over India into the western part of the circulation.  The depression could strengthen, but it could also weaken if the upper level winds get stronger.

The trough over India is steering the depression slowly toward the north-northeast and that general motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track the depression is expected to move toward the northern Bay of Bengal during the next several days.  The depression could make landfall over northeastern India or Bangladesh later this week.

The primary risk from the depression will be locally heavy rain, which could cause flash floods in parts of eastern India and Bangladesh.  The wind will push water toward the north coast of the Bay of Bengal and the depression could cause a storm surge of several feet (approximately one meter).

Remnants of Tropical Storm Haikui Make Landfall in Vietnam

The remnants of Tropical Storm Haikui made landfall near Da Nang, Vietnam late on Monday.  At 10:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Depression Haikui were located at latitude 17.0°N and longitude 108.2°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km/h) north of Da Nang, Vietnam.  Haikui was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Haikui consists of primarily of a low level counterclockwise circulation.  There are several thin bands of low clouds and showers.  Stronger thunderstorms were forming near the core of the circulation.  It appeared that winds blowing toward the coast were converging due to increased friction caused by the land.  The convergence was causing stronger rising motion which was contributing to the development of strong thunderstorms near and to the west of the center of circulation.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Haikui will move inland before significant intensification can occur.  The remnants of Haikui could drop locally heavy rainfall over portions of Vietnam, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand.  Locally heavy rainfall could cause flooding in some places.

Tropical Storm Haikui Weakens Southeast of Hainan Island

Tropical Storm Haikui weakened as it moved southeast of Hainan Island on Saturday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Haikui was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 112.6°E which put it about 290 miles (470 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam.  Haikui was moving toward the west-southwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 999 mb.

A combination of drier air and strong vertical wind shear weakened Tropical Storm Haikui on Saturday.  Strong northeasterly winds transported colder drier air from eastern Asia into the circulation of Tropical Storm Haikui.  The drier air reached the core of the circulation and it prevented the formation of new thunderstorms around the center of circulation.  Strong westerly winds in the upper levels were blowing over the top of the circulation.  The combination of northeasterly winds in the lower levels and westerly winds in the upper levels produced strong vertical wind shear.  The wind shear blew the upper portion of the circulation to the east of the low level core of Tropical Storm Haikui.  The core of Tropical Storm Haikui consists of a circular rotation of showers and low clouds.  The only thunderstorms are occurring in a rainband on the northeastern periphery of the circulation.

The strong wind vertical wind shear and drier air should continue to weaken Tropical Storm Haikui.  Haikui is likely to weaken to a tropical depression on Sunday.  Since the circulation exists primarily in the lower levels, it will be steered by the winds closer to the surface of the Earth.  The northeasterly winds in the lower levels will steer Tropical Storm Haikui toward the west- southwest.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Haikui will pass south of Hainan Island.  Haikui or its remnants could reach the coast of Vietnam in 36 to 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Haikui Moves Across South China Sea

Tropical Storm Haikui moved across the South China Sea on Friday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Haikui was located at latitude 17.8°N and longitude 115.4°E which put it about 485 miles (785 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam.  Haikui was moving toward the west-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Tropical Storm Haikui strengthened slightly on Friday, but the circulation remained asymmetrical.  Most of the stronger thunderstorms were occurring east of the center of circulation.  A short primary rainband wrapped around the eastern side of the center.  Several other broken bands of showers and thunderstorms formed to the east of the primary rainband.  Bands of showers and storms were also located south of the center of circulation.  Storms near the core of Tropical Storm Haikui were generating some upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the east of the tropical storm.  The bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of low clouds and showers.

Tropical Storm Haikui will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Haikui will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  Colder, drier air over eastern Asia was flowing toward the western side of Tropical Storm Haikui.  The upper level westerly winds of the middle latitudes were blowing just to the northwest of Tropical Storm Haikui.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical shear over the northwestern periphery of Haikui.  The winds over the core of Tropical Storm Haikui were weaker.  If Tropical Storm Haikui remains south of the stronger westerly winds, it could intensify a little more during the next 24 hours.

A ridge to the north of Haikui is steering the tropical storm toward the west-northwest.  The ridge is forecast to strengthen and Tropical Storm Haikui is likely to move more toward the west during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Haikui will pass south of Hainan Island in about 48 hours.  Tropical Storm Haikui could reach the coast of Vietnam in less than three days.

Tropical Storm Haikui Develops Over the Philippines

Tropical Storm Haikui developed over the Philippines on Thursday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Haikui was located at latitude 14.6°N and longitude 119.8°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) west-southwest of Manila, Philippines.  Haikui was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 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).  Thee minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

A center of circulation developed within an area of showers and thunderstorms over the Philippines and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Haikui.  The circulation of Tropical Storm Haikui is still organizing.  Several areas of showers and thunderstorms are east and south of the center of circulation.  Broken bands of showers and storms are beginning to form farther away from the center.  There are fewer showers and thunderstorms in the western half of the circulation.

Tropical Storm Haikui will be moving through an environment that is somewhat favorable for intensification.  Haikui will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  An upper level ridge centered northeast of the Philippines is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds are causing moderate vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Haikui will move toward the western end of the ridge and the winds will blow from the southwest at that point.  So, the direction of the wind shear will change.  If Haikui stays far enough south, it will pass south of the stronger upper level winds and the tropical storm could intensify.

The ridge northeast of the Philippines is steering Tropical Storm Haikui toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for several more days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Haikui will move away from the Philippines across the South China Sea.  Haikui could approach Hainan Island in a few days.

Tropical Depression 19 Strengthens to Tropical Storm Rina

Tropical Depression Nineteen strengthened into Tropical Storm Rina on Monday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Rina was located at latitude 30.4°N and longitude 49.9°W which put it about 890 miles (1430 km) east of Bermuda.  Rina was moving toward the north at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1010 mb.

Although an upper level low northwest of Tropical Depression Nineteen continued to produce westerly winds which caused moderate vertical wind shear, stronger thunderstorms developed east of the center of circulation.  Downdrafts in those storms were able to transport stronger winds to the surface and winds to tropical storm force were occurring at the surface.  The National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Depression Nineteen to Tropical Storm Rina on Monday night.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Rina is asymmetrical.  The stronger storms are occurring east of the center of circulation.  The winds to tropical storm force are occurring northeast of the center.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 60 miles to the northeast of the center of circulation.  The bands west of the center consist primarily of lower clouds and showers.  The upper level westerly winds are tilting the circulation toward the east with height.

The moderate vertical wind shear will continue to inhibit the intensification of Tropical Storm Rina.  Rina will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 25°C.  Although the water is cooler than it is in the tropical, colder air in the upper levels will make the atmosphere unstable enough to allow thunderstorms to continue to develop.  The vertical wind shear could decrease during the next 24 to 36 hours and some intensification is possible.  When Tropical Storm Rina moves farther north, it will move over colder water.

The upper level low to the northwest of Tropical Storm Rina and a ridge to the east of Rina are steering the tropical storm toward the north.  A general motion is expected to continue for another day or two.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Rina will pass between Labrador and the Azores.

Tropical Depression Nineteen Forms East of Bermuda

Tropical Depression Nineteen formed east of Bermuda on Monday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Depression Nineteen was located at latitude 29.5°N and longitude 50.4°W which put it about 875 miles east of Bermuda.  It was moving toward the north-northeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1013 mb.

A small low pressure system has been meandering over the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Azores.  More showers and thunderstorms formed near the center of the the low and the circulation became more circular.  Because the low pressure system developed the characteristics of a tropical cyclone, the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Nineteen on Monday morning.

The circulation of Tropical Depression Nineteen is being affected by vertical wind shear.  An upper level low located to the northwest of the system is producing easterly winds which are blowing across the top of the depression.  Those winds are producing moderate vertical wind shear shear which is tilting the upper portion of the circulation to the east.  The surface center of circulation was exposed on visible satellite images.  Most of the showers and thunderstorms were occurring to the east of the center.

Tropical Depression Nineteen is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm.  The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 25.5°C, which is marginally warm enough to support intensification.  The upper level low will continue to produce vertical wind shear which will inhibit intensification during the next 12 to 24 hours.  The shear is forecast to decrease on Tuesday and Tropical Depression Nineteen could strengthen into a tropical storm before it moves over colder water.

Tropical Depression Nineteen is currently in an area where the steering currents are weak.  The circulation around the upper level low to the northwest of the Tropical Depression is being deflected around an upper level ridge to the east of the depression.  Some of the flow is turning northward and the rest of the flow is turning toward the south.  The orientation of the upper low and ridge is forecast to change and the two systems are forecast to steer the depression toward the northeast later this week.  However, if the wind shear stays strong enough to prevent the circulation of the depression from growing vertically, then the winds in the lower level could steer the depression more toward the west.