Tag Archives: WP14

Tropical Storm Ampil Nears Landfall Southeast of Shanghai

Tropical Storm Ampil neared landfall on the coast of China southeast of Shanghai on Saturday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Ampil was located at latitude 31.0°N and longitude 122.3°E which put it about 60 miles (95 km) southeast of Shanghai, China.  Ampil was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Tropical Storm Ampil moved steadily toward the coast of China on Saturday with little change of structure or intensity.  Drier air continued to circulate around the tropical storm and it limited the development of taller thunderstorms in much of Ampil.  The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in the inner portion of a band northwest of center of circulation.  The strongest winds were associated with those storms.  Bands around the rest of Tropical Storm Ampil consisted of showers and lower clouds.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 165 miles (270 km) from the center.

Tropical Storm Ampil will make landfall on the coast of China southeast of Shanghai in a few hours.  Ampil will cause gusty winds and the strong band of thunderstorms will drop locally heavy rain.  The heavy rain could cause flash floods in parts of eastern China.

Elsewhere the tropics became more active over the Western North Pacific Ocean on Saturday.  The remnants of former Tropical Storm Son-tinh were reorganizing west of Hainan Island over the Gulf of Tongking, Tropical Depression 13W moved east of Taiwan, and Tropical Depression 14W formed northwest of Wake Island and Tropical Depression 15W formed west of Guam.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Son-tinh was located at latitude 19.2°N and longitude 108.2°E which put it about 45 miles (75 km) west of Dongfeng, China.  Son-tinh was moving toward the east-southeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Son-tinh completed a slow clockwise loop over Laos and Vietnam which during the past several days and it emerged back over the Gulf of Tongking on Saturday.  There was a distinct low level center of circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were circulating around the enter.  The rainbands were dropping heavy rain over Hainan Island and creating the potential for flash floods.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression 13W was located at latitude 21.6°N and longitude 122.9°E which put it about 165 miles (265 km) south-southeast of Hualien, Taiwan.  It was moving toward the northwest at 18 m.p.h. (29 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 998 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression 14W was located at latitude 22.5°N and longitude 159.4°E which put it about 370 miles (600 km) east-southeast of Minami Tori Shima.  It was moving toward the north at 4 m.p.h. (6 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 998 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression 15W was located at latitude 13.2°N and longitude 138.1°E which put it about 225 miles (365 km) north-northwest of Ulithi.  It was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

Banyan Rapidly Intensifies Into a Typhoon

Tropical Storm Banyan rapidly intensified into a typhoon on Saturday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Banyan was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 164.3°E which put it about 165 miles (265 km) west-northwest of Wake Island.  Banyan was moving toward the north-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

Banyan intensified rapidly from a tropical storm into a typhoon in less than 36 hours.  Banyan is a small well organized typhoon.  There is a small circular eye at the center of circulation.  The eye is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms.  The strongest winds are occurring in that ring of storms.  A primary band of thunderstorms wraps around the eastern and northern sides of the core of Typhoon Banyan.  Other bands of showers and storms are revolving around the core of the typhoon.  Banyan has a small circulation.  Winds to typhoon force only extend out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 100 miles (160 km) from the center.

Typhoon Banyan will continue to move through an environment that is favorable for intensification on Sunday.  Banyan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Banyan will continue to intensify during the next 24 hours and it could become the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Banyan is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge, which is steering the typhoon toward the north-northwest.  Banyan is forecast to continue to move toward the north-northwest for another day or two.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Banyan will move away from Wake Island and the weather should improve on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Banyan Forms Near Wake Island

Tropical Storm Banyan formed quickly near Wake Island on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Banyan was located at latitude 17.9°N and longitude 167.2°E which put it about 140 miles (225 km) south-southeast of Wake Island.  Banyan was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 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.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Banyan organized quickly.  It developed a distinct center of circulation.  Thunderstorms formed north and south of the center, but there were more thunderstorms south of the center.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms began to develop in the outer parts of the circulation.  The thunderstorms in the core of Tropical Storm Banyan were generating upper level divergence which was pumping away mass.  The circulation of Tropical Storm Banyan is relatively small.  Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Banyan will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification.  Banyan will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30.5°C.  An upper level ridge north of Banyan is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds are weak and there is not much vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Banyan is likely to intensify during the next day or two and it could intensify quickly at times.

Tropical Storm Banyan is moving near the western end of a subtropical ridge to its north.  The ridge is currently steering Banyan toward the west-northwest, but the tropical storm is expected to turn more toward the north when it reaches the end of the ridge.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Banyan will move over Wake Island in about 12 hours.  Banyan will cause gusty winds and heavy rain when it moves over Wake Island.