Tag Archives: Kobe

Typhoon Jebi Brings Wind and Rain to Japan

Typhoon Jebi brought wind and rain to Japan on Monday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Jebi was located at latitude 33.9°N and longitude 134.4°E which put it about 15 miles (25 km) southwest of Tokushima.  Jebi was moving toward the north-northeast at 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 945 mb.

Typhoon Jebi made landfall over eastern Shikoku on Monday night.  Jebi brought strong winds and dropped heavy rain over Shikoku and Honshu.  It retained about two thirds of an eyewall and the strongest winds were occurring in that partial eyewall.  There was a gap in the eyewall west of the center of circulation.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Jebi.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 200 miles from the center.

An upper level trough northwest of Japan will steer Typhoon Jebi quickly toward the north-northeast.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Jebi will move quickly across eastern Shikoku.  The center of  Jebi will make landfall on Honshu near Kobe and it will move quickly toward the Sea of Japan.  Typhoon Jebi will drop heavy rain over Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some parts of Shikoku and Honshu.  Jebi will weaken when it moves over the cooler water in the Sea of Japan.

Typhoon Cimaron Brings Wind and Rain to Japan

Typhoon Cimaron brought wind and rain to Japan on Thursday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Cimaron was located at latitude 35.9°N and longitude 135.1°E which put it about 70 miles west of Fukui, Japan.  Cimaron was moving toward the north at 26 m.p.h. (42 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

The center of Typhoon Cimaron moved near the eastern end of Shikoku early on Wednesday.  Cimaron moved quickly northward and the center passed over Awaji Island.  Typhoon Cimaron made landfall on Honshu west of Kobe and Osaka near Akashi.  Cimaron continued to move quickly toward the north across Honshu and the center of circulation emerged over the Sea of Japan later on Thursday.  Kansai International Airport reported a sustained wind speed of 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  Komoda, Japan reported a sustained wind speed of 63 m.p.h. (102 km/h).

Typhoon Cimaron dropped locally heavy rain over parts of Shikoku and southwestern Honshu.  Kobe measured 4.75 inches (120.5 mm) of rain and there could have been higher amounts in mountainous regions where the wind was blowing up the slopes.  The potential for flash floods exists in areas of steep terrain.

Typhoon Cimaron is forecast to weaken over the Sea of Japan.  It will move over cooler water.  In addition, an upper level trough over eastern Asia will produce strong westerly winds that will cause significant vertical wind shear.  The trough is forecast to turn Typhoon Lane toward the east and it could make another landfall over northern Honshu or Hokkaido.  Cimaron will weaken to a tropical storm, but it could drop heavy rain over those areas.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Soulik was making landfall on the southwestern coast of South Korea near Mokp’o.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Soulik was located at latitude 35.2°N and longitude 126.8°E which put it about 90 miles (145 km) south-southwest of Kunsan, South Korea.  Soulik was moving toward the north-northeast at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

The upper level trough over eastern Asia was also causing strong vertical wind shear over Tropical Storm Soulik.  Soulik was weakening as it approached the coast, but it will still be capable of dropping locally heavy rain over portions of South Korea.  The heavy rain could create the potential for flash floods.

Typhoon Soulik Strikes Cheju Island

Typhoon Soulik struck Cheju Island on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Soulik was located at latitude 33.0°N and longitude 125.7°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) west of Cheju Island.  Soulik was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 969 mb.

Typhoon Soulik had a large eye and the eastern eyewall, which was the strongest part of the circulation, moved directly over Cheju Island on Wednesday.  The island would have experienced winds to typhoon force and heavy rain.  The heavy rain could produce flash floods.  Typhoon Soulik weakened as it approached Cheju.  The circulation appeared to draw some drier air around the western and southern side of the circulation.  The heaviest rain was falling in the northern and eastern quadrants of the typhoon.  Soulik was moving over cooler water and an upper level trough over eastern Asia was causing vertical wind shear.

The upper level trough will turn Typhoon Soulik toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track the center of Typhoon Soulik could pass near the southwestern tip of South Korea in about 12 hours.  Soulik could make landfall near Kunsan in about 24 hours.  The eastern side of Typhoon Soulik, which is the stronger side, will pass over much of South Korea during the next 24 hours.  Soulik will produce gusty winds and it will drop locally heavy rain.  The rain could produce flash floods on the Korean peninsula.

Elsewhere over the tropical Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Cimaron moved closer to Japan.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Cimaron was located at latitude 29.4°N and longitude 135.6°E which put it about 335 miles (540 km) south of Osaka, Japan.  Cimaron was moving toward the northwest at 23 m.p.h. (37 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.

Typhoon Cimaron is forecast to move quickly toward Japan during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Cimaron will approach the coasts of Shikoku and Honshu between Tokushima and Tanabe in about 12 hours.  Cimaron is forecast to be a typhoon when it makes landfall in Japan.  It will bring strong winds and Cimaron will drop locally heavy rain.  Flash floods could occur, especially in regions of steeper terrain.

Typhoon Jongdari Makes Landfall on Honshu

Typhoon Jongdari made landfall on Honshu near Ise in the Mie Prefecture on Saturday.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) at the time of landfall.  Jongdari weakened to a tropical storm after the center moved over Honshu.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Jongdari was located at latitude 34.7°N and longitude 135.0°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Kobe, Japan.  Jongdari was moving toward the west-northwest at 25 m.p.h. (40 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 980 mb.

The center of Typhoon Jongdari made landfall in the Mie Prefecture on Honshu near Ise and Toba.  Jongdari then moved west-northwest near Matsusaka and Tsu.  It passed near Nara and Osaka before moving to its current position southwest of Kobe.  Typhoon Jongdari brought gusty winds and it dropped locally heavy rain over parts of the Mie, Nara, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures.  The ground in some of those places is very moist from recent rains and flash flooding could occur if more heavy rain falls.  The relatively rapid movement of Tropical Storm Jongdari will help to reduce the amount of rain that falls over specific locations.

Tropical Storm Jongdari will continue to weaken as it moves over western Honshu and northern Kyushu.  Jongdari is moving around the northern side of an upper level low south of Japan.  The upper level low will steer Tropical Storm Jongdari quickly to the west during the next 12 hours.  Jongdari will move southwest on Sunday when it moves around the northwestern part of the upper low.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Jongdari will move near Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kitakyushu and Fukuoka.  The tropical storm will continue to drop locally heavy rain while it weakens over western Japan.

Typhoon Jongdari Turns Toward Honshu

Typhoon Jongdari turned toward Honshu on Friday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Jongdari was located at latitude 31.0°N and longitude 143.7°E which put it about 415 miles (665 km) southeast of Tokyo, Japan.  Jongdari was moving toward the north at 24 m.p.h. (39 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. (205 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 957 mb.

An upper level low west of Typhoon Jongdari was affecting the circulation.  Winds blowing around the eastern side of the upper low were cutting under the upper level divergence at the top of the circulation of Jongdari.  In addition, drier flowing around the southern half of the upper low was being pulled into the western side of the circulation of Typhoon Jongdari.  The effects of the upper low were causing the circulation of Typhoon Jongdari to become asymmetrical.  Many of the stronger thunderstorms and stronger winds were occurring in bands in the eastern half of the circulation.  Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  With fewer strong thunderstorms in the western part of the typhoon with downdrafts to bring stronger winds to the surface the wind field was also becoming asymmetrical.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 100 miles (160 km) from the center of circulation on the eastern side of Jongdari, but they only extended out about 50 miles (80 km) on the western side.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 230 miles (370 km) to the east of the center, but only extended out about 170 miles (280 km) to the west of the center of circulation.

The upper level low will continue to affect Typhoon Jongdari.  Jongdari will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  So, there will be sufficient energy in the upper ocean to support a strong typhoon.  However, the upper low will inhibit upper level divergence to the west of the circulation.  Upper level divergence will be strong to the southeast of Typhoon Jongdari.  Drier air flowing around the upper low will inhibit the formation of thunderstorms in bands in the southwestern part of the circulation.  Typhoon Jongdari is likely to weaken slowly, although it could maintain its intensity at times as it moves around the northern side of the upper low.

The upper low will also steer Typhoon Jongdari during the weekend.  Jongdari will turn more toward the west-northwest when it moves around the northern part of the upper low.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Jongdari could pass south of Tokyo in about 18 hours.  The center of Jongdari could be very close to Hamamatsu in about 24 hours.  It could make landfall near Matsuzaka in a little over a day.  Typhoon Jongdari could pass very close to Osaka and Kobe and it could pass just south of Kyoto.  Heavy rain fell on parts of Japan earlier this month and Typhoon Jongdari could cause serious flooding in some locations.