Tropical Storm Olana formed over the Central North Pacific Ocean just to the east of the International Dateline on Sunday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Olana was located at latitude 14.8°N and longitude 178.0°W which put the center about 580 miles (935 km) west-southwest of Johnston Atoll. Olana was moving toward the east-northeast at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 1002 mb.
A low pressure system over the Central North Pacific Ocean just to the east of the International Dateline strengthened on Sunday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Olana.
More thunderstorms were forming near the center of Tropical Storm Olana. Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the eastern side of Olana’s circulation. Bands in the western side of Tropical Storm Olana consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Olana generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the east of the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Tropical Storm Olana was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Olana’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Olana will move through an environment that will be marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Olana will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level trough that is over the North Pacific Ocean. The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Olana’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Olana could intensify a little during the next 24 hours, if the upper level winds to not get any stronger.
The upper level trough will steer Tropical Storm Olana toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Olana will move closer to Johnston Atoll.