Tag Archives: Qingdao

Nanmadol Strengthens to a Typhoon South of Japan

Former Tropical Storm Nanmadol strengthened to a typhoon south of Japan on Thursday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Nanmadol was located at latitude 23.6°N and longitude 137.5°E which put it about 660 miles (1065 km) east-southeast of Okinawa. Nanmadol was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 981 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Nanmadol intensified to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean south of Japan on Thursday morning. A circular eye formed at the center of Nanmadol’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Nanmadol. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of circulation in the northern side of Nanmadol. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of circulation.

Typhoon Nanmadol will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Nanmadol will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Nanmadol will intensify during the next 36 hours. It is likely to strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Nanmadol will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Nanmadol toward then northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Typhoon Nanmadol could approach the northern Ryukyu Islands in 48 hours. Nanmadol is likely to be a large, dangerous typhoon when it moves near the north Ryukyu Islands.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Muifa weakened over the Yellow Sea and Typhoon Merbok was transitioning to a powerful extratropical cyclone south of the western Aleutian Islands. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Muifa was located at latitude 34.6°N and longitude 120.3°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) south-southwest of Qingdao, China. Muifa was moving toward the north-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 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.

At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Merbok was located at latitude 41.0°N and longitude 166.0°E which put it about 890 miles (1435 km) south-southwest of Kiska, Alaska. Merbok was moving toward the north-northeast at 45 m.p.h. (75 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 960 mb.

Damaging Tropical Storm Lekima Moves Up East Coast of China

Damaging Tropical Storm Lekima moved up the east coast of China on Saturday.  Although former Typhoon Lekima weakened to a tropical storm, there were reports that it caused deaths, damage and floods in eastern China.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Lekima was located at latitude 34.3°N and longitude 120.5°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) south of Qingdao, China.  Lekima was moving toward the north at 18 m.p.h. (29 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 980 mb.

Former Typhoon Lekima made landfall south of Shanghai and then it moved northward over eastern China.  Lekima dropped heavy rain over areas near the east coast of China.  The heavy rain caused flooding in some locations.  Tropical Storm Lekima weakened on Saturday, but it continued to drop heavy rain on the coastal region north of Shanghai.  A portion of the circulation was still over the Yellow Sea and the strongest winds were occurring in rainbands over water.  Tropical Storm Lekima will continue to move northward and weaken on Sunday, but it still has the potential to cause additional flooding.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Krosa finally started to move northwestward near Iwo To.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Krosa was located at latitude 23.2°N and longitude 139.9°E which put it about 140 miles (230 km) southwest of Iwo To.  Krosa was moving toward the northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 965 mb.

Typhoon Krosa mixed cooler water to the surface while it was stationary south of Iwo To.  The cooler water didn’t provide enough energy to maintain the inner core of Krosa which weakened significantly.  Typhoon Krosa could strengthen when it moves away from the cooler water.  However, the lack of a well formed inner core will limit the rate of intensification.  Krosa will move around the western part of a subtropical ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will steer the typhoon toward the northwest.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Krosa could approach the large islands of Japan in about four days.