Typhoon Sanvu is bringing a prolonged period of gusty winds and heavy rain to Chichi JIma, Japan. Sanvu strengthened during the past several days while it meandered around Chichi Jima. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center to Typhoon Sanvu was located at latitude 28.1°N and longitude 142.0°E which put it about 60 miles (95 km) north-northwest of Chichi Jima, Japan. Sanvu was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 967 mb.
The organization of Typhoon Sanvu has been slowly improving. An eye developed at the center of Sanvu as the typhoon moved slowly over Chichi Jima. A broken ring of thunderstorms surrounds the eye. The strongest winds are occurring in the ring of storms. A primary band of thunderstorms wraps around the western and southern sides of the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms are developing outside the core of Typhoon Sanvu. Most of the bands are developing in the southern half of the circulation. Thunderstorms in the core of Sanvu are producing upper level divergence which is pumping mass away to the north of the typhoon.
Typhoon Sanvu will move through an environment favorable for intensification for several more days. It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C. An upper level ridge east of Sanvu is producing southerly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation, but there is not much vertical wind shear. Typhoon Sanvu is likely to continue to strengthen for another 24 to 48 hours. Eventually, Sanvu will move over colder water and the wind shear will increase. It will start to weaken when that happens.
Sanvu is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which steering the typhoon toward the north. When Typhoon Sanvu moves farther north, it will be steered by an upper level trough over Japan. Southwesterly winds will steer Sanvu toward the northeast at a faster speed in a day or two. On its anticipated track Typhoon Sanvu would stay east of Tokyo, but it could affect the northernmost islands of Japan in four or five days. Conditions in Chichi Jima should improve slowly as Typhoon Sanvu moves farther away.