Tag Archives: Sendai

Tropical Storm Maria Moves Toward Northern Honshu

Tropical Storm Maria moved toward northern Honshu on Saturday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Maria was located at latitude 37.7°N and longitude 144.4°E which put the center about 235 miles (355 km) east-southeast of Sendai, Japan.  Maria was moving toward the north-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/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 981 mb.

Tropical Storm Maria exhibited more organization on Saturday night as it moved closer to northern Honshu.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Maria’s circulation.  A small circular eye appeared intermittently on satellite images.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center of Tropical Storm Maria.  Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.

The distribution of wind speeds around Tropical Storm Maria was more symmetrical on Saturday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 155 miles (250 km) from the center to Maria’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Maria will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours.  Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the eastern part of an upper level ridge over Japan.  The upper level winds are weak in that part of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Maria could intensify during the next 18 hours, but it is more likely that Maria will maintain its current intensity.

Tropical Storm Maria will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Maria toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Maria will approach the coast of northern Honshu in less than 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Maria will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to northern Honshu.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Nepartak Strengthens East of Tokyo

Tropical Storm Nepartak strengthened east of Tokyo on Monday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Nepartak was located at latitude 35.4°N and longitude 142.3°E which put it about 160 miles (260 km) east of Tokyo, Japan. Nepartak was moving toward the north-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 992 mb.

Tropical Storm Nepartak exhibited a structure a little more like a tropical cyclone on Monday night. Nepartak was embedded in the center of an upper level low. The center of Tropical Storm Nepartak was under the center of the upper level low and the circulation assumed a more circular shape. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Nepartak. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the eastern side of the circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the western side of Nepartak.

Tropical Storm Nepartak will move through an environment capable of supporting a tropical storm during the next 18 hours. Nepartak will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C. Since Tropical Storm Nepartak is embedded at the center of an upper level low, the winds are blowing from the same direction at all levels in the troposphere. So, there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Nepartak will likely maintain its intensity during the next 18 hours and it could strengthen a little more.

The upper level low and Tropical Storm Nepartak are forecast to drift toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Nepartak could make landfall on the northern coast of Honshu near Sendai in about 18 hours. Tropical Storm Nepartak will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to parts of northern Honshu. Nepartak already generated waves along the coast of Honshu and some Olympic events at coastal sites were postponed.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm In-Fa continued to drop heavy rain over parts of eastern China. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm In-Fa was located at latitude 31.2°N and longitude 119.5°E which put it about 100 miles (160 km) west of Shanghai, China. In-Fa was moving toward the west-northwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.