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Tropical Storm Noul Forms East of Northern Luzon

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Tropical Storm Noul formed over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of northern Luzon on Thursday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Noul was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 124.4°E which put the center about 180 miles (290 km) east of Aparri, Philippines.  Noul was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 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 998 mb.

A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of northern Luzon strengthened on Thursday afternoon and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Noul.

More thunderstorms were forming near the center of Tropical Storm Noul.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the western half of Noul’s circulation.  Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Noul consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storm near the center of Noul began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Noul was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) in the southern side of Noul’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the northern side of Tropical Storm Noul.

Tropical Storm Noul will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Noul will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge that is centered east of China.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Noul’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Noul will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Noul is likely to strengthen to a typhoon by the weekend.

Tropical Storm Noul will move around the southern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Noul toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Noul will pass south of Taiwan on Friday.  Noul is likely to hit southeastern China during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Noul will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to northern Luzon.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods.  Noul will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to Taiwan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods.  Tropical Storm Noul is likely to be a typhoon when it hits southeastern China.

Typhoon Bavi Brings Wind and Rain to Ryukyu Islands

Typhoon Bavi brought wind and rain to the southern Ryukyu Islands on Friday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Bavi was located at latitude 25.6°N and longitude 124.1°E which put the center about 165 miles (265 km) east-northeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Bavi was moving toward the north-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 953 mb.

A weather station in Ishigakijima Island reported at sustained wind speed of 49 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  A weather station in Nakasuji, Japan reported a sustained wind speed of 53 m.p.h. (85 km/h).

Typhoon Bavi strengthened a little as it approached the southern Ryukyu Islands on Friday.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Concentric eyewalls appeared for a time on radar images from the Japan Meteorological Agency.  A small inner eye and eyewall was surrounded by a much larger outer eyewall that was a remnant from the last eyewall replacement cycle.

The distribution of thunderstorms in Typhoon Bavi continued to be asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring mostly in bands in the southern half of Bavi’s circulation.  Bands in the northern half of Typhoon Bavi consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Bavi generated more upper level divergence.  The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease on Friday.

Typhoon Bavi continued to be a very large typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 370 miles (595 km) from the center of Typhoon Bavi.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Bavi is 13.9.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 48.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 62.1.  Typhoon Bavi is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Sandy when Sandy hit the east coast of the U.S. in 2012.

Typhoon Bavi will move through an environment that will be marginally favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours.  Bavi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Bavi will move through a region of drier air that is near eastern of Chin.a  The drier air will inhibit intensification.  Typhoon Bavi could maintain its intensity during the next 12 hours.

Typhoon Bavi will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Bavi will reach the east coast of China near Wenzhou in 12 hours.

Typhoon Bavi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Zhejiang.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Typhoon Bavi could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along parts of the east coast of China.

Typhoon Bavi Approaches Southern Ryukyu Islands

Typhoon Bavi was approaching the southern Ryukyu Islands on Thursday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Bavi was located at latitude 21.3°N and longitude 126.9°E which put the center about 360 miles (580 km) southeast of Ishigakijima, Japan.  Bavi was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 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. (165 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

Typhoon Bavi weakened on Thursday when it moved into a region of drier air that was east of Taiwan.  The drier air caused many of the thunderstorms in the northern half of Bavi’s circulation to dissipate.  Bands in the northern side of Typhoon Bavi consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the southern half of Bavi’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Bavi generated less upper level divergence.  The removal of mass in the upper levels was less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  So, the surface pressure continued to increase on Thursday.

The inner end of a rainband was wrapping back around the southern and eastern sides of the center of Typhoon Bavi on Thursday evening.  A new small eye appeared to be developing at the center of Bavi’s circulation.

Even though Typhoon Bavi weakened on Thursday, it continued to be a very large typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 185 miles (295 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 370 miles (595 km) from the center of Typhoon Bavi.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Bavi is 12.7.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 57.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 70.2.  Typhoon Bavi is similar in intensity to Hurricane Sandy when Sandy hit the east coast of the U.S. in 2012.  Typhoon Bavi is larger than Hurricane Sandy was.

Typhoon Bavi will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Bavi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Bavi will continue to move through a region of drier air that is east of Taiwan.  The drier air will inhibit intensification, but drier air may have less of an effect on Friday.  Typhoon Bavi could intensify during the next 24 hours, especially if a new eye and eyewall develop at the center of Bavi’s circulation.

Typhoon Bavi will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Bavi will reach the southern Ryukyu Islands in 18 hours.  The center of Bavi will be near northeastern Taiwan in 24 hours.

Typhoon Bavi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the southern Ryukyu Islands and to Taiwan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Typhoon Bavi could cause a storms surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along the coast of the southern Ryukyu Islands and northern Taiwan.

Typhoon Bavi Moves Toward Southern Ryukyu Islands

Typhoon Bavi continued to move toward the southern Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan on Wednesday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Bavi was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 129.6°E which put the center about 605 miles (975 km) southeast of Ishigakijima, Japan.  Bavi was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 944 mb.

The cumulative effects of multiple eyewall replacement cycles caused Typhoon Bavi to weaken on Wednesday.  The most recent inner eyewall weakened and a much larger eye with a diameter of 70 miles (110 km) formed at the center of Bavi’s circulation.  The large eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center of Typhoon Bavi.  Storms near the center of Bavi generated less upper level divergence that pumped less mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of mass in the upper levels was less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  So, the surface pressure increased again on Wednesday.

The effects of the multiple eyewall replacement cycles also created a very large circulation around typhoon Bavi.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 335 miles (540 km) from the center of Typhoon Bavi.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Bavi is 23.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 54.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 78.5.  Typhoon Bavi is similar in intensity to Hurricane Katrina when Katrina hit Mississippi in 2005.  Typhoon Bavi is much larger than Katrina was.

Typhoon Bavi will move through an environment that will be somewhat unfavorable for a powerful typhoon during the next 24 hours.  Bavi 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.  However, Typhoon Bavi will move into a region of drier air that is east of Taiwan.  The drier air will inhibit the formation of new thunderstorms in the northwestern part of Bavi’s circulaiton.  Typhoon Bavi is likely to weaken slowly during the next 24 hours because of the drier air and the lingering effects of the eyewall replacement cycles.

Typhoon Bavi will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Bavi will approach the southern Ryukyu Islands in 36 hours.  The center of Bavi will be near northeastern Taiwan in 48 hours.

Typhoon Bavi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the southern Ryukyu Islands and to Taiwan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Typhoon Bavi could cause a storms surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) along the coast of the southern Ryukyu Islands and northern Taiwan.

Typhoon Bavi Churns West

Typhoon Bavi continued to churn westward toward the southern Ryukyu Islands on Tuesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Bavi was located at latitude 16.9°N and longitude 134.7°E which put the center about 975 miles (1575 km) east-southeast of Ishigakijima, Japan.  Bavi was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 185 m.p.h. (295 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 927 mb.

Typhoon Bavi completed another eyewall replacement cycle on Tuesday.  An circular eye with a diameter of 45 miles (75 km) was at the center of Bavi’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center of Typhoon Bavi.  Storms near the center of Bavi generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. The removal of mass in the upper levels was nearly equal to the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  So, the surface pressure did not change much on Tuesday.

There was a large circulation around Typhoon Bavi.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 310 miles (500 km) from the center of Typhoon Bavi.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Bavi is 31.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 37.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 69.5. Typhoon Bavi is similar in intensity to Hurricane Laura when Laura hit Southwest Louisiana in 2020.  Typhoon Bavi is much larger than Laura was.

Typhoon Bavi will more through an environment that will be favorable for a powerful typhoon during the next 24 hours.  Bavi 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 Bavi could maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours unless another eyewall replacement cycle occurs.

Typhoon Bavi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Bavi will approach the southern Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan in less than 72 hours.

Typhoon Bavi Moves Away from the Marianas

Typhoon Bavi moved away from the Marianas on Monday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Bavi was located at latitude 16.0°N and longitude 140.4°E which put the center about 300 miles (480 km) west-northwest of Guam.  Bavi was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 921 mb.

Typhoon Bavi was in the middle of another eyewall replacement cycle on Monday afternoon.  An inner eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) was at the center of Bavi’s circulation.  The inner eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the inner eye and eyewall.  A larger, outer eyewall surrounded those features.

Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the concentric eyewalls in the middle of Typhoon Bavi.  Storms near the center of Bavi generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  However, the removal of mass in the upper levels was less that the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  So, the surface pressure increased on Monday.

The circulation around Typhoon Bavi grew even larger on Monday as the eyewall replacement cycle was underway.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 300 miles (480 km) from the center of Typhoon Bavi.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Bavi is 33.3.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 36.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 69.7. Typhoon Bavi is similar in intensity to Hurricane Ian when Ian hit Southwest Florida in 2022.  Typhoon Bavi is much larger than Ian was.

Typhoon Bavi will more through an environment that will be favorable for a powerful typhoon during the next 24 hours.  Bavi 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.  The eyewall replacement cycle currently underway will cause Typhoon Bavi to weaken during the next few hours.  Bavi could strengthen again after the eyewall replacement cycle is completed.

Typhoon Bavi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Bavi will approach the southern Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan in less than four days.

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong Clips Southern Taiwan

Tropical Storm Fung-wong clipped the southern part of Taiwan on Wednesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 23.5°N and longitude 122.5°E which put the center about 140 miles (225 km) south of Taipei, Taiwan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the northeast at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 1001 mb.

The center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong moved across southern Taiwan on Wednesday.  Fung-wong brought gusty winds and locally heavy rain as it moved across Taiwan.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong continued to weaken as it moved across southern Taiwan on Wednesday.  Drier air from Asia was pulled into many parts of Fung-wong’s circulation.  A few thunderstorms were occurring near the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.  Other thunderstorms were located northeast of the center where Fung-wong’s circulation was interacting with a frontal boundary.  There was little upper level divergence.  Since mass was not being transported away from Tropical Storm Fung-wong, the surface pressure was increasing.

The distribution of wind speeds around Tropical Storm Fung-wong was very asymmetrical.  The pressure gradient between a high pressure system over eastern Asia and Tropical Storm Fung-wong was causing a large area of tropical storm winds to the north of Fung-wong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 320 miles (520 km) in the northern side of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) in the southern side of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level trough that is over eastern China.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow across the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear.  In addition, the drier air that is already in the circulation around Fung-wong will suppress the formation of new thunderstorms.  Strong vertical wind shear and the drier air will cause Tropical Storm Fung-wong to continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fung-wong toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move over the southern Ryukyu Island.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will bring gusty winds and rain showers to the southern Ryukyu Islands.

Fung-wong Weakens to a Tropical Storm

Former Typhoon Fung-wong weakened to a tropical storm over the South China Sea southwest of Taiwan on Tuesday morning.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 11934°E which put the center about 165 miles (265 km) southwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the north-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 990 mb.

Former Typhoon Fung-wong weakened to a tropical storm southwest of Taiwan on Tuesday morning.  Drier air from Asia was pulled into the core of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.  The drier air caused many of the thunderstorms in Fung-wong to dissipate.  The dissipation of the thunderstorms significantly reduced the amount of upper level divergence.  Since the upper level divergence pumped less mass away from Tropical Storm Fung-wong, the surface pressure increased.

An upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean was producing southerly winds that were blowing toward the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear.  The strong vertical wind shear was blowing the upper part of Fung-wong’s circulation toward the north of the circulation in the lower levels.  Many of the bands in Tropical Storm Fung-wong consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Even though Tropical Storm Fung-wong was weakening, the circulation around Fung-wong was still large.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 275 miles (445 km) in the northern side of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the southern half of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  The upper level ridge that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean will continue to produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  In addition, the drier air that is already in the circulation around Fung-wong will suppress the formation of new thunderstorms.  Strong vertical wind shear and the drier air will cause Tropical Storm Fung-wong to continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fung-wong toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move across Taiwan during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will bring strong winds and isolated heavy rain to Taiwan.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move across the southern Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday.

Typhoon Fung-wong Moves over South China Sea

Typhoon Fung-wong moved over the South China Sea on Monday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Typhoon Fung-wong was located at latitude 18.8°N and longitude 118.4°E which put the center about 285 miles (460 km) south-southwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the north-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 969 mb.

Typhoon Fung-wong was weakening as it moved over the South China Sea on Monday.  Even though Fung-wong was weakening, thunderstorms were still developing near the center of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Fung-wong.  Storms near the center of Fung-wong continued to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  However, the removal of mass in the upper levels of the atmosphere was less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels.  So, the surface pressure was increasing.

The circulation around Typhoon Fung-wong was large.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center of Fun-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 300 miles (485 km) from the center of Typhoon Fung-wong.

Typhoon Fung-wong will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the western end of an upper level ridge that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase.  In addition, drier air from Asia is over the South China Sea.  The drier air will gradually get pulled into the circulation around Fung-wong.  More vertical wind shear and drier air will cause Typhoon Fung-wong to weaken slowly during the next 24 hours.

Typhoon Fung-wong will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fung-wong toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Fung-wong will move toward Taiwan.

Typhoon Fung-wong is likely to weaken to a tropical storm before it reaches Taiwan.  Fung-wong will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Taiwan.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Typhoon Podul Nears Taiwan

Typhoon Podul was nearing southern Taiwan on Tuesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Podul was located at latitude 22.3°N and longitude 122.6°E which put the center about 100 miles (160 km) east-southeast of Taitung, Taiwan.  Podul was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 970 mb.

Typhoon Podul was intensifying as it approached southern Taiwan on Tuesday.  A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (48 km) was at the center of Podul’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Podul.  Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Podul increased as Podul intensified on Tuesday.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Podul’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of Typhoon Podul.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Podul is 16.5.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 16.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 33.2.  Typhoon Podul is similar in intensity to Hurricane Idalia when Idalia hit Florida in 2023.  Typhoon Podul is much larger than Idalia was.

Typhoon Podul will move through an environment that will be mostly favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Podul will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  An upper level ridge over eastern China will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Podul’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Typhoon Podul could continue to intensify during the next few hours.

Typhoon Podul will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is south of Japan.  The high pressure system will steer Podul toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Podul will make landfall in southeastern Taiwan in a few hours.

Typhoon Podul will bring strong gusty winds and heavy rain to Taiwan.  The heaviest rain will fall in southern Taiwan and on the eastern slopes of mountains in eastern Taiwan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

The Taiwan Central Weather Administration has issued a Land Typhoon Warning for much of Taiwan.  A Sea Typhoon Warning is in effect for much of the waters surrounding Taiwan.

The Taiwan Central Weather Administration has issued an Extremely Heavy Rain Advisory for much of southern and eastern Taiwan.

Typhoon Podul could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along parts of the east coast of Taiwan.