Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Kajiki

Tropical Storm Kajiki Forms Over South China Sea

Tropical Storm Kajiki formed over the South China Sea on Friday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kajiki was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 115.9°E which put the center about 365 miles (590 km) south-southeast of Hong Kong.  Kajiki was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1000 mb.

A low pressure system over the South China Sea strengthened on Friday evening and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Kajiki.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Kajiki exhibited much more organization on Friday night.  Numerous thunderstorms were forming around the center of Kajiki’s circulation.  Thunderstorms also developed in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Kajiki.  Storms near the center of Kajiki generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The distribution of wind speeds around Tropical Storm Kajiki was asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km) in the northwestern quadrant of Kajiki’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the other parts of Tropical Storm Kajiki.

Tropical Storm Kajiki will move through an environment that is favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Kajiki will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over China.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kajiki’s circulation.  The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will also blow from the east.  So, there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Kajiki will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Kajiki could strengthen to a typhoon during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Kajiki will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China.  The high pressure system will steer Kajiki toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kajiki will approach southern Hainan in 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Kajiki could be a typhoon when it approaches southern Hainan.  Kajiki will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hainan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Kajiki Forms Near Vietnam

Tropical Storm Kajiki formed near the coast of Vietnam on Monday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Kajiki was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 107.6°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Vinh Linh, Vietnam.  Kajiki was moving toward the southwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 996 mb.

The wind speed around a low pressure system just east of the coast of Vietnam increased to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) on Monday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Kajiki.  The distribution of thunderstorms around Kajiki was asymmetrical.  Many of the stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of the circulation.  Bands in the eastern half of Tropical Storm Kajiki contained fewer thunderstorms.  Kajiki was moving south of an upper level ridge over eastern Asia.  The ridge was producing northeasterly winds which were blowing toward the top of the tropical storm.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear and they were the reason for the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.

The upper level ridge will steer Tropical Storm Kajiki toward the southwest during the next 12 to 24 hours.  On it anticipated track Kajiki will reach the coast of Vietnam within 12 hours.  Even though Tropical Storm Kajiki will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C, it will have only a few hours to strengthen before the center reaches the coast.  Kajiki will bring some gusty winds to the coast, but the greater risk is for heavy rain.  Tropical Storm Kajiki will drop locally heavy rain over parts of central Vietnam and northern Laos.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Lingling was strengthening as it north toward the southern Ryukyu Islands.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Lingling was located at latitude 19.5°N and longitude 124.1°E which put it about 565 miles (915 km) south-southwest of Okinawa.  Lingling was moving toward the north-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 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.  Tropical Storm Lingling is forecast to strengthen into a typhoon before it reaches the southern Ryukyu Islands.