Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Kirogi

Typhoon Saola Brings Wind and Rain to Hong Kong

Typhoon Saloa brought strong winds and heavy rain to Hong Kong on Friday morning. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Saola was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 114.0°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km) southeast of Hong Kong. Saola was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 938 mb.

Powerful Typhoon Saloa brought strong winds and heavy rain to Hong Kong on Friday morning. The Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH) reported a sustained wind speed of 63 m.p.h. (102 km/h) and a wind gust of 85 m.p.h. (139 km/h). The strongest winds in Typhoon Saola were occurring in the South China Sea just to the south of Hong Kong.

Typhoon Saloa started to weaken just as it approached Hong Kong. Northerly winds blowing around the western side of Saola’s circulation pulled drier air over China into the typhoon. The drier air caused Typhoon Saola to start to weaken. Even though Saola started to weaken, it remained a powerful typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Typhoon Saola. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saola was 25.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 41.6. Typhoon Saola was capable of causing region major damage.

Typhoon Saola will move south of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Saola toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Saola will move along the coast of Guangdong province.

Typhoon Saola will continue to produce strong winds and heavy rain in Hong Kong during the next few hours. The strong winds could cause widespread outages of electricity. The heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Typhoon Saloa will weaken as it pulls in more drier air. Even though Saola will weaken, strong winds and heavy rain will spread along the coastal part of Guangdong province west of Hong Kong as Typhoon Saola moves toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. Strong winds and heavy rain could reach Macau in a few hours.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Haikui was moving toward Taiwan and Tropical Storm Kirogi weakened east of Iwo To. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Haikui was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 127.3°E which put it about 415 miles (670 km) east of Taiwan. Haikui was moving toward the west 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. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb. Typhoon Haikui could approach Taiwan in 36 hours.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 23.9°N and longitude 149.0°E which put it about 475 miles (765 km) east of Iwo To. Kirogi was moving toward the northwest at 20 m.p.h. (32 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 999 mb.

Typhoon Saola Nears Hong Kong

Powerful Typhoon Saola neared Hong Kong on Thursday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Saola was located at latitude 21.9°N and longitude 115.9°E which put it about 140 miles (225 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Saola was moving toward the west-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 935 mb.

Powerful Typhoon Saola moved steadily closer to Hong Kong on Thursday night. A circular eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) was at the center of Saola’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 core of Saola’s circulation. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the typhoon.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Saola remained relatively constant on Thursday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Saola’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saola was 28.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 17.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 45.5. Typhoon Saola was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ida when Ida hit Louisiana in 2021.

Typhoon Saola will move through an environment that will become less favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Saola will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move through a region where the upper level ridge winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, the circulation around Typhoon Saola could pull in some drier air over China when Saola gets closer to Hong Kong. In addition, if the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then concentric eyewalls could form. Typhoon Saola is likely to weaken during the next 24 hours, when drier air gets pulled into its circulation.

Typhoon Saola will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Saola toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Saola will be near Hong Kong in 12 hours.

Typhoon Saola could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it reaches Hong Kong. Saola will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the area around Hong Kong. Widespread electricity outages are likely. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. There will also be a significant storm surge where the wind blows the water toward the coast.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Haikui was moving toward Taiwan and Tropical Storm Kirogi was spinning east-southeast of Iwo To. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Haikui was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 129.1°E which put it about 535 miles (865 km) east of Taiwan. Haikui was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 21.0°N and longitude 150.9°E which put it about 715 miles (1155 km) east-southeast of Iwo To. Kirogi was moving toward the northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 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 992 mb.

Typhoon Saola Moves Toward Hong Kong

Powerful Typhoon Saola moved across the South China Sea toward Hong Kong on Wednesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Saola was located at latitude 21.1°N and longitude 117.8°E which put it about 265 miles (430 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Saola was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 922 mb.

Typhoon Saola maintained its intensity near the threshold of the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale in Tuesday. A circular eye with a diameter of 18 miles (30 km) was at the center of Saola’ circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Numerous bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Saola’s circulation. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the typhoon.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Saola remained relatively constant on Wednesday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Saola’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saola was 33.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 15.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 49.2. Typhoon Saola was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ian when Ian hit southwest Florida in 2022.

Typhoon Saola will move through an environment favorable for a powerful typhoon during the next 24 hours. Saola will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move through a region where the upper level ridge winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Saola has been in equilibrium with its environment and Saola could maintain much of its intensity during the next 24 hours unless concentric eyewalls form. If concentric eyewalls form, then an eyewall replacement cycle would cause Saola to weaken.

Typhoon Saola will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Saola toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Saola will closer to Hong Kong. The center of Saola could be near Hong Kong in 36 hours.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Haikui was southeast of Okinawa and Tropical Storm Kirogi developed rapidly east of the Marianas. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Haikui was located at latitude 21.4°N and longitude 132.3°E which put it about 485 miles (780 km) southeast of Okinawa. Haikui was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 989 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 15.9°N and longitude 154.2°E which put it about 650 miles (1050 km) east of Guam. Kirogi was moving toward the north at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

Tropical Storm Kirogi Brings Rain to Southern Vietnam

Tropical Storm Kirogi brought locally heavy rain to southern Vietnam on Saturday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday night the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 10.4°N and longitude 109.8°E which put it about 220 miles (355 km) east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Kirogi was moving toward the west 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.

Kirogi is a small tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 90 miles (145 km) from the center of circulation.  The circulation is compact and circular.  Most of the strong storms are in the western half of the circulation.  There are numerous bands of lighter showers in eastern half of the circulation.  An upper level ridge north of Kirogi is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  The vertical wind shear is causing the asymmetrical distribution of the stronger storms.

The ridge is steering Tropical Storm Kirogi toward the west.  The center of Tropical Storm Kirogi will make landfall on the coast of Vietnam near Ham Thuan Nam in a few hours.  Kirogi will continue moving west toward Ho Chi Minh City and then over southeastern Cambodia.  Tropical Storm Kirogi will drop locally heavy rain along the coast from Nha Trang to the Mouths of the Mekong River.  Kirogi will also be capable of producing heavy heavy over parts of the southern Cambodia.  The rainfall could be heavy enough to cause flooding in some locations.

Tropical Storm Kirogi Forms West of the Philippines

Tropical Storm Kirogi formed west of the Philippines on Friday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 10.9°N and longitude 115.7°E which put it about 465 miles (745 km) east of Nha Trang, Vietnam.  Kirogi was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 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 1000 mb.

A low level center of circulation developed near the eastern edge of an area of showers and thunderstorms west of the Philippines on Friday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Kirogi.  The distribution of showers and thunderstorms in Kirogi was asymmetrical.  A primary rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of circulations and most of the stronger storms were west of the center.  There were only bands of low clouds and showers east of the center of Kirogi.  An upper level ridge north of Kirogi was producing easterly winds which were blowing across the top of the tropical storm.  The vertical wind shear created by those winds was causing the asymmetrical distribution of showers and thunderstorms.

Tropical Storm Kirogi will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification.  Kirogi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  The upper level ridge will continue to cause vertical wind shear.  The shear may be strong enough to slow intensification, but it may not strong enough to prevent Tropical Storm Kirogi from strengthening.  The forecast is for Tropical Storm Kirogi to intensify during the next 24 to 36 hours.

The ridge is steering Tropical Storm Kirogi toward the west-northwest and a general westerly motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Kirogi will move across the South China Sea toward Vietnam.  Kirogi could reach the coast of Vietnam near Nha Trang in about 36 hours.  Kirogi will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain when it reaches the coast.  The locally heavy rain could cause flash floods.  There could also be a storm surge of 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) where the wind blows water toward the coast of Vietnam.