Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Megi

Tropical Storm Malakas Passes Between Guam and Yap

Tropical Storm Malakas passed between Guam and Yap on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Malakas was located at latitude 12.0°N and longitude 139.7°E which put it about 345 miles (555 km) west of Guam. Malakas was moving toward the northwest at 29 m.p.h (46 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 982 mb.

Tropical Storm Malakas brought gusty winds and heavy rain to Fais on Saturday night as it passed between Guam and Yap. The circulation around Malakas strengthened on Saturday. The heaviest rain was occurring in a band that was wrapping around the southern side of the center of Tropical Storm Malakas. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Malakas. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km) from the center of Malakas.

Tropical Storm Malakas will move through an environment mostly favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Malakas will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce southeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Malakas’ circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be large enough to prevent strengthening. Tropical Storm Malakas will intensify during the next 36 hours. Malakas could strengthen to a typhoon during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Malakas will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next several days. The high pressure system will steer Malakas toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Malakas will remain west of the Marianas during the next several days. Malakas will move more toward the north when it reaches the western end of the high pressure system. Malakas could approach Iwo To in four days.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Depression 03W strengthened to Tropical Storm Megi near the Philippines. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Megi was located at latitude 11.3°N and longitude 125.9°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) east of Guiuan, Philippines. Megi was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h (8 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. Tropical Storm Megi could drop heavy rain over Samar and Leyte. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Megi Forms West of the Marianas

Tropical Storm Megi formed west of the Marianas on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Megi was located at latitude 16.4°N and longitude 137.1°E which put it about 1160 miles (1870 km) east-southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Megi was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (70 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/).  The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Megi is still organizing.  A distinct center of circulation is still consolidating.  There are more thunderstorms south and east of the center of circulation, but bands of thunderstorms are beginning to develop in other quadrants of the storm.  The thunderstorms closer to the center are generating upper level divergence which is pumping out mass.  Outflow channels could be developing to the northwest and southeast of Tropical Storm Megi.

Tropical Storm Megi is moving into an environment that is favorable for intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are not very strong and there is little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Megi is likely to continue to intensify while the circulation becomes better organized.  Once a well formed core develops at the center of Megi, it could intensify more rapidly.  Tropical Storm Megi is likely to become a typhoon during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Megi is moving along the southwestern side of a subtropical ridge, which is steering it toward the west.  A westerly or west-northwesterly motion is expected to continue for the next few days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Megi could approach Taiwan in about three days.  Megi is likely to be a typhoon at that time.