Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Mekkhala

Tropical Storm Mekkhala Passes West of Okinawa

The center of Tropical Storm Mekkhala passed west of Okinawa on Thursday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Mekkhala was located at latitude 27.9°N and longitude 127.5°E which put the center about 80 miles (130 km) northwest of Okinawa.  Mekkhala was moving toward the north-northeast at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 983 mb.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala continued to weaken as it passed west of Okinawa on Thursday.  Mekkhala moved under the southern part of an upper level trough that was over South Korea,  The upper level trough produced westerly winds that blew toward the top of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear.  The strong vertical wind shear blew the tops off of most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Mekkhala.  Bands revolving around the center of Mekkhala’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Mekkhala became more asymmetrical on Thursday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the eastern side of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) in the western side of Tropical Storm Mekkhala.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Mekkhala will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C.  However, the upper level trough over South Korea will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Mekkhala could weaken to a tropical depression during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Mekkhala toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Mekkhala will be near Tokyo in 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala could bring gusty winds to the southern coast of Honshu including Tokyo during the next 48 hours.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Higos strengthened south of Japan.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Higos was located at latitude 26.3°N and longitude 133.9°E which put the center about 155 miles (250 km) east-southeast of Minamidaitojima, Japan.  Higos was moving toward the north at 30 m.p.h. (48 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 986 mb.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala Nears Southern Ryukyu Islands

Tropical Storm Mekkhala was nearing the southern Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Mekkhala was located at latitude 24.1°N and longitude 125.6°E which put the center about 45 miles (75 km) south of Miyakojima, Japan.  Mekkhala was moving toward the north-northeast at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 986 mb.

Former Typhoon Mekkhala weakened to a tropical storm as it approached the southern Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday.  An upper level ridge over China continued to produce northeasterly winds that blew toward the top of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear.  The strong vertical wind shear caused former Typhoon Mekkhala to weaken to a tropical storm.

The northeasterly winds in the upper levels also continued to blow the tops off of many of the thunderstorms that tried to form in the northern half of Tropical Storm Mekkhala.  A few more thunderstorms did develop near the center of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the southern half of Tropical Storm Mekkhala.  Bands in the northern half of Mekkhala still consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Mekkhala generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the typhoon.  However, 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 Wednesday.

The size of the circulation around Tropical Storm Mekkhala increased a little on Wednesday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 165 miles (265 km) from the center of Mekkhala’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Mekkhala will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  However, the upper level ridge over China will continue to cause vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear may be a little less on Thursday.  Tropical Storm Mekkhala could maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours if the vertical wind shear is a little less.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move around the western end of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Mekkhala toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Mekkhala will pass over Miyakojima during the next few hours.  Mekkhala could be near Okinawa in 12 hours.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the southern Ryukyu Islands including Ishigakijima and Miyakojima.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.  Mekkhala will also bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Okinawa.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Depression Higos strengthened back to a tropical storm on Wednesday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Higos was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 137.1°E which put the center about 540 miles (870 km) south-southwest of Iwo To.  Higos was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 1002 mb.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala Develops North of Yap

Tropical Storm Mekkhala developed over the Western North Pacific Ocean north of Yap on Friday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Mekkhala was located at latitude 14.2°N and longitude 138.0°E which put the center about 315 miles (510 km) north of Yap. Mekkhala was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 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.

Former Tropical Depression 07W strengthened north of Yap on Friday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated it as Tropical Storm Mekkhala.

More thunderstorms developed near the center of Tropical Storm Mekkhala on Friday.  More thunderstorms also formed in the bands revolving around the center of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Mekkhala generated more upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

Despite the fact that Tropical Storm Mekkhala strengthened on Friday, the distribution of wind speeds was very asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) in the northern side of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out only 25 miles (40 km) in the southern side of Tropical Storm Mekkhala.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Mekkhala 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 southwest of Japan.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Mekkhala’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Mekhala will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Mekkhala is likely to strengthen to a typhoon during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Mekkhala toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Mekkhala will move away from Yap.