Tag Archives: Ujelang

Tropical Depression Forms East-southeast of Marianas

Tropical Depression 09W formed over the Western North Pacific Ocean east-southeast of the Marianas on Tuesday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression 09W was located at latitude 8.9°N and longitude 162.9°E which put the center about 175 miles (280 km) east-southeast of Ujelang.  The tropical depression was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean east-southeast of the Marianas strengthened on Tuesday evening.  Both the Japan Meteorological Agency and the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified the system as a tropical depression.

More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Depression 09W on Tuesday evening.  Thunderstorms were also developing in bands in the northern and western parts of the tropical depression.  Bands in the southern and eastern parts of Tropical Depression consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical depression.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to start to decrease.

Tropical Depression 09W will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  The tropical depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Depression 09W will intensify to a tropical storm during the next 24 hours.  It is likely to strengthen to a typhoon by the end of the week.

Tropical Depression 09W 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 the tropical depression toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Depression 09W will pass near Ujelang in 12 hours.  Tropical Depression 09W could approach the Marianas in four days.  It is likely to be a typhoon when it approaches the Marianas.

Tropical Depression 09W will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to Ujelang.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods.

Tropical Storm Pabuk Brings Wind and Rain to Southern Thailand

Tropical Storm Pabuk brought wind and rain to southern Thailand on Friday.  At 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Pabuk was located at latitude 8.7°N and longitude 98.5°E which put it about 60 miles (95 km) northeast of Phuket, Thailand.  Pabuk was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 997 mb.

Tropical Storm Pabuk made landfall near Sichon in southern Thailand.  Pabuk brought gusty winds to much of the Isthmus of Kra.  It also dropped heavy rain over parts of southern Thailand.  Tropical Storm Pabuk weakened when it crossed the Isthmus of Kra, but the core of the circulation appears to have remained intact.  Pabuk is moving over the Andaman Sea and it still has a well defined low level center of circulation.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the core of the tropical storm.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms are located in the northeastern part of the circulation which is over the Gulf of Thailand.

Tropical Storm Pabuk will move into an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Pabuk will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  An upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean will produce southeasterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear, which will inhibit intensification.  However, the wind shear may not be strong enough to prevent Tropical Storm Pabuk from strengthening.

Tropical Storm Pabuk will continue to move around the western end of the ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will steer Pabuk toward the west-northwest for another 24 to 36 hours.  Pabuk will turn more toward the north when it reaches the western end of the ridge.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Pabuk will reach the Andaman Islands in about 36 hours.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression 01W formed southeast of the Marshall Islands.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Depression 01W was located at latitude 4.9°N and longitude 174.0°E which put it about 250 miles (400 km) southeast of Majuro, Marshall Islands.  It was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.  Tropical Depression 01W is forecast to move toward the west-northwest and strengthen.  On its anticipated track it could move toward Majuro, Kwajalein, Ujelang, and the Marianas.