Typhoon Bualoi was approaching the coast of northern Vietnam on Saturday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Bualoi was located at latitude 16.7°N and longitude 108.8°E which put the center about 80 miles (130 km) east-northeast of Da Nang Vietnam. Bualoi was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.
Typhoon Bualoi was maintaining its intensity as it approached the coast of northern Vietnam on Saturday evening. Thunderstorms continued to form near the center of Bualoi’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Bualoi. Storms near the center of Bualoi generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the typhoon. The removal of mass in the upper levels were balanced by the inflow of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. The balance of outflow and inflow caused the surface pressure to remain nearly constant.
The strongest winds were occurring in the northern side of Typhoon Bualoi. Winds to typhoon force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the northern side of Bualoi’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of Typhoon Bualoi.
Typhoon Bualoi will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Bualoi 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 Bualoi’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the moderate shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. Typhoon Bualoi could intensify before it reaches the coast of northern Vietnam.
Typhoon Bualoi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Bualoi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Bualoi will make landfall on the coast of northern Vietnam in a few hours. The center of Bualoi Is likely to make landfall between Hue and Vinh.
Typhoon Bualoi will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of northern Vietnam. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Bualoi could cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along portions of the coast.
Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Neoguri intensified far to the west of Japan. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Neoguri was located at latitude 35.2°N and longitude 163.6°E which put the center about 1065 miles (1720 km) north-northwest of Wake, Island. Neoguri was moving toward the northeast at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 957 mb.