Tag Archives: Wokung

Typhoon Jongdari Nears Iwo To

Typhoon Jongdari neared Iwo To on Thursday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Jongdari was located at latitude 24.2°N and longitude 140.5°E which put it about 105 miles (170 km) southwest of Iwo To.  Jongdari was moving toward the northeast at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Jongdari strengthened as it neared Iwo To on Thursday.  An eye developed at the center of circulation and the Japan Meteorological Agency classified Jongdari as a typhoon.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Jongdari.  Thunderstorms in the core of Jongdari were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extended out about 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 130 miles (210 km) from the center.

Typhoon Jongdari will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next day or two.  Jongdari will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  An upper level low southeast of Honshu will cause easterly winds which will blow over the northern part of the circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will be less over the core of the typhoon.  Typhoon Jongdari will strengthen during the next 24 to 48 hours and it could become the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Jongdari is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge over the Western North Pacific and the ridge is steering Jongdari toward the northeast.  A general motion toward the northeast is forecast for the next 12 to 24 hours.  The upper low southeast of Honshu will move slowly toward the west.  When Jongdari moves farther north, it will begin to be steered more by the upper level low.  Typhoon Jongdari is forecast to turn more toward the north on Friday.  Jongdari will start to move toward the northwest in about 36 hours, when it moves northeast of the upper level low.

On its anticipated track Typhoon Jongdari will move over Iwo To in a few hours.  It will bring gusty winds and heavy rain.  Typhoon Jongdari could approach Honshu in about 48 hours and it could cause flooding in addition to strong winds and heavy rain.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific, Tropical Storm Wokung was weakening east of northern Japan.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Wokung was located at latitude 42.2°N and longitude 152.5°E which put it about 600 miles (960 km) east of Misawa, Japan.  Wokung was moving toward the north-northwest at 19 m.p.h. (31 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 995 mb.

Tropical Storm Jongdari Forms Southwest of Iwo To

Tropical Storm Jongdari formed southwest of Iwo To on Tuesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Jongdari was located at latitude 20.9°N and longitude 136.9°E which put it about 410 miles (665 km) southwest of Iwo To.  Jongdari was moving toward the north at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 996 mb.

A distinct low level center of circulation developed within former Tropical Depression 15W on Tuesday afternoon and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Jongdari.  The circulation of Jongdari was asymmetrical.  Most of the stronger thunderstorms were forming in bands north of the center.  Bands south of the center consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Stronger storms near the center were beginning to generate upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the core of the circulation.

Tropical Storm Jongdari will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Jongdari will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  So, there will be sufficient energy in the upper ocean to support intensification.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge where the winds are weaker and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Intensification could be slow at first while the circulation becomes more organized, but Jongdari could strengthen more quickly when the inner core becomes more well developed.  Tropical Storm Jongari could strengthen to a typhoon with 48 hours.  It could eventually intensify into the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Storm Jongari will move around the western end of a subtropical ridge which will steer Jongari toward the northeast during the next two or three days.  When Jongari moves farther north, it will be affected by a second ridge located farther to the north.  The second ridge is forecast to strengthen and push Jongari more toward the northwest.  On its anticipated track Jongari could reach Iwo To in about 48 hours.  It could be a typhoon at that time.  Jongari could approach Tokyo in about four days and it is likely to be a typhoon when it reaches Honshu.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Wokung was churning well southeast of Japan.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Wokung was located at latitude 32.3°N and longitude 158.0°E which put it about 1250 miles (2015 km) east-southeast of Tokyo, Japan.  Wokung was moving toward the north-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 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 984 mb.