Typhoon Saudel strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane on Saturday at it moved west of the Marianas. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Saudel was located at latitude 20.0°N and longitude 144.2°E which put the center about 80 miles (130 km) west of Agrihan. Saudel was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.
Typhoon Saudel strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane on Saturday. A circular eye with a diameter of 18 miles (30 km) was at the center of Saudel’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Saudel. Storms near the center of Saudel generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The size of the circulation around Typhoon Saudel increased when Saudel strengthened. Winds to typhoon force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Saudel’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of Typhoon Saudel.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saudel is 22.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 18.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 40.7. Typhoon Saudel is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Milton when Milton hit Florida in 2024.
Typhoon Saudel will move through an environment that will be very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Saudel will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Typhoon Saudel will intensify during the next 24 hours. Saudel could intensify rapidly at times. Typhoon Saudel could strengthen to the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane during the next 36 hours.
Typhoon Saudel will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Saudel toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Saudel will pass south of Iwo To in 18 hours. Saudel could approach the Ryukyu Islands in three days.
