Tropical Storm Malakas Update #6

Tropical Storm Malakas continues to move slowly to the northwest. It has not strengthened over the past 6 hours; winds remain at 80kph. Malakas is forecast to slowly turn to the north northwest. It will strengthen, albeit at a slow pace. It won't probably attain typhoon status until late Thursday/early Friday. Around that time frame, Malakas will also be passing closely to the west of Iwo To (Iwo Jima). Malakas will keep intensifying, category 2 by Saturday, before undergoing extra tropical transition.

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Issued (06 UTC) 2pm PST 092210