Sunday, August 18, 2013

Tropical Storm Pewa Update #1

Issued (15 UTC) 11pm PhT 081813
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A Tropical Cyclone that formed in the Central Pacific Basin has crossed the International Date Line into the Western Pacific Basin. Tropical Storm Pewa is now moving across the Western Pacific east of the Marshall Islands and was last located approximately 1,550km southeast of Wake Island. Maximum sustained winds are at 95kph with gusts of up to 120kph. TS Pewa is moving west northwestward at 15kph.

IR Image from FNMOC


Latest satellite image shows a small and tightly-wound core with moderately strong convective activity. There is moderate wind shear and some dry air to the northwest that is limiting intensification at the moment. However, the environment is forecast to slowly improve over the next few days allowing Pewa to intensify further.

Tropical Storm Pewa should continue moving west northwesterly over the next few days. Computer models show gradual intensification that could bring Pewa up to Typhoon intensity by Wednesday. Computer model tracks also show Pewa moving near Wake Island around that timeframe.

We'll have another update tomorrow morning.

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