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Typhoon Danas (Bagyong Ramil) continues to intensify as it moves closer to Okinawa. The eye was last located approximately 150km east southeast of Okinawa. Maximum sustained winds have increased further to 215kph with gusts of up to 260kph making Danas a Category 4 Typhoon! Danas is currently moving northwestward at 35kph.
Kadena Air Base is now under TCCOR 1-Caution and everyone should be at their homes by now ready to hunker down for the storm. JMA has also posted Storm Warnings for the islands. Danas is a quick moving storm so weather conditions will rapidly deteriorate in the next 2 to 3 hours.
IR Image from RAMMB-CIRA
Latest satellite image shows the well-defined eye of Danas moving closer to Okinawa. The eye remains surrounded by strong convective activity. Latest frames have shown a slight warming of the cloud tops which may indicate weakening; however, the overall presentation in the satellite suggests that Danas is still very much a powerful and dangerous cyclone.
Radar Image from JMA
Latest radar image from Okinawa shows rain bands are starting to impact the northern side of Okinawa Island. Rains will spread southward in the next hour or so bringing 10 to even 20mm in an hour. High waves and strong winds will also increase as the center moves closer.
Danas will make its closest approach just north of Okinawa later this afternoon; we are thinking around 3pm local time is when the strongest winds will be felt across the islands. A slight wobble to the west could send the eye towards the northern tip of Okinawa. However, even if it doesn't make landfall the northwestern eyewall can still bring winds of up to 200kph, especially in exposed areas. Amami Islands will also experience typhoon conditions of around the same wind speeds later this afternoon.
Again, conditions are starting to deteriorate across Okinawa and nearby islands. Winds will only increase with the strongest and worst conditions expected to occur around 3pm local time. Since Danas is moving very quickly, these typhoon-conditions should also last for just a few hours. We expect weather conditions in the region to start quieting down later tonight.
This is a very dangerous typhoon and we urge everyone to remain in your homes (or in shelters) during the passage of the typhoon. Always heed the warnings of the authorities in your area; stay safe!
For more info from Japan Meteorological Agency, click HERE (JMA Official Website)
For those in Kadena Air Base, click HERE (Kadena Weather Website)
We'll have another update later today.
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