Typhoon Danas Update #5

Issued (00 UTC) 8am PhT 100813
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Typhoon Danas is beginning to weaken as it move quickly to towards Mainland Japan. The center of Danas was last located approximately 310km southwest of Nagasaki or about 490km north northwest of Okinawa. Maximum sustained winds have done down to 165kph with gusts of up to 205kph. Typhoon Danas is currently moving north northeastward at 30kph.

Japan Meteorological Agency has issued Storm Warnings and rain advisories across parts of Kyushu and even Western Honshu due to approaching cyclone.

IR Image from FNMOC

Latest satellite image shows the core of Danas starting to decay as it encounters increasingly strong winds and cooler sea-surface temperatures. The inner core, especially the southern half, is slowly eroding as dry air entrains from the north. Higher wind shear is also blowing the upper-level structure of Danas leaving the low-level center struggling to keep up with the entire circulation.

Radar Image from JMA

Despite the weakening, Danas is still pretty much a big threat for parts of Japan and even South Korea. Rains and strong winds will impact the region today and the radar image above shows bands are already affecting Kyushu Island. Rains will spread north and east, eventually affecting South Korea and the Chugoku Region in Honshu Island in Japan. As much as 200mm of rain could fall in some places in the next 12 to 24 hours. For the latest radar image and forecasts from Japan, click HERE (JMA Website)

Aside from the rains, winds of up to 160kph are still possible across the coastal sections in Kyushu over the next 6 hours. Coastal regions in South Korea including Busan could also see some stormy conditions later today. Danas is moving quickly to the northeast so we expect weather conditions across Kyushu to improve by tomorrow.

Danas will then move into the Sea of Japan tomorrow bringing rains and strong winds across Chugoku, Kansai, and Chubu Regions in Honshu. The storm will complete extra-tropical cyclone by tomorrow night and will make landfall in Tohoku in Northern Honshu.

We'll have another update later today.