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Typhoon Wipha has rapidly intensified into a Category 3 this morning. The eye of Wipha was last located approximately 880km southeast of Okinawa, Japan. Maximum sustained winds are at 205kph with gusts of up to 250kph. Typhoon Wipha is currently moving north northwestward at 20kph.
IR Image from NRLMRY
Latest satellite image shows the small pinhole eye of Wipha surround by strong convective activity. Wipha actually reached Catgory 4 intensity briefly this morning before being downgraded back to a Category 3 Typhoon. Due to the large size of its circulation, Wipha is more susceptible to dry air entrainment which we are actually seeing this morning. The western portions of the system doesn't look as robust as before. Nevertheless, Wipha is still a strong and dangerous typhoon that will threaten parts of Japan.
Typhoon Wipha is forecast to continue moving northwestward today. It will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility later today and will be given a local name of Bagyong Tino by PAGASA. However, Wipha/Tino is not forecast to affect the Philippines.
It will move well east of the Ryukyu Islands tonight and will bring high waves in the archipelago; no significant rains nor winds expected. Typhoon Wipha will then start recurving to the northeast by tomorrow morning passing south of Kyushu and Shikoku Islands. Strong upper-level winds and decreasing sea surface temperatures will lead to gradual weakening, however, Wipha is still forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rains across Chubu and Kanto Regions tomorrow and into Wednesday. Even the Tokyo Metro Area will experience strong winds, heavy rains, and high waves during that time so preparations are encouraged.
We'll have another update later today.
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