Monday, March 3, 2014

Tropical Storm Faxai Update #5

Issued (04 UTC) 12pm PhT 030414
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Tropical Storm Faxai continues to intensify as it heads steadily northward. The storm was last located approximately 640km east northeast of Guam. Maximum sustained winds are now at 100kph with gusts of up to 130kph. TS Faxai is moving north northeastward at 20kph.

IR Image from NRLMRY


 Latest satellite image shows Faxai becoming more consolidated and symmetrical. Convective activity continues to deepen and get more organized. Further analysis also suggest that eyewall formation is starting to occur. Faxai is in an area of low to moderate wind shear with warm sea temperatures and good overall outflow.

However, Faxai will soon run out of time and should begin to weaken within the next 36 to 48 hours. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is still expecting Faxai to become a typhoon although that is becoming less likely. Either way, we no longer expect Faxai to impact any land areas as it continues to pull away from the Marianas Islands. Once it reaches less favorable regions, Faxai should start to weaken and become an extra-tropical cyclone later this week.

We'll have another update later tonight.

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