Super Typhoon Vongfong Winds Hit 180 mph: Earth's Strongest Storm Since Haiyan

[malaise]

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2822
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Earth's most powerful tropical cyclone since 2013's devastating Super Typhoon Haiyan is Super Typhoon Vongfong. Vongfang is in the midst of a very impressive bought of rapid intensification that took it from a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds at 18 UTC Monday to Category 5 strength with 180 mph winds at 18 UTC Tuesday, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC.) These are the highest winds of any tropical cyclone they have rated since Super Typhoon Haiyan's 195 mph winds of November 7, 2013 (JTWC's post-season analysis showed Haiyan weakened slightly to 190 mph winds at landfall in the Philippines.) The 18:45 UTC October 7 advisory for Vongfong from the Japan Meteorological Agency put the storm's central pressure at 900 mb--the lowest of any typhoon they have rated since Super Typhoon Haiyan's 895 mb
pressure of November 7, 2013.

Vongfong is Earth's fourth Category 5 storm of 2014
Vongfong is Earth's fourth Category 5 storm of the year, and the second in the Western Pacific. The other Western Pacific
Cat
5 was Super Typhoon Halong, which topped out at 160 mph winds on August 3, eventually making landfall in Japan on August 10 as a tropical storm. Another Western Pacific Super Typhoon, Rammasun, was only rated a Cat 4 when it hit China's Hainan Island on July 17, killing 195 people and causing over $7 billion in damage. However, a pressure characteristic of a Category 5 storm, 899.2 mb, was recorded at Qizhou Island just before Rammasun hit Hainan Island. If this pressure is verified, it is likely that the storm will be upgraded to a Category 5 in post-season reanalysis. The Eastern Pacific has had two Cat 5s in 2014 that did not affect land: Marie (160 mph winds) and Genevieve (160 mph winds.) The South Indian Ocean has had one Cat 5 this year, Tropical Cyclone Gillian in March (160 mph winds.) Gillian did not affect any land areas. Between 2000 - 2013, Earth averaged five Category 5 storms per year, with 51% of these occurring in the Western Pacific.

Vongfong a threat to Japan
Vongfong passed through the U.S. Mariana islands of Guam, Rota, Saipan, and Tinian on Sunday as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds, causing mostly minor damage. The typhoon is expected to turn to the north by Thursday, and is a threat to hit Japan next Monday. Satellite loops show Vongfong is an extremely impressive storm, with a large area of heavy thunderstorms with very cold cloud tops, excellent upper-level outflow, and a large 30-mile diameter eye. With the typhoon over warm waters of 30°C (86°F) and under light wind shear of 5 - 10 knots, continued intensification is possible. The 5 pm EDT Tuesday forecast from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicted that Vongfong would top out with sustained 190 mph winds at 2 pm EDT on Wednesday. Cooler waters and higher wind shear will induce weakening later in the week as the typhoon approaches Japan.

[belzabubba333]

1. we're gonna need a bigger scale

[valerief]

3. ^^^THIS^^^

[malaise]

5. Check the gusts at 220mph

Damn!!!

[belzabubba333]

6. welcome to the new cat5

[malaise]

7. Scary indeed

That would wipe out most Caribbean islands and Florida

[Bonobo]

2. Fuck. nt

[malaise]

4. Yes you'd better pay attention

Stay safe.

We've been so freaking lucky in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico so far this season . On the other hand the Eastern and Western Pacific have been hit non-stop.

[Bonobo]

8. We just had a typhoon on Sunday.

Roof leaking like a sieve...

[malaise]

9. I saw that - wondered why they continued the car racing

in the middle of it.

We Shut down everything.

Hope you have tarpaulin to keep out the water until this one passes - it is forecast to weaken before landfall - that's the good news.

[Marrah_G]

10. omg poor Japan

I hope it weakens immensely before it hits. If not I hope they have some plans in place to evacuate the coast.

[starroute]

11. It probably will weaken

I think it's cooler waters -- or maybe that the water is shallower -- but one way or another, the really powerful storms seem to lose steam as they get near the Japanese islands.

[malaise]

17. It will weaken but there will be lots of water n/t

[Major Hogwash]

12. Jesus, that is one huge storm!!

Look at the eye of that thing!!!

If it peters out a little by Friday, I think Japan will be able to handle it.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. Kicking. Thank you. nt

[C Moon]

14. WOW!!!

[CarrieLynne]

15. Dear Japan - please prep your nuke plants - thanks, Seattle

[ReRe]

16. That is one hell of a storm...

... I hold everyone in it's path close to my heart as it approaches. Sort of reminds me of Sandy heading towards the east coast of the US. Surfing over to the weather channel to watch. Thanks for the heads up. malaise.

[malaise]

25. Down to 155mph now and expected to hit Japan

by Monday.

hang on folks!! Stay safe

[davidpdx]

18. Holy hell I hope that doesn't change direction

That is one ugly storm. I'm way up in Seoul so it will miss where I am.

[malaise]

19. You are safe

[theHandpuppet]

20. Perhaps someone could explain...

I thought the waters in the northern Pacific were cold and that really warm water is necessary to fuel these storms. How does this happen? I know they get their start in warmer waters to the south but how do they maintain their strength all the way to Japan?

[malaise]

22. The water is very warm - read the Masters link n/t

[Justice]

21. Have family member in Tokyo right now studying abroad. Worried!

[malaise]

23. It's weakening already

down to 165 now - OK that's very strong but it will continue to weaken.

[randome]

24. We'll end up with our very own Great Red Spot by the time Climate Change is through with us.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]