Here is our latest Video Update on Typhoon Jelawat (Bagyong Lawin) east of Luzon and also on Tropical Storm Ewiniar near Iwo To. Update on Jelawat starts at the beginning while our update on Tropical Storm Ewiniar begins at around the 11:02 mark. Again, thank you for watching our lengthy yet in-depth video update!
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Text Update
As of 5pm this afternoon, PAGASA as lowered their Public Storm Warning Signals and are now only Signal #1 for Batanes Group of Islands. Meanwhile, Japan has issued Storm, High Waves, Flood, and Heavy Rain Advisories for Yaeyema, Ishigaki, and Miyakojima Islands. High Waves warning is also up for Okinawa. Finally, we have Kadena Air Base raising Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readines (TCCOR) to 2 and are expecting winds of 50kt or greater to begin in the next 24 hours.
Jelawat has weakened to below Super Typhoon intensity but it remains a powerful and dangerous Category 4 Typhoon according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The eye is passing just south of the Yaeyema Islands and is bringing typhoon force winds in some areas here. Ishigaki Airport actually recorded sustained winds of 120kph along with gusts of up to 170kph! Aside from the strong winds, heavy rainfall is also being observed in this region with some stations already recording well above 150mm (6in) since this morning and more could be on the way. All those stormy conditions will slowly move northeastward and will eventually impact Okinawa and the nearby islands. We expect tropical storm force winds to begin there later tonight peaking tomorrow afternoon. Winds of up to 160kph are possible in Okinawa between the hours of 11am and 5pm Japan Time. Please prepare NOW if you haven’t done so, stock up on food, water, medicine, and also tie or bring inside all those loose items in your yard. If you are inside the Kadena Base, please check your official Kadena Weather Page as you are now under TCCOR 2!
JMA Radar in the Sakishima Islands
Latest radar images from Ishigakijima and Miyakojima showing the eye of Jelawat just south of these islands. Furthermore, the outer and inner rain bands are bringing widespread moderate to heavy rains that are capable of dropping 10 to even 30mm of rain in just an hour. Some stations here have already exceeded 150mm of rain since this morning and 100mm more could fall tonight and into tomorrow.
Along with the heavy rains, strong typhoon winds are also currently lashing the islands. Many stations here are reporting sustained winds of 80 to 100kph along with occasional gusts of up to 160kph. In fact, Ishigaki Airport recorded seeing sustained winds of 120kph along with gusts of up to 175kph which are definitely typhoon force! These rough and stormy conditions will continue through the next 12 hours before starting to taper off by tomorrow. Now obviously, those stormy conditions will move northeastward and will eventually impact Okinawa and the nearby islands. If you live in this region, please please prepare now and continue to check out Japan Meteorological Agency for the OFFICIAL forecasts, warnings, along with the latest radar images across Japan. You can access JMA by clicking HERE
Eventually, Jelawat will accelerate to the northeast, weakening along the way. It is forecast to make landfall in Honshu by Monday afternoon as a weakening Category 1 Typhoon. It will move across the island weakening to a Tropical Storm but still has the potential to bring widespread heavy rains across Honshu, including Tokyo.
JMA 24-hour Forecast for Typhoon Jelawat (each white dot represent 3-hourly intervals)
Tropical Storm Ewiniar
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Ewiniar continues to move across the Pacific staying well away from Japan. It was last located approximately 510km southeast of Tokyo, Japan. Maximum sustained winds are slightly down to 95kph with gusts of up to 120kph. Ewiniar is currently moving east northeastward at 15kph.
IR Image from NRLMRY
Latest satellite image shows the center of the storm located well away from Honshu. Convection continues to fire up across the center but the coverage is small and the intensity weak. Much of the outer rain bands have also stayed well away from Japan although some light rain showers were reported in along the coast (Chiba Prefecture) last night but nothing too significant. Winds have also died down in the region, particularly in the Izu Islands, and we expect weather to gradually improve in the next 24 hours.
Continue to check back here on Western Pacific Weather for latest Updates on all things Tropics. As always, we are not an official agency so please always consult the local authorities for the official forecasts, warnings, and even some evacuation orders that might be up for your area. While we are not encouraging you to go outside during the height of the storm, if you can SAFELY manage to take pictures or videos please email them to us at [email protected] or to [email protected]
Stay safe!
-WxCaster PAT
Well, Kadena is now at TCOR 1 as of 1900 JST.