On the heels of Typhoon Phanfone, Typhoon Vongfong strengthens, threatens Japan

While Japan is now recovering from former Typhoon Phanfone, Typhoon Vongfong will continue to gain strength across the western Pacific Ocean this week.

Typhoon Vongfong brought flooding rainfall and damaging wind to the northern Mariana Islands through Monday, local time. Wind gusts over 89 kph (55 mph) and and rainfall over 75 mm (3 inches) were common.

Across the western Pacific Ocean, the combination of light wind shear and warm water will lead to conditions conducive for Vongfong to strengthen further through the middle of the week.

By the middle of the week, Vongfong is expected to be a super typhoon wind sustained wind near 150 mph (240 kph). This is equivalent to a strong Category 4 hurricane.

Late in the week while Vongfong is located to the south of Japan, the typhoon is expected to slow and make a turn to the north. While there remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, confidence is high that the powerful cyclone will track north toward Japan will the potential for a landfall by early next week.

Many areas at risk from Vongfong are attempting to recover from more than 150 mm (6 inches) of rain and strong winds that hammered eastern Japan from Sunday into Monday as Typhoon Phanfone battered the region.

Due to the expected track of the cyclone and potential impacts to Japan, anyone with interests in the region should continue to monitor this situation.

© NOAA