Storm formed off the Philippines

Dang Ngoc Khoa

At 3 am on September 20, the US Pacific Tropical Storm Warning Center (JTWC) began to alert the tropical cyclone that was forming near Yap Island, on the waters off the Philippines from 8, 9 to 12.9 degrees north and 137.8 to 135.6 degrees east. Metsat satellite image at 1am 20.9 shows that the center of the disturbance is near 9.4 degrees north of 137.5 degrees east.

Regional winds were set between 18-22 nautical miles / h, traveling north-northwest, or following recent storms to the sea of ​​Japan and Taiwan. JTWC noted, after 6 hours, the disturbance went from 8.6 degrees north of 137.9 degrees east to 9.4 degrees north 137.5 degrees east, only 40 miles west of Yap Island. The Quikscat satellite image shows strong winds of 20 knots near the center, then the maximum gust of Yap island has increased to 40 knots.

Currently, surface winds maintained in low pressure ranges from 18 to 20 knots / h, minimum sea level pressure of 1,004MB. Due to the strengthening of the factors that make up the storm, JTWC predicts that this cyclone is capable of quickly developing into a storm in the next 24 hours.

* JTWC has just issued warning number 17 (possibly the last) about Wipha is weakening, causing rain and flood in China. It is predicted that until 13:00 pm on September 20, the storm center will reach nearly 36.5 degrees north of 121.1 degrees east. The maximum wind power is only 25 nautical miles per hour, the wind winds 35 nautical miles per hour.

JTWC satellite image indicates the tornado location (Photo: TN)

* Nautical miles = miles = 1.852m