Future Typhoon Man-yi Sets Its Sights on Japan

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

Tropical Storm Man-yi, destined to become the next typhoon in the western Pacific, has its eyes set on slamming Japan Sunday and Monday.

Man-yi remains a minimal tropical storm but should strengthen and reach typhoon status by Sunday local time.

Man-yi will approach Japan later in the weekend before moving into or along the southern and eastern coast of Japan's Honshu island Sunday night through Monday, passing over or very close to Tokyo.

Expected to be a typhoon when it reaches Japan, Man-yi will then weaken and be transitioning to a non-tropical system as it crosses the country.

Squally and drenching rain bands from Man-yi will first continue to spread across the Northern Mariana Islands and Japan's Bonin and Volcano islands through Saturday. The latter islands are home to Iwo Jima.

Saturday night, a band of drenching rain outrunning Man-yi should begin soaking Japan with widespread heavy rain to follow for Sunday and Monday.

A total of 100 to 200 mm (4 to 8 inches) of rain will inundate south-central and eastern parts of Honshu and eastern Shikoku, threatening to trigger flash flooding. Localized amounts of 300 mm (a foot) are possible in the mountains, severely heightening concerns of landslides.

Damaging winds will also occur along Man-yi's path. Current indications put southern Honshu at greatest risk of enduring wind gusts of 95 to 145 kph (60 to 90 mph). Such winds are capable of causing widespread tree damage, power outages and some structural damage.

 

The immediate southeastern coastline will be most susceptible to gusts on the higher end of that range.

Coastal flooding is a concern along the southern and eastern coast of Honshu. The threat of a damaging 0.5- to 1.5-m (2- to 4-foot) storm surge is highest along its southeastern coast--east of where Man-yi moves inland or comes closest to making landfall.

For Tokyo, a track over or immediately in the vicinity of the city would bring the heavy rain and damaging winds directly overhead. A track passing east of the city would spare Tokyo of the most severe wind, but flooding rain could still be a serious problem.

Coastal flooding would become more of an issue with any track directly at the city.

All residents of Japan should continue to monitor the progress of Man-yi for any potential shifts in its track and resultant impacts.

Source: AccuWeather.com

Tropical storm Trami nearing Chinese coast

The tropical storm's category was raised to "severe tropical storm" on Tuesday morning, with maximum wind speeds reaching 89-117 km per hour, said a statement from the forecast agency. (Image by Telukharunews.com)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Huge waves are likely to hit China's southeast coast as tropical storm Trami draws near, warned the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center on Tuesday.

The tropical storm's category was raised to "severe tropical storm" on Tuesday morning, with maximum wind speeds reaching 89-117 km per hour, said a statement from the forecast agency.

The tropical storm is likely to reach the east coast of Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon,then move toward the coast of southeast China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

The tropical cyclone will generate waves of five to eight meters high in the southern part of the East China Sea from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon and will raise tides along the coast.

The agency reminded fishing ships to return to harbors and urged local authorities to check embankments in coastal regions.

Source:  English.news.cn 

Monster cyclone Rusty menacing WA coast

Red alerts have been issued in WA as tropical cyclone Rusty intensifies to a category four. (Photo: Telukharunews)

By Tim Clarke From: AAP February 27, 2013 2:19PM

RESIDENTS of Western Australia's northwest coast are being told to expect Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty to arrive on Wednesday evening - and to prepare for a prolonged battering.

The category four cyclone is still edging towards the towns of Port Hedland, South Hedland and Pardoo, bringing with it the likelihood of 230km/h winds, a massive storm tide and torrential rain.

Residents already under red alert lockdown for more than 24 hours have been told they may have to stay sheltered until at least Friday, with floods and winds set to leave a trail of destruction across the Pilbara.

Figures from NASA satellites tracking the monster storm are frightening - their Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument shows thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures colder than minus 52 degrees surrounding the eye of the storm.

The TRMM satellite, which flew directly over Rusty on Tuesday, recorded rainfall of over 138mm per hour near Rusty's western eye wall.

And a 3-D image of Rusty's rainfall and cloud heights created at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland showed the tops of some of the towering thunderstorms in Rusty's eye reaching heights of over 12km.

Port Hedland deputy mayor George Daccache says the winds and rain are relentless.

"It is pretty windy, and it has been relentless for the past two or three days. I don't see us having any sunshine for a while," Mr Daccache said.

"We are riding out the storm the best we can but we have been on alert since last Friday and looks like we will be on red for another day or so.

"The storm surge is our biggest worry. We are going to cop our fair share. We are doing the best to make sure the town is secure."

Rusty sat almost stationary overnight, 130km north-northeast of Port Hedland, with the exact crossing location and time still a mystery.

Forecasters are confident it will cross the Pilbara coast on Wednesday evening.

"It is important that residents understand that dangerous conditions will commence well before the system centre reaches the coast and extend some distance from the centre," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Neil Bennett said.

The last severe cyclone to cross the Pilbara coast was Lua in March 2012, which travelled between Pardoo and Wallal as a category four, with maximum gusts of 230km/h.

Ian Badger, the manager of Pardoo Roadhouse, has told ABC radio his staff have been sent to Broome and he is braving the storm on his own.

"Everything is pretty wet, the whole yard is covered with water, it is like a lake everywhere," Mr Badger said.

Rainfall totals to 9am (WST) on Wednesday include 189mm at Yarrie, with the De Grey River catchment expected to experience totals in excess of 200mm.

Port Hedland personality Wayne Ness lost his house to a cyclone in 2007, when category-five George ripped through the area, killing two people at a rail construction camp.

"Yesterday morning I heard a familiar sound of rippling tin," Mr Ness said.

"My heart was palpitating like you wouldn't believe and I had the shakes really bad."

Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty

Last reported position as of 2013-02-27 T08:00

Storm Type : Severe Tropical Cyclone

Storm Name : Rusty

Storm Number : 2010-10U (South Indian)

Storm Movement :Southeast (125 degrees)

Mean Sea Level Pressure : 945 mb

Maximum sustained winds: 90 knots (103.6 mph)

Source: PERTH TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE

World Meteorological Organization