Typhoon Shanshan To Track Toward Japan

Shanshan will move dangerously close to Japan Wednesday night and Thursday threatening parts of the country with wind, rain, and high surf through Friday.

The Details

Recent satellite imagery from the West Pacific shows Shanshan tracking to the northwest closer to Japan. However, the typhoon is rather small which means the worst wind and rain impacts will be confined close to Shanshan’s center.

As Shanshan approaches mainland Japan, the cyclone will get steered toward the north and then northeast. The center of Shanshan will get very close to land as it skirts by just east of Tokyo. This track will bring some wind, rain, and coastal flooding impacts to Japan, although the worst impacts are likely to remain just offshore.

Shanshan’s expected track will bring it close enough to bring Tokyo some strong winds and rain. Damaging winds and flooding are more likely east of Tokyo along the coast of the Kantō Prefecture.

Rain Impact Map

Wind Impact Map

Since Shanshan is still several days away from Japan, the track and associated impacts are subject to some changes through the early part of the week.

Major Hurricane Hector To Skirt South Of Hawaii

Powerful Hurricane Hector will track toward the west-northwest this week and pass just to the south of Hawaii.

Satellite imagery from Monday depicts a strong cyclone with a well-defined eye.

Hector has achieved major hurricane status which means the cyclone has sustained winds of at least 111 mph (96 kts). As of Monday night local time, sustained winds were as high as 155 mph (135 kts)

Environment conditions around Hector will remain favorable enough to sustain a major hurricane through Thursday.

The only major landmass that will be in the vicinity of Hector’s path this week is Hawaii. Fortunately for the US island state, steering winds will take Hector far enough south of the area to keep nearly all impacts off shore.

Tropical storm-force winds around Hector will extend up to 90 miles from the storm’s center. Based on Hector’s projected track, this will keep tropical storm winds (winds >39 mph or >34 kts) south of Hawaii.

The primary impact Hector will bring to Hawaii will be very large surf with waves of 10-20 feet (3-6 m) along the south facing shore of Hawaii’s big island through Thursday.

Tornado Touches Down In NYC

A tropical shower crossing New York City briefly put down a tornado across the borough of Queens around 10:30 pm Thursday evening.

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down in the College Point neighborhood of Queens. The tornado traveled just over 1km with maximum winds estimated at 70-85 mph.

Numerous trees were damaged and some Queens residents lost electricity during the time the tornado was on the ground.

Historically, there have been 10 tornadoes since 1950 that have touched down in NYC. 2010 was a particularly active year across the city with 3 tornadoes impacting 3 of NYC’s 5 boroughs.

Manhattan is the only NYC borough to escape any tornado touch downs.

Serious Flood Threat for the Eastern Appalachians!

 

This summer’s pattern of wet weather in the Eastern U.S. is getting a fresh influx of tropical moisture. Persistent south to southeast flow will bring moisture up to the eastern slopes of the Appalachians. Expect flash flooding through tonight and Thursday.

 

 

Torrential rain has been falling today across portions of the mid-South and Gulf Coast, up to 6-8 inches (150-200 mm) in spots (see above). Flash flooding affected the city of Mobile in southern Alabama earlier today:

 

 

For tonight and Thursday, the main flood threat will shift towards the foothills and east-facing slopes of the southern and central Appalachians, from Georgia and South Carolina up to Pennsylvania. Many areas will see 1-3 inches (25-75 mm) with 3-6 inches (75-150 mm) more common in the foothills and mountains. Significant flash flooding will be the result – extreme caution is advised for anyone traveling near or through the mountains in the next few days. Mudslides could also affect secondary roads.