FLHurricane.com: Typhoon Songda Heads for Kadena

Thanks Ed. I've been following this typhoon for the past few days, but didn't have time to post.

Yes, indeed. The Northern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone Season is swinging into motion, this being the 2nd cyclone to form in the Western Pacific so far this season, although the WestPac hasn't a "Typhoon Season", as such, and they can and do form in any month of the year.

The first Tropical Storm in the WestPac this year, (there were several Depressions before that), was Tropical Storm Aere, which struck the Philippines earlier this month, unleashing nearly 15 inches(!) of rain in just 24 hours, resulted in significant flash flooding and landslides and claimed the lives of 35 people.

As usual, Wikipedia tracks TC's worldwide, and has a pretty good summary of TS Aere, for those interested.

Wikipedia Article of Tropical Storm Aere in the Philippines

Back to Super Typhoon Songda. For now, here's an animated visible satellite loop of Typhoon Songda *yesterday*, as it acquired it's maximum strength of 140 Kts. (160 mph), as it proceeds on it's recurvature (thankfully sparing the Philippines a Monster Cat 5 Typhoon !!) well SE of Taiwan, but drawing a bead on Okinawa.

Here's a passive microwave image of Typhoon Songda just prior to reaching it's maximum strength of 140 Knots. Notice the concentric eyewall(s). That's one *mean* looking tropical cyclone!

More on Songda later, when I can find the time. Aloha!

..

Edited by CoconutCandy (Fri May 27 2011 10:35 AM)