Cat 4 Typhoon Utor approaching the Phillipines

[malaise]

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2485
Earth's most dangerous tropical cyclone so far in 2013 is Category 4 Typhoon Utor, which is closing in on the northern Philippine Island of Luzon. Landfall is expected at approximately 20 UTC (4 pm EDT) Sunday near Casigran. Satellite imagery shows a formidable storm with well-organized spiral bands, a prominent eye, and good (but not excellent) upper-level outflow. Ocean temperatures are very warm, about 30°C (86°F), which is approximately 0.5 - 1.0°C above average. These warm waters extend to tremendous depth, giving Utor a huge source of energy to tap into. Wind shear is low, 5 - 10 knots. Theoretically, the Maximum Potential Intensity (MPI) that Utor can achieve under these conditions is sustained winds of 185 mph. However, Utor will not have time to reach that strength before encountering Luzon. The official forecast from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center calls for intensification to 140 mph winds by 18 UTC Sunday, but it is possible that Utor will have time to intensify to a 150 mph super typhoon before landfall. Utor is a very wet storm, and will likely bring a large swath of 8+ inches of rain across Luzon. These rains will cause dangerous flash flooding and mudslides. Utor will likely weaken to a Category 1 storm as it passes over Luzon, but is expected to re-intensify to a Category 2 storm before hitting China a few hundred miles south of Hong Kong about 20 UTC on Tuesday.
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Try and stay safe folks!!!

[greytdemocrat]

1. That is a monster! nt

[malaise]

2. For sure

[MADem]

3. I've been in a few massive ti-funs in my day....and that one is a beaut!!

Look at the eye on that basstid!

[malaise]

4. It's only beautiful for those of us not in that eye

[MADem]

5. It scares the crap out of me, even thousands of miles away!

I can remember being in a heavy duty truck full of sandbags and getting hustled down the road by sheer windpower--good thing the wind and the road were going in the same direction! I saw the roof of a building fly in front of my windshield...saw another roof peeled off like a sardine can!

Like Maxwell Smart sez; Missed me by THAT much!

I will say, though, out in PI, Guam, Japan, etc., they know how to build to withstand that kind of weather--reinforced concrete, and plenty of it!

[Wednesdays]

6. Oh wow

Winds of 140+ mph.


Looks like it'll still be a strong storm when it hits mainland China, and it could even threaten Hong Kong.