Tropical Storm Conson in NW Pacific

Tropical Storm CONSON Forecast Track (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Tropical storm Conson is now dissipating over Vietnam.   At one point in time, it was a powerful Typhoon which caused extensive damage and loss of life in the Philippines and China.  In the Philippines, at least 53 people were dead and at least 38 were missing. 

More than half of the main northern island of Luzon, which includes Manila, was without electricity, and authorities said it would take two to three days to restore power. Several dozen flights were canceled, and schools and many government offices closed. High winds felled trees and floods were knee-deep floods in some communities in the capital.  Heavy rains, unrelated to the typhoon, have also wreaked havoc in China and Japan.  More than 100 people are dead from flooding in China.

The typhoon hit northern Vietnam and caused torrential rains on Saturday afternoon and evening, initial reports said. Strong winds from the typhoon swept out Hai Phong, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh in the afternoon, while Ha Tinh and Quang Binh saw downpours, up to 180 millimeters.

A tropical storm in the West Pacific, when it intensifies, becomes a Typhoon. A typhoon is a tropical storm with sustained winds in excess of 119 km/h or approximately 74 mph. If the same storm were in the Atlantic, it would be called a hurricane.

Current Advisory from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC):

171500Z POSITION NEAR 21.1N 106.4E.
TROPICAL STORM 03W (CONSON), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 50 NM EAST-
SOUTHEAST OF HANOI, VIETNAM, HAS TRACKED NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 
KNOTS OVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT
AT 171200Z IS 19 FEET.

The forecast indicates that the storm should dissipate over the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Resources (click links below)
Tropical Storm CONSON Forecast/Advisory	National Hurricane Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)	National Weather Service
Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo - Typhoon Centre	Hurricane Preparedness
Hong Kong Observatory (Tropical Cyclone Track)	Real-Time Hurricane Information
Tropical Cyclone Forecast Track	NOAA Satellites & Information
NASA: Latest Storm Images	WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS)	The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Real-time Weather Sites	Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

Continue to monitor this blog for tropical weather reports throughout the year.

Potential for First Named Tropical Storm in Pacific

 Satellite Image of   System 90E  (Credit NASA)

NASA Satellite Spots Forming Cyclone

The Eastern Pacific is likely to see its first named tropical cyclone of the hurricane season this weekend. NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of a low pressure area called "90E" in the Eastern Pacific that forecasters are watching for tropical development.  Once named, System 90E would become "Tropical Storm Agatha."

AIRS, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument on Aqua, provides scientists with infrared satellite imagery. That imagery measures cloud top temperatures and sea surface temperatures.  Cloud tops of tropical cyclones are colder than -63 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cold temperatures in that range are indicative of strong thunderstorms and strong convection (rapidly rising air that condenses and forms the thunderstorms that power tropical cyclones).

The developing cyclone, with winds estimated to be 20 to 25 knots (23-28 mph), was first spotted 205 nautical miles south of Salina Cruz, Mexico early AM on May 27th,   The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) indicated that potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is good.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has begun to monitor this potential tropical storm and will issue advisories if warranted.   We will keep an eye on this potential storm also and provide updates.    Monitor the NHC (Eastern Pacific) RSS feeds in the left navigation pane for advisories.

See where ships are relative to tropical storms

Interactive tracking map (real-time ship tracking)

NASA is also tracking another potential tropical cyclone in the Western Pacific near Hong Kong.  We will monitor System 90W for further development also.