Cat4 Typhoon Neogur(make that Cat5) heading for Japan

[malaise]

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2719
<snip>
In the Western Pacific, Typhoon Neoguri has strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds this Sunday morning, and is headed west-northwest at 12 mph towards a Tuesday brush with Okinawa in Japan's Ryukyu island chain. Satellite images show a huge and well-organized system, with a prominent eye, and very intense eyewall thunderstorms with cold cloud tops. WInd shear is light, 5 - 10 knots, sea surface temperatures are a very warm 30 - 31°C, and very warm waters extend to great depth along the storm's path, giving the typhoon plenty of heat energy to power potential intensification into a Category 5 Super Typhoon. The 00Z Sunday runs of our two top track models, the GFS and European models, showed Neoguri passing about 50 - 100 miles south of Okinawa near 00 UTC Tuesday. Okinawa will be in the right front quadrant of Neoguri, but if the present track forecast holds, the top winds on the south end of the island will be barely hurricane force, 70 - 75 mph. The ocean is very deep offshore of Okinawa, which will allow huge waves to crash against the coast. Shortly after passing Okinawa, Neoguri will get caught by a trough of low pressure and begin curving to the north, and likely hit the Japanese island of Kyushu, where the city of Nagasaki lies, between 12 - 22 UTC on Wednesday. Although ocean temperatures will cool and wind shear will rise as Neoguri approaches Japan, weakening the storm, the typhoon is so large and powerful that it will likely make landfall at Category 2 or 3 strength, causing major damage in Japan.

[steve2470]

1. Stay safe Japan DU'ers ! nt

[freshwest]

2. Take care of each other there. Warmest regards to Japan.

[greytdemocrat]

3. Incredible storm. nt

[malaise]

5. That's an understatement -this is a monster

[Leith]

4. I'm Wishing for the Best for Japan

Japanese people are wonderful and kind (I lived in Tokyo for 3 years some *mumble*mumble* years ago). Sorry to say, Japanese houses are not the strongest you've ever seen. There's no way I would stay in one with a typhoon slamming through. Besides, Japan has been through quite enough in the last few years. They all know the dangers of their islands, but enough is enough! Be safe, Japan. Get to shelters!