Typhoon Phanfone Becomes More Powerful

Typhoon Phanfone Becomes More Powerful

The TRMM satellite again flew over typhoon Phanfone in the western Pacific Ocean on October 2, 2014 at 0939 UTC. Typhoon Phanfone's estimated sustained wind speeds had increased to over 115 kts (about 132 mph). The rainfall pattern observed using TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data showed that Phanfone was much better organized than a day earlier. This precipitation analysis revealed that intensifying typhoon Phanfone had a large eye. The heaviest rainfall was shown falling at a rate of over 50 mm (almost 2 inches) per hour in the northern side of the typhoon's eye wall.

A recent Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecast predicts intensifying Phanfone's wind speeds will peak at 125kts (144 mph) on October 3, 2014. The typhoon is then predicted to gradually weaken and it's track to re-curve toward the northeast. Phanfone is predicted by the JTWC to pass to the southeast of Tokyo, Japan on October 5-6, 2014.

Typhoon Phanfone Becomes More Powerful