Sanba became supertyphoon with gusts up to 305 km/h

Sanba has rapidly intensified over the past 24 hours. Typhoon Sanba has strengthened into a super typhoon, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, according to The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), which brings Sanba  to the strongest tropical cyclone of the season status. Winds of 270 km/h (170 mph) are gusting within this storm as it moves north. It is expected to hit Okinawa as Category 3 storm.

 

Sanba formed as a tropical depression over the western Pacific Ocean on September 10, 2012, and strengthened to a typhoon by September 12. On September 13, 2012, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Sanba had maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h (135 knots) and gusts up to 305 km/h (165 knots).

Super typhoon Sanba is located approximately 565 nm south- southeast of Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan and is moving northward at 09 knots. Maximum significant wave height is 15 meters (50 feet).

Sanba is forecast to interact with the baroclinic zone and will begin extra-tropical transition in the 72 hours period. The system will accelerate poleward, weaken rapidly due to strong vertical wind shear and land interaction and is forecast to complete extra-tropical transition in 120 hours period.

Super typhoon Sanba poses a growing threat to southwestern Japan and South Korea.

Satellite Animations

• Storm-Centered Infrared  (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement)  (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Water Vapor  (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible  (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized)  (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)

• Tropical West Pacific Infrared  (MTSAT2; NOAA)
• Tropical West Pacific Enhanced Infrared  (MTSAT2; NOAA)
• Tropical West Pacific Water Vapor  (MTSAT2; NOAA)
• Tropical West Pacific Visible  (MTSAT2; NOAA)

NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.