Winds of over 180 mph with gusts up to 220 mph.

[Bob Juch]

The strongest typhoon of the year and fifth ‘super typhoon,’ which sustain speeds of over 150 mph, is headed toward Japan after intensifying over the last few days. As of early Wednesday, Super Typhoon Vongfong had winds of over 180 mph with gusts up to 220 mph. Late Tuesday night, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that it was giving rise to waves of at least 50 feet in height.

Vongfong will likely remain a Category 5 storm throughout Wednesday unless it unexpectedly weakens, according to the JTWC, which predicts the storm will make landfall in Japan early next week. However, CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri said the storm could weaken to a category three equivalent by the time it makes landfall.

Typhoon-force wind gusts will hit the Japanese islands over the weekend, where communities are still recovering from last week’s Typhoon Phanfone, which left many areas flooded and wind-ravaged. As of 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday in the U.S., the eye of Vongfong was just over 600 miles south-southeast of Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, moving west-northwest at about 8 mph.

“Satellite loops show Vongfong is an extremely impressive storm, with a large area of heavy thunderstorms with very cold cloud tops, excellent upper-level outflow, and a large 30-mile diameter eye,” wrote Jeff Masters of Weather Underground.

Typhoon Vongfong is the strongest tropical cyclone since last year’s Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated parts of the Philippines and left over 6,000 people dead.

Any single extreme storm can’t be linked directly to climate change, but a warmer climate can lead to warmer ocean surface temperatures that intensify storms. Michel Jarraud, World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General, said Typhoon Haiyan “tragically demonstrated” the “heavier precipitation, more intense heat, and more damage from storm surges and coastal flooding” from global warming.

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

[BackInTex]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

I don't know. I would think anchors would love to say Vongfong over and over.

However, Vongfong does not start with "Ebola" or end with "we're all gonna die!" so "meh".

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

Cause its just weather?

[Bob Juch]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

Cause its just weather?

Winds that high that will probably cause hundreds of deaths is not "just weather".

[SpacemanSpiff]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

Cause its just weather?

Winds that high that will probably cause hundreds of deaths is not "just weather".

is it "unjust weather"?

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

Cause its just weather?

Winds that high that will probably cause hundreds of deaths is not "just weather".

It will interesting to see if your prediction holds, but the death toll is more a function of where it hits than its strength

there is an unwritten rule in journalism, the further away it is the more people must die for it to be news.

For reference the ten deadliest storms

1. Great Bhola Cyclone, Bangladesh 1970 (Nov 12) Bay of Bengal 300,000 - 500,000
2. Hooghly River Cyclone, India and Bangladesh 1737 Bay of Bengal 300,000
3. Haiphong Typhoon, Vietnam 1881 West Pacific 300,000
4. Coringa, India 1839 Bay of Bengal 300,000
5. Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh 1584 Bay of Bengal 200,000
6. Great Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh 1876 Bay of Bengal 200,000
7. Chittagong, Bangladesh 1897 Bay of Bengal 175,000
8. Super Typhoon Nina, China 1975 (Aug 5) West Pacific 171,000
9. Cyclone 02B, Bangladesh 1991 (May 5) Bay of Bengal 138,866
10. Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar 2008 (May 3) Bay of Bengal 138,366

[mrkelley23]

Winds in a good sized tornado routinely reach over 250 mph.

[Bob Juch]

Winds in a good sized tornado routinely reach over 250 mph.

Yep, just like a tornado with a diameter of 400 miles.

[tlynn78]

Winds in a good sized tornado routinely reach over 250 mph.

Yep, just like a tornado with a diameter of 400 miles.

lol - weather science is hard.

[BackInTex]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

Cause its just weather?

Winds that high that will probably cause hundreds of deaths is not "just weather".

It will interesting to see if your prediction holds, but the death toll is more a function of where it hits than its strength

there is an unwritten rule in journalism, the further away it is the more people must die for it to be news.

For reference the ten deadliest storms

1. Great Bhola Cyclone, Bangladesh 1970 (Nov 12) Bay of Bengal 300,000 - 500,000
2. Hooghly River Cyclone, India and Bangladesh 1737 Bay of Bengal 300,000
3. Haiphong Typhoon, Vietnam 1881 West Pacific 300,000
4. Coringa, India 1839 Bay of Bengal 300,000
5. Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh 1584 Bay of Bengal 200,000
6. Great Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh 1876 Bay of Bengal 200,000
7. Chittagong, Bangladesh 1897 Bay of Bengal 175,000
8. Super Typhoon Nina, China 1975 (Aug 5) West Pacific 171,000
9. Cyclone 02B, Bangladesh 1991 (May 5) Bay of Bengal 138,866
10. Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar 2008 (May 3) Bay of Bengal 138,366

I'll bet it's all over the news in Bangladesh. Geesh! You'd think they'd build a dike or something.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

This storm has been a tropical storm since Friday.

At least 35 people were injured in Okinawa by the storm, which felled trees and power lines and flooded streets, according to the Japan Times. Both a man in his twenties and a nine-year-old girl had fingers severed when high winds slammed doors shut.

[jaybee]

1. Great Bhola Cyclone, Bangladesh 1970 (Nov 12) Bay of Bengal 300,000 - 500,000
2. Hooghly River Cyclone, India and Bangladesh 1737 Bay of Bengal 300,000
3. Haiphong Typhoon, Vietnam 1881 West Pacific 300,000
4. Coringa, India 1839 Bay of Bengal 300,000
5. Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh 1584 Bay of Bengal 200,000
6. Great Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh 1876 Bay of Bengal 200,000
7. Chittagong, Bangladesh 1897 Bay of Bengal 175,000
8. Super Typhoon Nina, China 1975 (Aug 5) West Pacific 171,000
9. Cyclone 02B, Bangladesh 1991 (May 5) Bay of Bengal 138,866
10. Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar 2008 (May 3) Bay of Bengal 138,366

This is why the Bay of Bengal has not made my short list of places to retire to.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

From Today's Times of India

With winds touching a speed of around 180-195kmph during landfall, waves as high as two to three metres surged along the Beach Road. In fact, such was Hudhud's fury that even chief minister dared not enter the Port City and had to it cool his heels at Gannavaram awaiting the clearance of roadblocks like uprooted trees and collapsed walls on NH-16 to proceed to Vizag.

[littlebeast13]

Why is this not getting more coverage in the U.S.?

Cause its just weather?

Because it's not a snowstorm, you mean....

Or a dusting of snow....

Only winter weather is worthy of team coverage...

lb13