Typhoon Meari is Holding in Position Near Japan

Okinawa, Japan (HDW) September 27, 2004 – Typhoon Meari is located approximately 170 nautical miles from Okinawa, Japan and it has been virtually stationary for the last 6 hours. The typhoon is probably near stationary because it is in a weak steering environment between a high to the east and a developing high to the west in China. The Joint Typhoo Warning Center is tracking this storm, and a NASA satellite has provided the picture displayed above of the Typhoon in its holding pattern west of Okinawa and east of China.

Typhoon Meari has re-intensified, but it is expected to weaken before it makes its expected move towards Japan to the northeast. It is expected to make land fall in southern Japan and weaken due to land interaction and vertical wind shear. The maximum sustained winds are as high as 85 knots with gusts approaching 100 knots. Some 34 knot winds are extending up to 100 nautical miles from the center of the typhoon. This typhoon is not currently expected to do the damage of Typhoon Aere and the other major typhoons that have ravaged Asia this past summer.