NASA sees Super Typhoon Namadol explode in strength, Talas also strengthens

Within 24 hours Tropical Storm Nanmadol contracted and organized quickly, exploding into a Category Four Typhoon as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead.

NASA's Aqua satellite provided two different perspectives of this supertyphoon: a visible and an infrared. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Super Typhoon Nanmadol over the Philippines at 12:50 a.m. EDT (4:50 UTC).

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is the instrument on Aqua that took an infrared image of Nanmadol's and nearby Tropical Storm Talas' cloud top temperatures on August 26 at 12:47 a.m. EDT. AIRS infrared image revealed that the super typhoon has highly symmetrical bands of thunderstorms wrapping tightly into its eye. Nanmadol has an eye that is 18 nautical miles (21 miles/33 km) in diameter. Tropical Storm Talas, located to the northeast of Nanmadol.

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on August 26, Super Typhoon Nanmadol's maximum sustained winds were near 135 knots (155 mph/250 kmh) with higher gusts making it the top end of the Category four typhoon status. Category five typhoons have sustained wind speeds of greater than 155 mph (135 knots).

Nanmadol was about 585 nautical miles (673 miles/1083 km) south-southwest of Kadena Air Base, Japan and northeast of Luzon, Philippines where it was dropping heavy rainfall. Nanmadol is moving to the north-northwest at 6 knots and is generating dangerous surf with wave heights reaching 32 feet (.7 meters)!

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) expect Nanmadol to intensify further into a Category Five Typhoon then gradually weaken. Nanmadol is expected to continue skirting Luzon, passing it on August 27, then passing to the east of Taiwan on August 28 and 29. Taiwan can also expect very rough seas, gusty winds and heavy downpours as Nanmadol passes by and heads to the northwest next week.

At the same time, and much farther to the northeast, Tropical Storm Talas had maximum sustained winds near 45 knots (52 mph/83 kmh). It was located about 185 nautical miles (212 miles/ 342 km) south-southwest of the island of Iwo Two, Japan near 22.3 North and 139.8 East. It was moving to the north-northwest near 6 knots (7 mph/11 kmh) and also generating rough seas, 22 feet high (6.7 meters). The AIRS infrared data showed bands of strong convection wrapping around the northeastern edge of the center, indicating strengthening.

The JTWC forecast calls for Talas to steadily intensify over the weekend because of warm sea surface temperatures and favorable upper level atmospheric conditions. Talas is expected to take a more northerly track and pass just to the west of Iwo To over the weekend, and past Chichi Jima on Monday, August 29.

It is going to be a busy weekend in the western North Pacific Ocean with strengthening Super Typhoon Nanmadol and a strengthening Tropical Storm Talas.