Across the western Pacific Ocean, the combination of light wind shear and warm water allowed Vongfong to rapidly strengthen early in the week. The powerful cyclone became a super typhoon Tuesday with winds of 250 kph (155 mph).
During this time Vongfong could become the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane with winds over 260kph (160 mph).
Late in the week while Vongfong is located south of Japan, the typhoon is expected to slow and make a turn to the north. While there remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, confidence is high that the powerful cyclone will track north toward Japan with the potential for a landfall in mainland Japan by early next week.
The first target will be the northern Ryukyu Islands which could begin to feel impacts from Vongfong as early as Saturday or Saturday night. Typhoon-force wind gusts are expected across the islands from later Saturday night into Sunday along with torrential downpours.
Many areas at risk from Vongfong are still recovering from more than 150 millimeters (6 inches) of rain and strong winds that hammered eastern Japan from Sunday into Monday as Typhoon Phanfone moved through the region.
Due to the expected track of the cyclone and potential impacts to Japan, anyone with interests in the region should continue to monitor this situation.
source: huffingtonpost.com By Eric Leister