Super Typhoon Atsani to Approach Japan Early Next Week

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

August 20,2015; 11:17AM,EDT

 

 

While Atsani appears to be on a collision course with Japan, latest indications point toward the powerful super typhoon curving just in time to avoid a direct hit.
A northwest track will keep Atsani over the open ocean through this weekend with only shipping interests at risk. While Atsani will gradually weaken below super typhoon status, it will remain a dangerous storm.
This animated satellite image shows Atsani tracking across the Pacific Ocean. (NOAA/Satellite)
Atsani's current northwest heading would put it on a collision course with Japan. However, indications continue to point toward Atsani hooking to the northeast with its destructive winds and widespread flooding rain bypassing Japan.
AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to monitor the situation in the event Atsani is slower to make that turn and bring those severe impacts closer to or onto Japan.

Even if Atsani curves out to sea prior to reaching Japan, it could still impact eastern Honshu, including Tokyo, with gusty showers early next week as the large tropical cyclone's circulation produces a moist flow off the ocean.
Seas south and east of Japan will also become very rough through this weekend and remain extremely hazardous for shipping interests into early next week from both Atsani and Goni, which poses a greater risk of making landfall in Japan.
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After curving east of Japan, Atsani would remain over the open ocean with no further impacts to Asia next week.
"There have been six super typhoons during the 2015 West Pacific Tropical Season thus far, which already surpassed the normal seasonal average of four," continued Sagliani.

If Goni also becomes a super typhoon, that would be seven for the season, making it the seventh-highest total in any single season since 1959.
The latest Accuweather tropical forecast calls for nine super typhoons through the end of the year, which would stand as the third-highest total on record behind 1965 and 1997 with 11 super typhoons each year.