Malakas Becomes a Typhoon and Could Threaten Japan

Tom Moore
Published: September 14,2016
In the wake of Super Typhoon Meranti, Malakas has formed in the western Pacific.
Malakas has gradually become stronger and is now a typhoon. It will take a northwesterly track before curling northeastward toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands in a few days.
(MORE: Amazing Images of Meranti)

Latest Status on Typhoon Malakas

As of Wednesday night (EDT), Typhoon Malakas was centered about 530 miles east-northeast of Manila, Philippines, and was moving gradually west-northwestward.

Current Storm Info

Its development was hindered a bit by sinking air resulting from the outflow of Super Typhoon Meranti to its northwest and a bit of wind shear.
Atmospheric conditions are becoming more favorable for development and Malakas will gradually become stronger as it moves away from the influence of Meranti. It will pose no threat to any land masses for a few days, however.
(MORE: Typhoon Alley: Where The Most Intense Tropical Cyclones Most Frequently Occur)

Threat To Japan?

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Malakas will be moving more toward the northwest by Thursday as it navigates around a subtropical ridge of high pressure aloft.
It will also become stronger and maximum sustained winds could reach the equivalent of a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane by Thursday night or early Friday.
By then it will be influenced by an upper trough of low pressure aloft and it will begin to curl more toward the north and northeast and could become a threat to Japanese Islands by late Thursday and Thursday night.
(MORE: Super Typhoon Nepartak Recap)
All interests on Ishigaki Island and the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa and Kadena Air Base, should continue to monitor the track of Malakas and make necessary preparations if needed.
Although Malakas is likely to pass to the east of Taiwan, interests around the northern section of the island should keep track of the storm. Tropical-storm-force winds could spread as far west as Taipei, Taiwan.
Eventually, Malakas could impact southern mainland Japan this weekend, but it should gradually weaken by then.

Projected Path and Intensity

MORE: Typhoon Nepartak Impacts Taiwan and China