By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 13, 2012
12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, Japan time: Nuisance or not?
Typhoon Prapiroon, though not expected to make a direct hit on Okinawa, is still hanging close enough east to be a major pain in the keister, sustained winds in the 30- to 35-mph range and gusts up to 45 and 50 mph forecast for the next few days.
It’s then projected to accelerate rapidly northeast, remaining a good 200 miles offshore southeast of the Kanto Plain but still maintaining severe tropical-cyclone strength. Mid-morning Friday should be a gusty, wet one, with sustained 20- to 25-mph winds and 35- to 40-mph gusts off of Yokosuka, less severe inland.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 12, 2012
8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, Japan time: Looks as if Okinawa is out of the woods regarding Typhoon Prapiroon, which appears to have peaked in intensity at 98-mph sustained winds and 121-mph gusts at its center, with closest point of approach 340 miles east of Okinawa at 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Tokyo looks as if Prapiroon might throw a calling card its way early Thursday morning, well off the coast of Honshu (178 miles southeast of Yokosuka at 3 a.m.), but still maintaining typhoon strength, making for a gusty, rainy early morning. We’ll keep a sharp lookout.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 12, 2012
3:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, Japan time: Typhoon Prapiroon is still a fairly good distance from Okinawa and should remain so for the next several days, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts. Closest point of approach at this time is 337 miles east at 5 a.m. Wednesday as it rumbles north. And it’s forecast to lose strength as it pushes north into cooler sea-surface temperatures and vertical wind shear.
But Prapiroon, which is Thai for god of rain, is close enough to be of concern because the forecast models are far from agreeing on which way it will go from there. At least one model suggests Prapiroon will curve west closer to Okinawa; others are predicting a more north to northeasterly route.
Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing Weather Flight five-day forecast calls for sustained winds between 14 and 23 mph and gusts between 30 and 40 mph. Enough of a concern that the Marine Corps has called off its planned Foster Festival this weekend; no makeup date has been announced.
PST will keep a sharp eyeball on it.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 7, 2012
11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, Japan time: PST is keeping an eyeball on Tropical Storm Prapiroon, which spawned overnight Sunday and is lurking nearly 800 miles south-southeast of Okinawa, drifting slowly west.
Joint Typhoon Warning Center says Japan and Korea appear safe for the moment, while Okinawa could feel some of its effects by next week, though a direct hit appears unlikely.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 3, 2012
5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, Guam time: Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam at 3 p.m. were each placed in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 3, in anticipation of destructive winds of 58 mph or greater forecast to begin early Friday.
A JRM release stated that military personnel are securing facilities and housing residents are instructed to begin heavy-weather preparedness efforts.
Guam base residents can get updates on conditions by visiting JRM's Facebook page or follow on Twitter @jrmguam.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 1, 2012
6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, Japan time: Pacific Storm Tracker has its eye on a new tropical depression that spawned Sunday northeast of Guam and is forecast to make a zigzag walk northwest through the Northern Marianas Islands, then curve northeast around the Iwo chain and remain well off Japan’s east coast.
While it doesn’t look to be a threat (yet), the forecast track has varied by almost 100 miles west in the last six hours. Local forecast at Yokosuka Naval Base calls for winds to start picking up, 30-mph gusts Wednesday morning. As always, PST’s got your back, Kanto peeps.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 1, 2012
Some facts and figures of the impact on Okinawa from Super Typhoon Jelawat:
-- Maximum sustained 87-mph winds and 137-mph gusts at 1:23 p.m. Saturday.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: September 30, 2012
All clear sounded at 3:30 a.m. for all U.S. bases in Kanto Plain. PST signing off for now.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: September 30, 2012
9:50 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, Japan time: Kanto Plain bases now in TCCOR 1-E (emergency). Sustained 58-mph winds or greater now occurring. ALL outside activity prohibited.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: September 30, 2012
8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, Japan time: TCCOR 1-C (caution) declared for all U.S. bases in the Kanto Plain. Non-essential travel suspended. Non-essential personnel stay indoors. Monitor official sources for TCCOR changes.
