August 21, 2012 – Typhoon Tembin Set to Clobber Taiwan: NASA’s Terra satellite captured the newest Typhoon in the western North Pacific Ocean, Tembin, as it moves parallel to Luzon, Philippines. Warm waters were the trigger in rapid intensification of the typhoon.
Typhoon Tembin grew from the fifteenth tropical depression over the weekend of August 18-19, and by Monday, August 20 was a powerful typhoon IV. At 5 a.m. EDT on August 20, forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that Tembin “rapidly intensified over the past 24 hours” going from a 35-knot (40.2 mph/64.8 kmh) intensity on August 19 at 2 a.m. EDT to 95 knots (109.3 mph/175.9 kmh) on August 20 at 2 a.m. EDT.
When NASA’s Terra satellite flew over Typhoon Tembin early on August 20, 2012 at 0235 UTC (10:35 a.m. local time Manila, Philippines/Aug. 19 10:35 p.m. EDT) the MODIS instrument (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) captured a visible image of the storm. The 25 nautical-mile-wide (28.7 mile/46.3 km) eye was very clear and cloud free in the visible image.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that Tembin has maximum sustained winds near 95 knots (109.3 mph/175.9 kmh). At 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT/5 p.m. local time, Manila), Tembin was located 320 nm (368.2 miles/592.6 km) northeast of Manila, Philippines, near 18.7 North latitude and 124.9 East longitude. Tembin is moving slowly to the north-northeast at 4 knots (4.6 mph/7.4 kmh). It is expected to track north and then turn west, and head across Taiwan by August 23.
Typhoon Tembin is expected to hit Taiwan on August 23rd. It is currently rated as a very powerful Typhoon IV on a scale of I to V. Taiwan and eastern China will see major winds, damage and flooding.
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