Typhoon in the Making

The newest western Pacific tropical storm, dubbed Fanapi, could become the nexttyphoon by late in the week.By Wednesday morning, EDT, the broad, strengthening Tropical Storm Fanapi (12W)was centered 465 miles southeast of Taipei, Taiwan, with a slow drift towardsthe northwest at less than 5 mph. Highest sustained winds were about 40mph.

Satellite image: Navy Research LabMontereyThis weather system will be a tropical storm for much of the next 24 to 48hours, during which a quick intensification to typhoon strength will bepossible.

By the end of the week, Fanapi will threaten the southwestern Ryukyu Islands,maybe Okinawa, as well as Taiwan, with damaging winds and flooding rain.

It is too early to determine whether the later path of Fanapi early next weekwould take it ashore in mainland China or veer it northward and northeastwardinto Korea.