TOKYO - Typhoon No. 31 (In-Fa) formed near the Marshall Islands at 3 a.m. on October 24, marking the first time in 13 years that the annual typhoon count has reached 31, with forecasts indicating the storm could strengthen significantly and shift westward toward the Mariana Islands next week, although no immediate impact on Japan is expected.
The storm developed from a tropical depression over the Marshall Islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is the first Typhoon No. 31 since 2013 and only the fifth time since records began in 1951 that the 31st typhoon of the year has formed by the end of October.
According to Weathernews' 5 a.m. update on October 24, Typhoon No. 31 was located more than 3,000 kilometers southeast of Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, placing it far from Japan's main islands.
Satellite imagery showed a large concentration of storm clouds well to the east of Typhoon No. 30, which is currently approaching Japan. The two storms are separated by a considerable distance, with Typhoon No. 31 developing over the open Pacific.
Forecast models indicate that Typhoon No. 31 will initially move northward before gradually changing direction toward the west around the middle of next week. Several weather models project a westward track toward the Mariana Islands, although changes in its eventual course remain possible.
The storm is also expected to gain strength as it moves across the Pacific. By 3 a.m. on October 29, its maximum sustained winds are forecast to reach 45 meters per second, equivalent to approximately 162 kilometers per hour, placing it in Japan's "very strong" typhoon category.
Despite the projected intensification, the storm remains sufficiently distant from Japan that no direct effects on the country are anticipated for the time being.
The formation of Typhoon No. 31 is particularly unusual given the time of year. Although tropical cyclones can develop throughout the year in the western North Pacific, reaching 31 named typhoons before the end of October has occurred only five times in the 76-year period covered by Japan's meteorological records since 1951.
Attention is now focused on the storm's expected change in direction next week, particularly as multiple forecast models indicate a westward movement toward the Mariana Islands. Its subsequent track will determine whether it eventually approaches areas closer to Japan.
Source: ウェザーニュース
