Tropical Storm “Yagi” heading toward eastern China, landfall expected August 12

Tropical Storm "Yagi," the 14^th named storm of the 2018 Pacific typhoon season, is heading toward eastern China and expected to make landfall on August 12, 2018, with maximum sustained winds near 75 km/h (46 mph). China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a Blue alert, suggesting local governments to take precautions against possible disasters.

At 09:00 UTC on August 11, the center of Tropical Storm "Yagi" was located approximately 161 km (100 miles) SSE of Okinawa, Japan. Its maximum sustained winds at the time were 65 km/h (40 mph) with gusts to 83 km/h (52 mph).

The animated multispectral imagery depicts a partially-exposed, low-level circulation center (LLCC) with deep convection flaring over the western semicircle due to moderate easterly vertical wind shear (VWS).

Yagi is expected to continue tracking WNW to NW over the next 30 hours. Slight intensification (to 75 km/h / 46 mph) is possible over the next 24 hours, before making landfall along the east coast of China around 15:00 UTC, August 12.

NMC said Yagi will move at a pace of around 20 km/h (12.4 mph) towards the northwest with gradually increasing force and will make landfall in Zhejiang Province Sunday evening.

Tropical Storm "Yagi" at 13:40 UTC on August 11, 2018. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

The NMC renewed a Blue alert for the typhoon today, the lowest level in China's four-tier color-coded warning system.

The center suggested local governments take precautions against possible disasters, ships in affected areas return to port, and residents along the typhoon's path stay indoors until it passes.

The system will continue tracking inland after making landfall and dissipate by 06:00 UTC, August 13.

Featured image credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA