western pacific Tropical Storm Haishen

[Somerset Squall]

Another tropical depression has formed in the Western Pacific, roughly where Maysak formed, a couple hundred miles east of Chuuk. 05W has winds of 30kts according to JTWC, and consists of a broad LLC with flaring convection. 05W is forecast to slowly strengthen as it encounters moderate shear but good poleward outflow. The depression is moving west-northwestwards along the southern periphery of a ridge to the north. Troughing advancing from the west is forecast to weaken the ridge over the coming days. The net effect on 05W will be a brief quasi-stationary motion followed by a recurve to the northeast. The trough will also increase shear over 05W, starting the system's demise. JTWC expect a fairly modest peak of 45kts before this occurs.

[Somerset Squall]

05W has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Haishen, with winds of 45kts according to JTWC. Haishen's LLC has tightened up since yesterday, and the convection has become more persistant over the LLCC, with good banding features. Shear is pretty low this morning, so Haishen is expected to strengthen a little more before it gains lattitude and runs into much higher shear to the north.

[Nouska]

3D imaging of the storm from yesterday,

 

 

 

Tropical Cyclone 05W was born in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean on April 3 west of the island of Pohnpei when the GPM satellite passed over it and analyzed its rainfall rates. That GPM data was made into a 3-D image that showed some high thunderstorms northwest of its center.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-04-nasa-tropical-cyclone-birth-d.html#jCp

[Somerset Squall]

Haishen peaked at 45kts. Shear has now stripped the LLC of convection. Winds have fallen to 30kts. Unless convection makes a comeback over the LLCC soon, Haishen will be declared a remnant low.