The latest typhoon news on the morning of July 3rd said that Typhoon Ba Vi (or Typhoon No. 9 of Japan) is currently 272km east of Andersen Air Force Base and has moved northwest at a speed of 22 km/h in the past 6 hours.
Based on the latest data, Typhoon Ba Vi's path has begun to stabilize, currently moving in the direction of 285 degrees at a speed of 20 km/h as the main guidance mechanism shifts from an average-scale subtropical high pressure range in the east to a large subtropical high pressure range spreading across the northern Pacific in the north of Typhoon Ba Vi.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasts that Typhoon Ba Vi will strengthen into a severe typhoon within the next 3 days as it moves towards the Mariana Islands. If this forecast is accurate, Ba Vi will become the first severe typhoon in July in the Western Pacific (WPAC) region since Typhoon Maria in 2018.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) of the US Navy forecasts that the expected maximum intensity of Typhoon Ba Vi will be up to 270 km/h, equivalent to a Category 5 super typhoon according to the US scale.
Based on the latest optical satellite and nighttime microwave images, Typhoon Ba Vi has begun the rapid intensification phase (RI) - a meteorological term referring to the process of tropical storms increasing maximum wind speed to at least 56 km/h within 24 hours.
Wind gusts have decreased in the past 6 hours, allowing hot towers to form and encircle the center of the vortex at a low level, with the eye of the storm clearly identified in microwave images.
The current maximum wind intensity is expected to continue to accelerate the intensification process, as the environment has become extremely favorable for rapid and continuous typhoon intensification.
The latest path forecasts from JMA and JTWC show that the center of Typhoon Ba Vi may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on the morning of July 8 at super typhoon intensity. After entering PAR, the Philippine weather agency will name the typhoon Inday - the 9th typhoon to enter PAR this year.
