High waves triggered by Typhoon Chanchu crash over a torii gate along the coast of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday. [Reuters]
High waves triggered by Typhoon Chanchu crash over a torii gate along the coast of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday. [Reuters]

Typhoon Nangka, the 17th named storm of the season, has formed — the fourth typhoon to develop this month.

According to Tenki.jp, a weather forecasting service run by the Japan Weather Association, Nangka formed Wednesday at 9 a.m. in waters near the Ogasawara Islands.

The storm has a central pressure of 994 hectopascals, maximum sustained winds of 18 meters per second near its center, and peak gusts of 25 meters per second. It is currently moving slowly toward the east-northeast.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Nangka is expected to track northeast, reaching waters near Minamitorishima on Friday and the ocean east of Japan on Saturday, before turning northwest around 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The projected path partly overlaps with that of Typhoon Chanchu, the 15th typhoon of the season, which formed in early August. Chanchu also moved into waters east of Japan before turning north and approaching the Japanese archipelago.

However, it remains uncertain whether Nangka will follow the same route toward the Japanese archipelago. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm's track could shift depending on the strength of the Pacific high-pressure system and upper-level wind patterns.

Under the current projected path, South Korea is not expected to be directly affected.

Typhoon Chanchu, which earlier crossed the Japanese archipelago, has weakened sharply. Two typhoons are now active — No. 16 Peirui and No. 17 Nangka. Peirui is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression Wednesday night in waters northeast of Guam.


bbo@heraldcorp.com