Tropical Depression Tokage

Tropical depression Tokage is developing in the North West Pacific basin. It formed not long after typhoon Ma-on, but is projected to get snuffed out.

Image: www.wunderground.com

The above image shows tropical depression (TD) Tokage forming (bottom center) and heading up to cross paths with Ma-On. Click on it for a larger version.

Nasa Sees Birth Tropical Depression Tokage Fighting Typhoon Ma-On (www.nasa.gov)

The ninth tropical depression of the western North Pacific hurricane season has been born and NASA satellite data shows that the heaviest rainfall is falling at about 1 inch per hour. Satellite data also shows that Tokage is in an "atmospheric battle" with nearby Typhoon Ma-on.

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured an image of the some of the rainfall occurring in the newborn tropical depression on July 15 at 0606 UTC (2:06 a.m. EDT). The rainfall is displaced about 50 nautical miles to the west-southwest from the center of Tokage's circulation. That's an indication that wind shear is taking a toll on the newborn storm and pushing those showers and thunderstorms away from the storm's center. Further, satellite imagery shows that the low-level circulation center is also fully exposed to outside winds. [Below]


Image: Nasa

At 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) on July 15, Tropical Depression Tokage had maximum sustained winds near 25 knots (29 mph/46 kmh). Tokage is moving east and away from the Philippines at 11 knots (13 mph/20 kmh). It was located about 395 nautical miles north of Palau. Palau is an island nation in the western North Pacific Ocean. It is located about 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines.

Tokage is currently fighting with Typhoon Ma-on, also in the vicinity. Outflow winds from Typhoon Ma-on are preventing convection and thunderstorms from developing in Tokage, even though Tokage is in warm sea surface temperatures.

The forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center think that Tokage is going to be short-lived and knocked out by Ma-on. As Tokage continues tracking north-northeastward, it is expected to become full absorbed into Typhoon Ma-on over the weekend.