Typhoon is losing strength, but
continues to dump rain on Okinawa
By Mark Oliva, Okinawa
bureau
KADENA AIR BASE — The typhoon that lashed Okinawa with rain for nearly a week is
dying, but more precipitation is expected.
Tropical Depression Lekima was downgraded from a tropical storm as it passed to
Taiwan’s western coast and into the Straits of Taiwan where it continues to lose
strength.
Forecasters replotted the track of the storm away from Okinawa, allaying concerns of
strong winds. But forecasters here say the rains that pelted Okinawa since Sunday will
continue well into October.
"It’s definitely de-intensifying," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Carlo
Erhardt, forecaster at Kadena’s 18th Weather Flight.
"The previous plots had it going 10 nautical miles southeast of Kadena. We’re
not as concerned as we were 24 hours ago."
Forecasters estimate between 18 and 21 inches of rain has fallen since Sunday. Still,
Erhardt warned more rain is on the way.
"We’ve been getting pummeled," Erhardt said.
Even though Lekima was well south of Okinawa, the storm dragged warm moist air from the
tropics and dumped it on the northeast reaches of the storm, right over the island.
"We just happened to be in the right place at the right time," he added.
"We’re not going to get any destructive winds, but we might get increased
cloudiness and showers as the storm gets closer."
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