CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Three tropical disturbances lurking near Okinawa should bring showers, rain and wind gusts of up to 46 mph this week. But none are forecast to threaten the island with typhoon-force winds, Kadena Air Base weather officials said Monday.
Typhoon Mitag, Tropical Depression Hagibis and unnamed Tropical Depression 25W should cause “essentially a wet, windy week” for Okinawa, said Capt. Jonathan Wilson, commanding officer of Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing Weather Flight.
Mitag is forecast to weaken as it curves northeast away from the Philippines, where six people were killed, thousands were displaced by flash floods and numerous power and communication lines were dislodged, the Philippines news Web site Inquirer.net reported Monday.
Mitag should pass 170 miles south of Okinawa at 3 p.m. Wednesday, still packing tropical storm-force winds, 40-mph sustained and 52-mph gusts, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s Web site.
Mitag’s effects should be felt starting Tuesday afternoon and lasting as late as Thursday morning. But no upgraded Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness are expected to be issued for Okinawa, which should experience winds gusts of up to 46 mph, Wilson said.
The fact that three tropical cyclones are active this late in the year “is a reason why Okinawa remains in [seasonal TCCOR-4] until Nov. 30,” Wilson said.
The Japanese weather Web site tenki.jp forecasts a 70 percent chance of rain Wednesday, decreasing to 60 percent Thursday and 50 percent chance of showers on Friday, with the sun finally peeking out on Saturday, when a 30 percent chance of showers is forecast.
On the Web: www.inquirer.net, https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php and http://weather.kadenaservices.com.
