UPDATE 5: Roke downgraded to tropical storm, forecast to buzz well southeast of Yokosuka packing gale-force winds. (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

1:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, Japan time: Roke has been downgraded to a tropical storm, and though it maintains strong gale-force winds, it also remains well away from Japan and is forecast to keep heading northeast into the northwest Pacific Ocean.

At 9 p.m., Roke was 353 miles south of Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan moving east-northeast at 28 mph with 63-mph sustained winds and 81-mph gusts at center. Closest point of approach to Yokosuka according to Joint Typhoon Warning Center is about 330 miles southeast at 4 a.m. Saturday.