Tropical Depression 06W spawns overnight Thursday near Iwo Jima; initial forecast track takes it more than 200 miles east of Kanto Plain at mid-day Monday. (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
11:35 a.m. Friday, July 11, Japan time: Tropical Depression 06W spawned overnight Thursday more than 700 miles south of Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s initial forecast track keeps it more than 200 miles east of the Tokyo area at mid-day Monday.
At 9 a.m., 06W was 58 miles northwest of Iwo Jima and 715 miles south of Yokosuka, moving northwest at 10 mph with 35-mph sustained winds and 46-mph gusts. U.S. bases in Japan remained under seasonal Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness posture through Friday morning.
If 06W stays on its present heading, JTWC projects it to wobble in a generally northerly direction, intensifying to tropical storm strength as early Friday evening, but peaking at 52-mph sustained winds and 63-mph gusts at mid-morning Sunday.
JTWC forecasts 06W to pass about 210 miles east-southeast of Yokosuka at mid-day Monday, still packing 52-mph sustained winds and 63-mph gusts at center. A path similar to the one taken by Sepat last month. Storm Tracker has the watch and will provide an updated forecast for the Yokosuka area later Friday.