OVERVIEW OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC BASIN:

Western North Pacific More tropical cyclones form in the tropical North Pacific than anywhere else in the world. More than 25 (tropical storms and typhoons) develop each year, and about 18 become typhoons. These typhoons are the largest and most intense in the world. Each year an average of five generated maximum winds over 130 knots (150 mph); circulations covering more than 600 miles in diameter are not uncommon. Most of storms form east of the Phillippines, and move across the Pacific towards the Phillippines, Japan, and China; a few storms form in the South China Sea. The season extends from April through December. However, tropical cyclones are more common in off-season months in this area than anywhere else. The peak of the season is July through October, when nearly 70 % of all typhoons develop. There is a noticeable season shift in storm tracks in this region. From July through September, storms move north of the Philippines and recurve, while early and last-season typhoons move on a more westernly track through the Phillippines before recurving. (Taken from American Practical Navigator Vol 1 1977)

Map Courtsey of Hurricanes,Typhoons & Topical Cyclones

click for full screen map

Tropical Weather Text Products	SITES
		OSU	FSU
MAIN STATEMENTS:
Tropical Weather Advisory [JTWC]	Primary	Backup	Archive
Issued daily @ 06Z.
Tropical Weather Discussion [NWS Honolulu]	Primary	Backup	N/A
SPECIAL STATEMENTS:
Formation Alert [JTWC]	Primary	Backup	Archive
Position Estimate [NWS Guam](Doppler Radar Based)	Primary	N/A	N/A
MARINE FORECASTS:
High Seas Forecast [JMA]	N/A	N/A	Archive
High Seas Forecast [NPMOC Yokosuka]	00Z	12Z	N/A

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OTHER:
Oceanweather Marine Data	Bouy/CMAN/Ship Data
ERS-2 Scatterometer Winds	Quikscat Storm Page
Tropical Storm Position & Intensity Page (Dvorak Analysis)	Western Pacific-Accuweather Tropical Discussion

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NW Pacific Infrared Image	NW Pacific Visible Image	NW Pacific Water Vapor Image
West Pacific Full Disk IR Image	West Pacific Full Disk VIS Image	West Pacific Full Disk WV Image
East Asia and West Pacific Infrared Image	West Pacific Infrared Image	West Pacific Water Vapor Image

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TROPICAL SURFACE CHARTS

Tropical Streamline Analysis (NWS)				N Pacific Pressure Surface Analysis (NWS)
0000 UTC (.GIF)	0600 UTC (.GIF)	1200 UTC (.GIF)	1800 UTC (.GIF)	0000 UTC (.GIF)	0600 UTC (.GIF)	1200 UTC (.GIF)	1800 UTC (.GIF)
Western Pacific Surface Analysis (JMA)				South China Sea Surface Analysis (HKO)
0000 UTC (.GIF)	0600 UTC (.GIF)	1200 UTC (.GIF)	1800 UTC (.GIF)	0000 UTC (.GIF)	0600 UTC (.GIF)	1200 UTC (.GIF)	2100 UTC (.GIF)
Western Pacific Surface Forecasts (JMA)				North Pacific Sea State Analysis
24 hr
0000 UTC (.GIF)		1200 UTC (.GIF)		LATEST (00 UTC/06 UTC/12 UTC/18 UTC)
24 hr
0000 UTC (.GIF)		1200 UTC (.GIF)
North Pacific Wind/Wave Forecasts				Peak Wave Period / Primary Swell Direction
24 hr				24 hr
LATEST (00 UTC/06 UTC/12 UTC/18 UTC)					0000 UTC or 1200 UTC (.GIF)
48 hr				48 hr
LATEST (00 UTC/06 UTC/12 UTC/18 UTC)					0000 UTC or 1200 UTC (.GIF)
72 hr
LATEST (00 UTC/06 UTC/12 UTC/18 UTC)

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SURFACE OBSERVATIONS

Bouy/CMAN/Ship Data

Surface Observations (U of Wyoming)

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Tropical Surface Analysis (JTWC)	Tropical Surface 24 hr Forecast (JTWC)	Surface Analysis Weather Chart (JMA)	24 hr Forecast Chart (JMA)
48 hr Forecast Chart (JMA)	High Winds/Seas Valid 00Z (JTWC)	High Winds/Seas Valid 12Z (JTWC)

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COMPUTER MODELS

NOGAPS/AVN/MRF	WAM Wave Heights	Index of All Pacific Models

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JAPAN

GUAM

KADEN AB,OKINAWA,JP

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Past Typhoons/Tropical Storms:

(Courtsey of Unisys)

2002	2001	2000
1999	1998	1997
1996	1945-1995 ARCHIVES	1998 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (JTWC)
1997 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (JWTC)	1995 Summary of Tropical Cyclones in Northern Hemisphere(UKMET)	1996 Summary of Tropical Cyclones in Northern Hemisphere(UKMET)
1997 Summary of Tropical Cyclones in Northern Hemisphere(UKMET)	1998 Summary of Tropical Cyclones in Northern Hemisphere(UKMET)

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© 1999,2000,2001,2002 Michael Pitt