Japan readies for Typhoon Melor as Parma drenches the Philippines

October 6, 11:08 AMNatural Disasters ExaminerTony Hake

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Satellite image of Typhoon Melor showing the well defined
eye wall.  (NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team)  See the
slideshow below for more images and a view of Melor's forecast
track.

Packing sustained winds of over 130 mph, Typhoon Melor continues its turn to the north as Japan prepares for a direct hit from the storm. Melor has weakened slightly over the last 24 hours but the latest forecast tracks put it on target for a direct strike on the island nation.

The massive storm, also known as "Quedan", is currently 260 miles southeast of Okinawa, Japan and moving to the north-northwest at 16 mph. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported the storm is currently packing sustained winds of 132 mph with wind gusts in excess of 160 mph making it the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane.

• View our slideshow below for more images of Typhoon Melor and to see its forecast track.
• Looking for more information?  Check out Natural Disasters 101 - Information resources

Currently moving to the north-northwest and turning to the north, over the next 24 hours Melor is forecast to turn to the northeast where Japan lies straight in its path. Current forecast tracks expect the storm to make landfall into Honshu near Hamamatsu on Wednesday and then pass just west of Tokyo on Thursday.

As it enters cooler water the storm is expected to weaken however when it makes landfall, Melor is still expected to be packing winds near 100 mph with gusts over 120 mph.

Tropical Storm Parma, at one time a typhoon as well, stalled for two days near the Philippines drenching the nation and causing widespread flooding. At least 22 people have been killed by the storm. Also called Pepeng, the international name for Parma, the storm is currently 31 miles north of Laoag City.

Parma has sustained winds of 65 mph, gusting to over 80 mph. Forecasters are expecting the storm to move south-southwest slowly and be off the coast of Laoag City by Wednesday afternoon.