The furthest north and least powerful of the three storms, Tropical Storm Francisco, is looming over Korea. The other two – Typhoon Lekima and Tropical Storm Krosa are churning powerfully toward Taiwan and Japan, with the region on high alert for a direct hit. And according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), two more systems are developing in the region which are likely to present serious hazards soon.
TROPICAL STORM FRANCISCO LATEST
Tropical Storm Francisco, formerly a Typhoon, made landfall over Japan on Tuesday, but has since moved off the landmass and into the Sea of Japan.
According to the latest warning from the JTWC, the storm is currently located about 166 nautical miles northeast of Seoul, South Korea.
Francisco is packing maximum sustained winds of 34 knots (40 mph), with higher gusts, and is being closely monitored for signs of regathering strength.
TYPHOON LEKIMA LATEST
Lekima is the biggest and most dangerous of the three storms in the region.
The storm strengthened to a typhoon on Wednesday, and is packing maximum sustained winds of 64 knots (97mph).
This makes it equivalent to a Category 3 major hurricane in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific tropical basins.
The latest forecasts show a general northwest track over the next several days will keep Lekima over the open waters of the Philippine Sea.
This should limit impacts to land but allow it to gain size and strength.
Additional strengthening is forecast from Thursday into Friday.
Rough seas will be churned up from northern Luzon to Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands much of this week, with the JYWC reporting maximum significant wave height at 35 feet (10 meters).
Wind and rain from Lekima are expected to reach the southern Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan by Thursday and continue into Friday.
TROPICAL STORM KROSA LATEST
While not classified as a typhoon yet, Krosa has the potential to become one of the most powerful storms seen this year.
Forecasters at Accuweather are predicting Krosa to “dwarf” Francisco and Lekima by the time is hits full strength at the end of the week.
Maximum sustained winds are at 64 knots (73mph) according to the latest from the JTWC, but this is expected to increase dramatically in the coming days.
Some regions are already seeing impacts, with Guam reporting more than six inches (150 m) of rain this week.
As Krosa tracks to the north and northwest this week, it will organise and could reach typhoon status by Wednesday night.
Further strengthening is forecast during the second half of this week giving Krosa a chance to become a large and powerful typhoon.
A continued northward track this week will take the storm toward Japan this weekend with impacts to the country by early next week.