Current Snapshot

The Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Friday, July 18, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Activity Report…for the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and adjacent Seas

Current Tropical Cyclones:

Tropical Cyclone 09W (Wipha)…is located 340 NM east-southeast of Hong Kong

Tropical Cyclone 01S…is located 666 NM east-southeast of Diego Garcia – Final Warning

Northeast Pacific Ocean:  There are no Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7-days.

Central Pacific Ocean: There are no Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7-days.

Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and adjacent Seas:   

Western Pacific

Tropical Cyclone 09W (Wipha)

According to the JTWC warning number 3 sustained winds are 50 knots with gusts to near 65 knots

Tropical storm 09W has transitioned from a monsoon depression to a warm-core tropical system as indicated in animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery, with improved, tighter deep convective banding wrapping into the low-level circulation center (llcc) and consolidating core structure.

A ascat-b partial image indicates 30-35 knot southerly winds along the eastern semicircle, with a radius of maximum winds of approximately 65 NM, more typical of tropical cyclones. a 181000z rcm-1 sar pass reveals a broad center, with 35-45 knot winds along the eastern periphery. However, incidence angles are rather high (45-55 degrees) and the data appears to be excessively high.

TS 09W is forecast to track west-northwestward along the southwest periphery of the subtropical ridge (str) toward a break in the str associated with a mid-latitude shortwave trough expected to dig over central China from 24 to 36 hours.

Environmental conditions are favorable for further development, with radial outflow, low vertical wind shear and warm sst values. However, TS 09W has a limited period of time of about 36 hours to develop before approaching southern China and the Hong Kong region, with increased frictional effects limiting the peak intensity. There is some uncertainty in the peak intensity, with 60-65 knots
possible if the system is able to consolidate quickly and develop a
more contracted low-level circulation center.

After 36 hours, the shortwave trough will propagate northeastward allowing the str to re-build to the north and northwest. This will drive 09W (Wipha) on a more westward to west-southwestward track toward and over northern Vietnam. As the system skirts the southern coast of China, interaction with land will gradually weaken the large system from 36 to 120 hours, with dissipation likely toward the end of the forecast period.

South Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone 01S – Final Warning

According to the JTWC warning number 5 sustained winds are 30 knots with gusts to near 40 knots

Animated multi-spectral satellite imagery (msi) depicts a partially exposed low-level circulation, with flaring, isolated deep convection sheared over the southern quadrant. A ascat-b image reveals a weakening circulation, opening up over the northern quadrant, with a small area of 30 knot vectors confined to the southern quadrant.

Tropical cyclone 01S is expected to track west-southwestward through 24 hours along the northern periphery of the low-level str. The system will continue to weaken due to steady moderate vws and increasing dry air entrainment. the system will dissipate by 24 hours.