image: On August 4, Tropical Depression 08W has strengthened and has been given the name Goni as it is poised for a landfall in southeast China. The forecast track has changed bringing Goni further south for a landfall south of Hong Kong later today or tomorrow. At 2 a.m. EDT, Goni's center was located only 70 miles south-southwest of Hong Kong, China, near 21.1 north and 113.8 east and has been moving northwest at 6 knots (7 mph). Goni's sustained winds have increased to 40 knots (46 mph), with higher gusts. Hong Kong is already feeling the fringe effects of Tropical Storm Goni's winds, and seeing high surf along the coast. There are a couple of things happening with Tropical Storm Goni that will likely prevent it from strengthening too much before it makes landfall. First, the center of circulation on the surface is partially exposed. That means that it's open to weakening from influence of outside winds. Secondly, Tropical Storm Goni is being battered by 20 knot (23 mph) vertical wind shear (winds that can tear a storm apart). However, in the South China Sea where Goni is currently located, warm waters continue to fuel the tropical cyclone. Goni is churning up 16 foot-high seas, so mariners in southeastern China have been warned not to venture out. NASA's Terra satellite flew over Tropical Storm Goni on August 4 at 03:20 UTC (11:20 p.m. EDT), and using infrared imagery from the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument, captured a pretty well organized tropical storm of the southeastern China coast. Landfall is expected late today or tomorrow morning, and will be accompanied by heavy rains, heavy surf conditions along the coast and gusty winds. view more
Credit: Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Image Credit: NASA, MODIS Rapid Response Team