Twin typhoons in the western
Pacific
8:30 P.M. ET Sun.,Aug.22,2004
John Desjardins, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Super Typhoon Chaba is ripping across the western Pacific this
evening. Earlier today, Chaba moved across the Northern Mariana Islands,
producing torrential rains and incredible winds. Guam experienced wind gusts
of 75 mph, while the island of Saipan, north of Guam, reported a wind gust
over 170 mph. The Super Typhoon currently has sustained winds of 180 mph,
with gusts to 220 mph, and some additional strengthening is possible. The
forecast track takes Chaba to the northwest and keeps it away from any land
masses. Elsewhere in the western Pacific, Typhoon Aere has sustained winds
of 75 mph. This typhoon will move to the northwest before turning to the
west, perhaps impacting Taiwan by midweek.
Tropical Storm Estelle in the Central Pacific is weakening rapidly
and sustained winds are down to 40 mph. The storm has lost all of its deep
convection and it is expected to be downgraded to a tropical depression over
the next 12 hours. The circulation center of Estelle looks to track south
of the Hawaiian Islands, but may create some high surf on the Big Island
over the next day or two.
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"TT40" Update
Source NMFS - Hawaii
The 20-year-old male endangered Hawaiian monk seal known
as "TT40," who was rescued and rehabilitated by NOAA Fisheries scientists,
has been released back into his home waters on Kauai. Observers became concerned
when TT40 appeared to have a fishing line trailing from his mouth in early
June. NOAA Fisheries teamed with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, State
of Hawaii, University of Hawaii Marine Mammal Program, the Marine Mammal
Center in California, Veterinarian Center of America, Castle Hospital, the
Hawaii veterinarians Rod Pearson and Manny Himenez, and others to perform
TT40's transport and surgery to remove a fishing hook from his esophagus.
See below to view TT40's post-release movements.
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