Mekkhala downgraded again, to Category 1-equivalent typhoon, forecast to pass west of Okinawa early Friday morning as a severe tropical storm. Okinawa sets TCCOR 3. Yokosuka sets TCCOR 4, expecting stormy conditions Saturday. (Illustration courtesy of Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
12:20 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, Japan time: Typhoon Mekkhala has spiraled down again, to a Category 1-equivalent system. But Mekkhala remains a dangerous system and is still on track to hurtle just west of Okinawa, with heavy rain and damaging winds forecast for Friday. The Tokyo area is slated to be next, Saturday evening.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Mekkhala was about 430 miles south-southwest of Kadena Air Base, moving north-northwest at 9 mph, packing 85-mph sustained winds and 105-mph gusts at center.
U.S. bases on Okinawa entered Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 3 at noon Wednesday.. Expect upgrades as Mekkhala heads closer. Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka set TCCOR 4 at noon Wednesday.
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AloJapan.com