Typhoon MUIFA - observations and damage reports from Okinawa

[Chacor]

Those in Okinawa, please take care with this one. I don't think I've seen a typhoon forecast for a 120 kt direct hit on the island in a long time. Please share your preparations for the storm (and observations when it crosses) here.

[StormingB81]

I will say I just went out and everyone is talking about this storm and nows the intesity so lets hope they all take the right precautions

[Chacor]

Storming, any word on whether they will speed-up declaring typhoon readiness levels for this storm, or are they sticking to the definitions?

[Typhoon Hunter]

I will say I just went out and everyone is talking about this storm and nows the intesity so lets hope they all take the right precautions

Yeah once a storm reaches "cat. 5" level it starts getting people's attention.

If it verifies that Muifa will pass close to Okinawa I'll make the trip over and can post updates in this thread too.

[Infdidoll]

I hate making an ass of myself.

I think someone said in the other thread they wish they had more resources to track with us. Here are a few for those who want to follow along:

Joint Typhoon Warning Center - http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/
Japan Meteorological Agency - http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/
Satellite Views - http://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/
Multi-tool typhoon tracking from Philippines - http://www.typhoon2000.ph/
Photos/New invests - http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/TC.html
Tenki Radar (Okinawa) - http://tenki.jp/rader/area-10.html

Anyone have more to add? I've got more...I'll keep adding.

[weatherSnoop]

I hate making an ass of myself.

I think someone said in the other thread they wish they had more resources to track with us. Here are a few for those who want to follow along:

Joint Typhoon Warning Center - http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/
Japan Meteorological Agency - http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/
Satellite Views - http://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/
Multi-tool typhoon tracking from Philippines - http://www.typhoon2000.ph/
Photos/New invests - http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/TC.html
Tenki Radar (Okinawa) - http://tenki.jp/rader/area-10.html

Anyone have more to add? I've got more...I'll keep adding.

Thank you for the resources. I am very interested and concerned about your area of the world and I appreciate more info than the advisories.

[StormingB81]

No word yet...But I told people I wouldnt be suprised....I have been thinking about telling my guys to start tying things down and all tomorrow..

[Infdidoll]

I hate making an ass of myself.

I think someone said in the other thread they wish they had more resources to track with us. Here are a few for those who want to follow along:

Joint Typhoon Warning Center - http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/
Japan Meteorological Agency - http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/
Satellite Views - http://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/
Multi-tool typhoon tracking from Philippines - http://www.typhoon2000.ph/
Photos/New invests - http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/TC.html
Tenki Radar (Okinawa) - http://tenki.jp/rader/area-10.html

Anyone have more to add? I've got more...I'll keep adding.

Thank you for the resources. I am very interested and concerned about your area of the world and I appreciate more info than the advisories.

You're welcome...and thank you! Hope you guys have some good weather anyway!

[phwxenthusiast]

i forgot to ask this in the other thread, but how is the weather reporting there in Okinawa... although i'm guessing you don't watch Japanese channels??

i'm just wondering because when the tsunami hit, they had really amazing coverage there, especially from NHK... maybe it's the same for typhoons too??

and i also can't wait for James' reports and videos!!

[StormingB81]

AFN was on the air throughout the whole thing giving us updates as they do for typhoons as well that come from the 18th weather group which get thier info from the Japanese weather

[Typhoon Hunter]

i forgot to ask this in the other thread, but how is the weather reporting there in Okinawa... although i'm guessing you don't watch Japanese channels??

i'm just wondering because when the tsunami hit, they had really amazing coverage there, especially from NHK... maybe it's the same for typhoons too??

and i also can't wait for James' reports and videos!!

Hehe that's my job to get the crazy typhoon footage for the news channels

And any of you military folks wanna lend me an armoured Humvee if I make the trip up to Okinawa?

[euro6208]

I hate making an ass of myself.

I think someone said in the other thread they wish they had more resources to track with us. Here are a few for those who want to follow along:

Joint Typhoon Warning Center - http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/
Japan Meteorological Agency - http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/
Satellite Views - http://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/
Multi-tool typhoon tracking from Philippines - http://www.typhoon2000.ph/
Photos/New invests - http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/TC.html
Tenki Radar (Okinawa) - http://tenki.jp/rader/area-10.html

Anyone have more to add? I've got more...I'll keep adding.

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/guam/ NWS Guam
http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/index.html.en Digital Typhoon Japan
http://www.weather.org.hk/english/index.html Weather Underground Hong Kong
http://www.mensoresurfing.com Okinawa Surf

[StormingB81]

Just talked to some people who went to teh store and they said it was insane it was packed with everyone preparing for the typhoon..that is some good news that people are heading the warning..also I heard someone say that some of the locals are growing nervous on how big this storm could be when and if it comes right over us..

[Infdidoll]

i forgot to ask this in the other thread, but how is the weather reporting there in Okinawa... although i'm guessing you don't watch Japanese channels??

i'm just wondering because when the tsunami hit, they had really amazing coverage there, especially from NHK... maybe it's the same for typhoons too??

and i also can't wait for James' reports and videos!!

NHK was amazing for the tsunami, but they're based out of mainland. NHK does have an iPhone app where you can watch their channel on iphone/iPad...I used that app constantly during the tsunami/nuclear crisis. I don't know if they will report on the typhoon in English or not, but I'll have to watch and see if they do.

Most military on base have cable through a company called Mediatti...and I've heard they have no weather coverage either, just a voice over across a map telling you the obvious conditions. Off base, we all rely on satellite dishes and the Armed Forces Network - also NO weather coverage. I really miss weather casters. That's why I was so excited when I came across Rob's blog on Weather Underground and mentioned my concerns to him. He started making videos of the weather and I told him he REALLY needed a website because his videos were EXACTLY what we have been needing. He did! So Rob is the closest we have to a weather guy for our weather, even though he's a busy man and can't make videos all the time. I don't know what the locals are watching, but when I evacuated our house during the tsunami, I went to a USO branch and the Okinawan lady working in there was watching Japanese news.

Most of us literally get our weather info from Facebook. As soon as I hear we might be expecting a big storm, I let Facebook friends know in hopes that they will spread the word so nobody gets caught off guard. Yet, it still happens. Songda was a testament to this. I feel like am going to have to print up a few flyers to hang up here letting people in my building know the storm is coming so they can remove their satellite dishes (which were a problem last storm). The last time, believe it or not, there were people who didn't realize we had a typhoon coming until it was right on top of us.

My husband was just out and about running errands and he said it was like there was nothing going on. He said nobody seemed concerned. The locals living around me haven't started securing yet, but from what I've learned from them - they wait until the last minute to bother in case it passes.

[Florida1118]

That is one big monster. Best of luck...which seems REALLY skimpy thing to say looking at this and track.

[rdhdstpchld]

Just talked to some people who went to teh store and they said it was insane it was packed with everyone preparing for the typhoon..that is some good news that people are heading the warning..also I heard someone say that some of the locals are growing nervous on how big this storm could be when and if it comes right over us..

Just got back from kadena's commissary - I don't normally go there on weekends, so I can't compare to your average sunday, but it sure was nutty. Lines all the way back into the warehouse area...at least people are prepping; now if they prep their yards as well as they do their bellies, we'll be ok...no flying trampolines, please...

[Infdidoll]

Kadena's commissary is always crazy on weekends. I stay away from that place! LOL I imagine word will really start getting out tomorrow when everyone goes back to work and starts talking about it, then. Then the poo is going to hit the fan. I'm going tomorrow morning.

[Typhoon Hunter]

I'm not too surprised the locals are not really preparing much now, it's still 3+ days away and may well miss Okinawa, there's still a big uncertainty and cone. I guess around 24hrs prior to CPA to Okinawa we'll have a good idea of how nasty it's gonna get.

There's certainly no harm in preparing for the worst just in case though!!

[phwxenthusiast]

i forgot to ask this in the other thread, but how is the weather reporting there in Okinawa... although i'm guessing you don't watch Japanese channels??

i'm just wondering because when the tsunami hit, they had really amazing coverage there, especially from NHK... maybe it's the same for typhoons too??

and i also can't wait for James' reports and videos!!

Most military on base have cable through a company called Mediatti...and I've heard they have no weather coverage either, just a voice over across a map telling you the obvious conditions. Off base, we all rely on satellite dishes and the Armed Forces Network - also NO weather coverage. I really miss weather casters. That's why I was so excited when I came across Rob's blog on Weather Underground and mentioned my concerns to him. He started making videos of the weather and I told him he REALLY needed a website because his videos were EXACTLY what we have been needing. He did! So Rob is the closest we have to a weather guy for our weather, even though he's a busy man and can't make videos all the time. I don't know what the locals are watching, but when I evacuated our house during the tsunami, I went to a USO branch and the Okinawan lady working in there was watching Japanese news.

i'm still doing the video updates on behalf of Rob so hope you check it out!

[StormingB81]

Hearing alot of folks are going to start tying stuff down and preparing today ahead of the official TCCOR's...everyone is talking how long it has been since a storm this strong has come to Okinawa.