© nternational Space StationVongfong, as a super typhoon on Thursday, October 9, viewed from the International Space Station.
While Japan is recovering from former
Typhoon Phanfone, Super Typhoon Vongfong will turn northward across the western Pacific Ocean and bring a new threat by the end of the week.
Vongfong brought flooding rainfall and damaging wind to the northern Mariana Islands on Sunday, local time. Wind gusts over 89 kph (55 mph) and rainfall over 75 millimeters (3 inches) were common.
Currently, Vongfong is nearly equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 250 kph (155 mph).
"Vongfong became
the strongest tropical cyclone we've had all year anywhere on Earth," AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Jim Andrews said.
The strength of Vongfong earlier surpassed that of Super Typhoon Genevieve which, at its most powerful, had sustained winds of 257 kph (160 mph) in the West Pacific.
The combination of light wind shear and warm water allowed Vongfong to rapidly strengthen across the western Pacific Ocean so far this week.
Late in the week, while Vongfong is located south of Japan, the typhoon is expected to slow down and make a turn to the north. While there remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, confidence is high that the powerful cyclone will track north toward Japan with the potential for a landfall in mainland Japan by early next week.
Comment: A list of dog attacks on their owners or family members in 2014 -
Family dog seized after baby's death in Wales
Couple released on bail over death of 11-month-old girl following dog attack in Blackburn, UK
'Out of control' dog put down after attacking owner in Inverness, Scotland
Liverpool woman mauled to death by her pet dog, UK
Second pet dog attack on a woman owner in Liverpool house within 2 months, UK
Man gets arm 'ripped off' by his two American bulldogs in High Pittington, United Kingdom
13-year-old girl victim of second Waikato dog attack, New Zealand
Hunter viciously mauled by his own dog in Austria
Child killed by family pet dog in Rome
Detroit: Naked man loses hands, feet in dog pack attack
Woman in hospital after dog attacked owner in Brighton, United Kingdom
Baby girl dies after dog attack in Daventry, UK