Vertical wind shear no longer limits typhoon development, says former weather chief

Former Director-General of Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau, Zheng Ming-dian, announced that vertical wind shear is no longer a limiting factor for the development of the current typhoons.

Zheng explained that vertical wind shear, which is the difference in wind speed between high and low altitudes, has been weakening over the past 24 hours. He shared a diagram illustrating the current vertical wind shear conditions, noting that both Typhoon Mikala (No. 7) and Typhoon Wumao (No. 8) are situated within areas of weak wind shear, indicated by blue and green colors on the map.

Based on the observed trend, Zheng anticipates that vertical wind shear will continue to be weak. This favorable environment means that the typhoons are now free from this particular constraint and can potentially intensify further. The analysis suggests that other atmospheric factors will now play a more significant role in their development and trajectory.