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Seventeen

Western Pacific Tropical Depression · WP172026
7.9°N, 154.9°E
Moving W at 2 mph
Max Winds
30 mph
Pressure
1006 mb
Forecast Points
8
JMA Winds (10-min avg)
30.0 kt
JMA Pressure
1004.0 hPa
JMA (10-min average): tracked, no typhoon number assigned

Summary

Tropical Depression 17W (Seventeen) is currently a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. It is located about 180 nautical miles east of Chuuk and has been moving west at about 2 knots over the past six hours. The forecast calls for a slow turn toward the north-northwest over the next 24 hours while steering remains weak, then a faster northwestward track starting around 36 hours as a subtropical ridge becomes the main steering feature. JTWC forecasts the system to pass about 140 nautical miles north of Saipan, close to the island of Pagan, around 96 hours, then turn more westward after that. Seventeen is expected to steadily strengthen, reaching about 35 knots (around 40 mph) by 24 hours. Faster intensification is forecast after 24 hours, with a period of rapid intensification explicitly forecast from 48 to 96 hours—rising from 50 knots (around 58 mph) to 115 knots (around 132 mph). By 120 hours, the forecast calls for 120 knots (around 138 mph). At 12Z on Aug. 18, the minimum central pressure was 1006 mb and the maximum significant wave height was 12 feet.
Key messages
  • Seventeen is a tropical depression now (30 mph) and is forecast to strengthen quickly later in the period, with rapid intensification forecast from 48 to 96 hours.
  • The forecast track takes the system northwestward, passing about 140 nautical miles north of Saipan and close to Pagan around 96 hours.
  • Hazardous marine conditions are already present, with significant wave heights analyzed at 12 feet.

Forecast intensity

JTWC forecast maximum sustained winds (mph) by hour.

Satellite Imagery (IR)

Seventeen IR satellite
CIRA/RAMMB · 18 Aug 16:10 UTC
JTWC Warning #1 18 Aug 12:00 UTC
WTPN31 PGTW 181500
MSGID/GENADMIN/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI//
SUBJ/TROPICAL DEPRESSION 17W (SEVENTEEN) WARNING NR 001//
REF/A/MSG/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI/180552ZAUG2026//
AMPN/REF A IS A TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION ALERT.//
RMKS/
1. TROPICAL DEPRESSION 17W (SEVENTEEN) WARNING NR 001    
   01 ACTIVE TROPICAL CYCLONE IN NORTHWESTPAC
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS BASED ON ONE-MINUTE AVERAGE
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
    ---
   WARNING POSITION:
   181200Z --- NEAR 7.9N 154.9E
     MOVEMENT PAST SIX HOURS - 270 DEGREES AT 02 KTS
     POSITION ACCURATE TO WITHIN 030 NM
     POSITION BASED ON CENTER LOCATED BY SATELLITE
   PRESENT WIND DISTRIBUTION:
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 025 KT, GUSTS 035 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   REPEAT POSIT: 7.9N 154.9E
    ---
   FORECASTS:
   12 HRS, VALID AT:
   190000Z --- 8.5N 154.5E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 030 KT, GUSTS 040 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   VECTOR TO 24 HR POSIT: 335 DEG/ 07 KTS
    ---
   24 HRS, VALID AT:
   191200Z --- 9.7N 153.9E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 035 KT, GUSTS 045 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 050 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            060 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            040 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            040 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   VECTOR TO 36 HR POSIT: 320 DEG/ 09 KTS
    ---
   36 HRS, VALID AT:
   200000Z --- 11.1N 152.8E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 040 KT, GUSTS 050 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 070 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            080 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            050 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            050 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   VECTOR TO 48 HR POSIT: 320 DEG/ 09 KTS
    ---
   EXTENDED OUTLOOK:
   48 HRS, VALID AT:
   201200Z --- 12.5N 151.5E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 050 KT, GUSTS 065 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 050 KT WINDS - 030 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            030 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            020 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            020 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 070 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            080 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            050 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            050 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   VECTOR TO 60 HR POSIT: 320 DEG/ 10 KTS
    ---
   60 HRS, VALID AT:
   210000Z --- 14.0N 150.1E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 065 KT, GUSTS 080 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 064 KT WINDS - 020 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            020 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            010 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            020 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 050 KT WINDS - 040 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            040 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            030 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            030 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 090 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            090 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            060 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            080 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   VECTOR TO 72 HR POSIT: 320 DEG/ 10 KTS
    ---
   72 HRS, VALID AT:
   211200Z --- 15.5N 148.7E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 085 KT, GUSTS 105 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 064 KT WINDS - 030 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            030 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            020 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            030 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 050 KT WINDS - 050 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            050 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            040 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            050 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 120 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            100 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            080 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            100 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   VECTOR TO 96 HR POSIT: 315 DEG/ 10 KTS
    ---
   LONG RANGE OUTLOOK:
    ---
   96 HRS, VALID AT:
   221200Z --- 18.3N 145.7E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 115 KT, GUSTS 140 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 064 KT WINDS - 040 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            040 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            030 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            040 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 050 KT WINDS - 070 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            050 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            050 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            060 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 160 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            140 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            100 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            130 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   VECTOR TO 120 HR POSIT: 300 DEG/ 12 KTS
    ---
   120 HRS, VALID AT:
   231200Z --- 20.8N 141.3E
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 120 KT, GUSTS 145 KT
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
   RADIUS OF 064 KT WINDS - 060 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            050 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            040 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            050 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 050 KT WINDS - 100 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            080 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            070 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            080 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
   RADIUS OF 034 KT WINDS - 190 NM NORTHEAST QUADRANT
                            160 NM SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
                            110 NM SOUTHWEST QUADRANT
                            160 NM NORTHWEST QUADRANT
    ---
REMARKS:
181500Z POSITION NEAR 8.0N 154.8E. 18AUG26. TROPICAL DEPRESSION 17W 
(SEVENTEEN), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 180 NM EAST OF CHUUK, HAS TRACKED 
WESTWARD AT 02 KNOTS OVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 
AT 181200Z IS 1006 MB. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 181200Z IS 
12 FEET. NEXT WARNINGS AT 182100Z, 190300Z, 190900Z AND 191500Z.
2. THIS CANCELS AND SUPERSEDES REF A (WTPN21 PGTW 180600).//
NNNN
Forecast Reasoning 18 Aug 15:00 UTC
WDPN31 PGTW 181500
MSGID/GENADMIN/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI//
SUBJ/PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TROPICAL DEPRESSION 17W (SEVENTEEN) 
WARNING NR 001//
RMKS/
1. FOR METEOROLOGISTS.
2. 6 HOUR SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS.

SUMMARY:
   INITIAL POSITION: 7.9N 154.9E
   INITIAL INTENSITY: 25 KTS
   GEOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: 180 NM EAST OF CHUUK
   MOVEMENT PAST 6 HOURS: WESTWARD AT 02 KTS
   SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT: 12 FEET

SATELLITE ANALYSIS, INITIAL POSITION AND INTENSITY DISCUSSION: 
ANIMATED ENHANCED INFRARED (EIR) SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTS TROPICAL
DEPRESSION 17W WITH FLARING CONVECTION OBSCURING THE ASYMMETRIC AND
ELONGATED LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC). AN 181001Z METOP-B 
ASCAT PASS CONFIRMED THE ASYMMETRIC NATURE OF THE WIND FIELD. THE DATA 
SHOWED A LARGE SWATH OF 25 KT WINDS WITHIN THE SOUTHERN SEMICIRCLE AND 
WEAKER (10-15 KTS) WINDS WITHIN THE NORTHERN SEMICIRCLE. THE INITIAL 
POSITION AND INTENSITY ARE BOTH PLACED WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE BASED ON 
THE ASCAT PASS. CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY HAS REMAINED CONFINED TO THE 
SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CIRCULATION DUE TO A TONGUE OF DRY AIR TO THE 
NORTH ALONG WITH MODERATE NORTHEASTERLY VERTICAL WIND SHEAR. THE 
CURRENT ENVIRONMENT IS ANALYZED TO BE MARGINALLY FAVORABLE, 
CHARACTERIZED BY MODERATE EQUATORWARD OUTFLOW ALOFT AND WARM (29-30 C) 
SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES OFFSET BY THE DRY AIR AND NORTHEASTERLY 
SHEAR.

INITIAL WIND RADII BASIS: NOT APPLICABLE (THERE ARE NO INITIAL WIND
RADII).

CURRENT STEERING MECHANISM: WEAK STEERING PATTERN WITH AN ELONGATED
SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR) CURRENTLY SITUATED TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST,
PREVENTING POLEWARD MOVEMENT.

AGENCY DVORAK AND AUTOMATED FIXES: 
   PGTW: T1.0 - 25 KTS
   KNES: T1.0 - 25 KTS
   CIMSS D-PRINT: 27 KTS AT 181300Z

FORECASTER ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENT: MARGINALLY FAVORABLE
   VWS: 15-20 KTS
   SST: 29-30 CELSIUS
   OUTFLOW: MODERATE EQUATORWARD
   OTHER FACTORS: SLIGHT DRY AIR ENTRAINMENT FROM THE NORTH

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE:
   INITIAL POSITION: HIGH
   INITIAL INTENSITY: HIGH
   INITIAL WIND RADII: NOT APPLICABLE

3. FORECAST REASONING.

SIGNIFICANT FORECAST CHANGES: THIS INITIAL PROGNOSTIC REASONING
MESSAGE ESTABLISHES THE FORECAST PHILOSOPHY.

FORECAST DISCUSSION: TD 17W IS FORECAST TO TRACK SLOWLY NORTH-
NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS THE SYSTEM REMAINS WITHIN A 
WEAK STEERING PATTERN. NEAR TAU 24, THE UPPER-LEVEL LOW THAT IS 
CURRENTLY CENTERED NEAR 36N 157E WILL BEGIN TO FILL AND ALLOW FOR A 
SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR) TO BUILD IN BEHIND IT. THIS STR WILL THEN 
EXTEND SOUTHWESTWARD AND BECOME THE PRIMARY STEERING MECHANISM FOR 17W 
THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. TRACK SPEEDS ARE 
EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN THE NORTHWESTWARD DIRECTION STARTING AROUND 
TAU 36 AS 17W TRACKS ALONG THE SOUTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE 
AFOREMENTIONED STR. 17W IS FORECAST TO PASS ABOUT 140 NM NORTH OF 
SAIPAN, CLOSE TO THE ISLAND OF PAGAN, AT AROUND TAU 96. AFTER TAU
96, THE TRACK IS EXPECTED TO TURN MORE WESTWARD AS THE STR PROPAGATES 
TO THE WEST AND EXTENDS TO THE NORTH OF 17W. IN TERMS OF INTENSITY, 
17W IS FORECAST TO GRADUALLY INTENSIFY THROUGH TAU 24 AS THE VORTEX 
STRUGGLES WITH ASYMMETRY AND NORTHEASTERLY SHEAR. AFTER TAU 24, THE 
WIND FIELD WILL BECOME MORE SYMMETRIC AND NORTHEASTERLY SHEAR WILL 
ABATE, ALLOWING FOR A QUICKER RATE OF INTENSIFICATION. NEAR TAU 48, 
THE SYSTEM WILL BEGIN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GREATLY ENHANCED OUTFLOW 
AND VERY WARM (OVER 30 C) SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES. THIS WILL MARK THE 
BEGINNING OF A PERIOD OF RAPID INTENSIFICATION (RI) THAT IS FORECAST 
TO CONTINUE THROUGH TAU 96. THE JTWC FORECAST EXPLICITLY CALLS FOR RI 
FROM TAU 48 TO TAU 96 WITH AN INTENSITY OF 50 KTS INCREASING TO 115 
KTS. 

MODEL DISCUSSION: NUMERICAL MODEL TRACK GUIDANCE IS IN AGREEMENT ON
THE NORTHWESTWARD TRACK WITH A COUPLE OF NOTABLE OUTLIERS. THE HAFS-A
HAS DEPICTED A TRACK MUCH FURTHER SOUTH THAN THE REMAINDER OF 
GUIDANCE, SUGGESTING A TRACK BETWEEN TINIAN AND ROTA. ALL OTHER MODELS 
SHOW A TRACK WELL NORTH OF SAIPAN. THE ECMWF DETERMINISTIC IS THE 
NORTHERNMOST MODEL, TRACKING THE VORTEX NEARLY STRAIGHT NORTHWARD 
THROUGH TAU 36 BEFORE MAKING A NORTHWESTWARD TURN. THE JTWC TRACK 
FORECAST IS PLACED CLOSE TO THE EXPERIMENTAL GOOGLE DEEPMIND ENSEMBLE 
MEAN AND EC-AIFS WITH OVERALL MEDIUM CONFIDENCE. INTENSITY GUIDANCE 
GENERALLY AGREES ON GRADUAL INTENSIFICATION THROUGH TAU 36 FOLLOWED BY 
A MORE RAPID RATE OF INTENSIFICATION THROUGH TAU 96. MESOSCALE MODELS 
ALL SUGGEST AN INTENSITY OF 115 KTS OR HIGHER AT TAU 96 WITH HWRF 
BEING THE MOST AGRESSIVE AT 130 KTS. THE JTWC INTENSITY FORECAST IS 
PLACED CLOSE TO THE CONSENSUS THROUGH TAU 60 AND THEN IN LINE WITH THE 
MESOSCALE MODELS THROUGH TAU 120 WITH MEDIUM CONFIDENCE. 

FORECAST CONFIDENCE:
   TRACK 00-72 HR: MEDIUM
   TRACK 72-120 HR: MEDIUM
   INTENSITY 00-72 HR: MEDIUM
   INTENSITY 72-120 HR: MEDIUM//
NNNN
Products not available for West Pacific storms
  • NEXRAD radar — no radar coverage over the open West Pacific.
  • Storm-surge inundation — no public storm-surge model for this basin.
  • Wind-speed probabilities — JTWC does not publish them.
  • Watches and warnings — issued by local agencies (PAGASA, JMA, CWA), not JTWC.
  • Reconnaissance aircraft — no routine aircraft reconnaissance in the West Pacific.
  • Rapid-intensification and shear diagnostics — SHIPS-based guidance is not published for this basin.
These are data-availability limits for the West Pacific basin, not omissions.

Source: U.S. Navy/Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), via the UCAR Tropical Cyclone Guidance Project. JTWC data is in the public domain. · Updated 2026-08-18 14:11 UTC · JMA analysis: Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (10-minute average winds). Satellite imagery: CIRA/RAMMB.