Tropical Depression Lingling (18W) – Tropical Cyclone Advisory #8: 1200 UTC 21 August 2025

Lingling makes landfall near Kagoshima and weakens to a depression.

Author

Will Weaver
August 21, 2025

…Lingling makes landfall near Kagoshima and weakens to a depression…

Himawari-9 infrared satellite image (Weathernerds)

Current storm information:

  • Position: 31.7°N 131.2°E

  • Movement: E at 6 knots (10 km/h)

  • Intensity: 30 knots (55 km/h)

  • Central pressure: 999 hPa

Trend:

  • Gradual weakening is forecast, and Lingling is expected to degenerate into a remnant low or dissipate on Friday or Saturday.

Watches and warnings:

  • There are no land-based watches or warnings in effect.

Hazards affecting land:

  • Lingling is expected to produce heavy rainfall in portions of Kyushu through the weekend. This rain could result in flash flooding. For additional information, refer to products from your local weather office. U.S. military interests can find additional information at the Stars & Stripes Pacific Storm Tracker: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/storm_tracker/

Discussion:

Composite radar image (CyclonicWx)

Radar data from JMA indicates that Lingling made landfall very near Kagoshima at about 0740 UTC with an intensity of 45 kts. The tropical storm had continued to develop a very compact but intense inner core with a partial eyewall feature present to the east of the center. Since landfall, Lingling’s structure has decayed fairly rapidly as it encounters much stronger shear. Most of the convection has become displaced to the south and southwest of the center, and the center itself has become poorly defined and the partial eyewall has disappeared. There is still some rudimentary banding present, mainly to the south of the center, but it isn’t wrapping into the center. Surface observations in the region have been generally unimpressive, with no reports of tropical storm force winds at any available stations in Kyushu. Given these developments, the intensity is lowered to 30 kts. 

Lingling’s forecast track has been nudged a bit to the south, and as a result the system is expected to emerge back over water on Friday morning. However, the environment is expected to remain quite hostile with very strong easterly shear and dry air associated with a strong ridge of high pressure over the Sea of Japan. Lingling is forecast to continue weakening during the next day or two, likely degenerating into a remnant low or dissipating outright south of Shikoku on Saturday.

Forecast positions and maximum winds

  • 00 hrs: 31.7°N 131.2°E – 30 kts inland

  • 12 hrs: 31.9°N 132.1°E – 25 kts over water

  • 24 hrs: 32.3°N 133.1°E – 25 kts Post-tropical/remnant low

  • 48 hrs: Dissipated

JTWC forecast map