A. TYPHOON 19W (SONCA), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 260 NM SOUTHEASTOF YOKOSUKA, JAPAN, HAS TRACKED JUST EAST OF NORTHWARD AT 16 KNOTSOVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. ANIMATED INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWSTIGHTLY CURVED BANDING WRAPPING INTO A WELL-DEFINED 5-NM EYE. THISIS ALSO EVIDENT ON A 181052Z SSMIS MICROWAVE IMAGE. THE INITIALPOSITION IS BASED ON THE ABOVE ANIMATION WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE. THEINITIAL INTENSITY IS SUPPORTED BY DVORAK ESTIMATES FROM PGTW, KNES,AND RJTD. ANIMATED WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A COMPACT AND HIGHLYSYMMETRICAL SYSTEM ENCLOSED BY DRY AIR. TY 19W HAS BEGUN TO RECURVEALONG THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF A SUBTROPICAL STEERING RIDGE TO THENORTHEAST.