Current forecasts for both Tokyo and Kyoto showing the hot weather ending Sunday the 23rd. Both locales are forecast low 80s for he 23rd and down to around 75 for the 24th. Let's hope that forecast continues.

We have had over 4 inches of rain this week and we are still in the middle of Typhoon season. A typhoon is currnetly near Okinawa and is schedule to transit the Korean Straight this weekend. I hope we are "typhoon free" for PANDA but who knows. Here is the link to the one week forecast for cities in Japan. The other links on this page from the Japan Meterological Agency can provide loads of additional weather information.

I have been following the weather and noting all the rain. I have been surprised at how warm (hot) it's been not only in Japan, but also in China.

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Eugene

(groan) ... I've been following the weather as well and was REALLY hoping that it was going to be cooler by now. I really hope that Marc's forecast of it being cooler by the 24th - we come in on the night of the 24th.

Masaki

A new tropical depression just formed. It looks like it is not forecast to grow too much and it will be long gone by the time PANDA starts.

Hopefully, the season quiets down soon.

edited to delete outdated graphic.

You always want bad weather JUST before you leave as it runs in cycles. I have on my "good weather hat" and after PUBS with NO RAIN in all that time I think my weather gods are smiling on me.

It does look like things are going to get cooler along our route. Osaka/Kyoto look to be in 80s or even low 90s for the pre-cruise with temperature still slated to drop on the 24th.

During the cruise itself, it looks like we should expect highs from the upper 60s to the low 80s (possibly upper 80s in Hong Kong) with lows in the 50s and the 60s. I like these cruises where you don't need to worry about overly cold or hot weather.

However; not totally trusting Ngaire's rapport with the rain gods, we will be bringing umbrellas. :D

I certainly agree with the weather assessment-it's like beimg at home! We will be prepared for whatever comes at us. Lots of bottled water to keep hydrated.

It'll be good to see you and Arlene again, Marc. :)

Masaki

It will be good to see you and Amanda again, too. I think Arlene may need remedial chopstick lessons from you.

Weather not looking any better. Now supposed to stay warm through our sail away. JMA is still calling for low 90s in Osaka but other forecasts are just calling for low to mid 80s, rainy, and humid.

Here is an update on the new Tropical Storm. This graphic changes with each report. Now, a Category 3 Typhoon is scheduled to hit just south of Shanghai on Wednesday.



edited to reflect updated forecast

Marc - yeah, Weather Channel is saying scattered T-storms around that time - highs in the mid 80s.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/KIX:9

Chopsticks R Us! Would be happy to play with chopsticks. :D

Masaki

We will be fine!!! I have been doing my weather dance every night. That storm will have passed through and there is always a nice period after a storm. Those Scattered Thunderstorms will not scatter over our head and the clouds will help with the heat. Power of positive thought!

Okay now those words are spoken no beating me up if we get rain!!

LCTers don't melt in the rain! We R tough!

It's always nice to have Ngaire as our weather cheerleader! ;) :D

Masaki

Speaking of weather. Captain Philipe has been warning us for days that we're going to be sailing into a significant storm. Everything has been pretty calm until about three hours ago, now there's things flying everywhere. The computer room is hilarious, the chairs on wheels are rolling around the room like a carnival ride. All right -- now I know I'm on a ship!

I'll pack my lucky rain poncho...if I have it it does not rain, one trip I forgot it...RAIN.

Oh my somone please give me the seasick pills! :eek:

Peggy you enjoy these rough seas, now, but make sure we have smooth seas on CROSS! ;)

How do you spell relief-M-E-C-L-I-Z-I-N-E! I am also hoping for calmer seas, Bert doesn't do rolls and swells really well.

Captain Phillipe was right--it's quite a storm. We have 85 mph winds and 30 foot waves. There was lots of rocking and rolling during the night and our room is a mess this morning from all the stuff that flew off the shelves. We even had water coming in under our balcony door. La Verandah and the Observation Lounge are closed and all the day's activities have been cancelled--what an adventure!!! Hopefully this will be it and the weather will be great from now on, including all through PANDA. See you all soon (assuming the ship holds together :eek: ).

YIKES!!!! Mitch don't tell Bert - here's hoping everything will be fine for the Panda group!!! Makes me nervous just reading about it! Peggy love your adventure attitude :app: :app:

MECLIZINE works wonders. I just came back from a cruise on the Crystal Symphony that went from Dover to NY with stops in Dublin, Belfast, Iceland, Greenland and Halifax. After we left Greenland we encountered 45 foot waves...a very similar experience to what Peggy encountered. It was quite an adventure but I didn't get sick. There were lots of sick passengers and they had to close down decks 11 and 12 and most activities were cancelled. Lots of rocking and rolling but we made it! It was far more exciting than our stop in Nuuk Greenland. Hey, at least I can say that I've been to Nuuk. However, the cruise was our best one yet! Peggy, I'm sure things can only get better. Thanks for your great seamail that I'm catching up on.

Nancy

Hey Peggy, Hang On!!!!!!!!
Hope the seas calm soon for you and for the other PANDAs soon to come!!

Anyone ever mention to you, that you have an admirable attitude? Thanks for posting!

Nancy, I want to hear more about your cruise!

Me too Nancy!!!!!

Betty and Joanna,

I will post on another thread later or send you an email directly.

We had a great cruise!!!!

Nancy

Thanks I would love to hear about it Nancy - and so happy you had good time - I think we are all interested!!

Weather forecasts continue to improve for Osaka. Looks as though like Marc originally said, the weather is going to drop to the low 80s for highs as of this coming Sunday. Unfortunately, it does seem as though there's also a good chance of thunderstorms over the weekend.

Masaki

Peggy and all, don't worry, we were on the Mariner coming back to Cameronis (sp?), Argentina from the Falkland Islands in the fall of 2003, when she did the circle So. America from San Francisco at that season. Overnight we hit a storm with 100 MPH winds and 40-foot waves; we were in an F or G suite, I think. We never even woke up. The captain (I don't recall who it was, unfortunately) announced it during breakfast, but few believed him it was so bad, because the ship took it so well. He did tell us he had changed course to due west from northwest, doing legs A and B of the triangle instead of C (the hypotenuse), thus avoiding the worst of the storm but getting us into Cameronis late. We still got to see all the cute little penguins. Till we got there, we got treated to a replay of the bridge instruments on several of the TV channels, all day long! With running commentary, yet.

The Mariner is a very stable ship, much better than the other two (Voyager & Navigator), even better that the QE2, which bounced all over one night in 2000 on the Indian Ocean off Durban - that action did wake us up, believe me.