The
origins of Typhoon Toraji can be traced back to November 8, when the
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that a
low-pressure area had formed north of
Yap, with satellite imagery showing an organizing low-level circulation center, obscured by flaring convection wrapping around its southern and western peripheries. Environmental analysis indicated a favorable environment for further development, with
sea surface temperatures of , strong poleward outflow aloft, and low vertical wind shear. At 18:00UTC on the same day, the JMA classified the system as a tropical depression, and it moved into the
Philippine Area of Responsibility, where
PAGASA named it
Nika the following day. By 02:00UTC, the United States
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a
tropical cyclone formation alert. At 06:00UTC the same day, the JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm named
Toraji, which the JTWC later designated as
26W. Satellite imagery shows that Toraji was undergoing
rapid intensification, with a small system displaying an elongated, compact
central dense overcast (CDO) feature, measuring around in diameter. A
microwave imaging reveals a complete eyewall surrounding a small microwave
eye feature, along with a deep convective band over the southern quadrant. , Toraji,
Usagi, and
Man-yi, the first occurrence since 1951 Early the next day, the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm as it moved west-northwestward, with formative bands wrapping tighter around the obscured low-level circulation. At 09:00UTC on that day, the JTWC upgraded the storm to a minimal typhoon, noting a more asymmetric CDO in the eastern quadrant. Satellite imagery reveals a decrease in easterly vertical wind shear, with the CDO becoming more symmetric and building back over the low-level circulation center. At 15:00UTC on the same day, the JMA upgraded Toraji to a typhoon. The agency reported that by 18:00UTC, the system had reached its peak intensity, with 10-minute
sustained winds of and a central
pressure of . Toraji eventually peaked at Category 1-equivalent intensity on the
Saffir–Simpson scale, with 1-minute sustained winds of . On November 11, Toraji made
landfall on
Dilasag, Aurora, on Luzon Island at around 8:10AMPHT (00:10UTC), before moving inland over mountainous terrain, which caused significant weakening. Later that evening, Toraji emerged over the
South China Sea off the coast of
Magsingal,
Ilocos Sur, with satellite imagery showing a tightly wrapped low-level circulation and fragmented deep convection beginning to reorganize over the northern semicircle. As it moved northwestward along the southwestern periphery of a mid-level
subtropical high, a small patch of deep convection developed over the northern portion of a partially exposed low-level circulation, resulting in the system weakening into a tropical storm on November 11. Satellite imagery showed a weakening of deep convection at the storm's center, with low-level cloud banding around the center and along the southern edge of the circulation, resulting from strong southerly vertical wind shear as it became embedded in the low-level northeasterly flow associated with a cold surge. As a result of convective decapitation, which led to a fully exposed low-level circulation center, the JTWC issued its final warning on November 14 as it weakened to a tropical depression. The JMA continued to monitor the system until it was last noted at 06:00UTC on November 15. == Preparations ==