A circulation in the monsoon trough late last week southeast of Guam developed enough organization to be declared TD #26W over the weekend, and then TS Nida soon after. It started out slowly, but about 48 hours ago conditions became optimal for rapid intensification, and it has become the strongest storm in any basin so far this year. Its 160 kt. (185 mph) winds top the 155 kts. of Hurricane Rick in the Eastern Pacific last month. Nida is centered around 14/141, about 260 miles WNW of Guam or about 740 miles south of Iwo Jima. The NRL website estimates the pressure at 903 mb. The current JTWC forecast track has Nida approaching Iwo Jima in 5 days, but by then shear and cooler SST's should have knocked the intensity down quite a bit.

Needless to say, Nida has been awesome to watch on satellite pics. Check it out here:

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/guamloops/guamircolor.html