TYPHOON HAGIBIS - 0229 Z, 08-JAN-08

TYPHOON HAGIBIS, CURRENTLY A CAT 1 STORM, IS NEARING 180E/W. UPON CROSSING 180, ASSUMING IT IS STILL AT HURRICANE STRENGTH, IT WILL BE RE-DESIGNATED HURRICANE HAGIBIS. AS THIS IS YET ANOTHER UNPRECEDENTED EVENT, RELATED TO TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY IN NEPAC, WE ARE SIMPLY CONTINUING WITH THE ORIGINAL TYPHOON NAME SO AS TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION. ADDITIONAL STORMS WHICH REACH NAMING CRITERIA, ARISING IN NEPAC PROPER, WILL DERIVE THEIR NAMES FROM THE 2008 NEPAC SEQUENTIAL LIST. AN UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED AT OR AFTER 1700 Z. EOT. FORECASTER - CUREIGH.