The western Pacific Ocean is currently leaning warmer than average across a huge area – except underneath major Typhoon Mindulle.

The storm – which today has wave heights of almost 15 metres (48 feet) – is churning up cold water below and bringing it to the surface.

Latest Sea Surface Temperature (SST) mapping shows the anomaly today, as a big circular blob of blue. Incredibly, this area covers roughly the same size as New Zealand’s entire landmass.

Mindulle will brush the eastern side of Japan and may even give Tokyo some rough weather for a time if it tracks any closer than currently forecast – but for the most part should remain at sea.