 The initial disturbance that led to Gordon 's formation developed within the monsoon trough just west of the International Date Line . A surface circulation developed in associated with this convection on August 25 near 8N 163E . While upper ridging aloft existed , it was not until the following day that it developed directly over this disturbance . Moving northwest , rapid development began early on August 27 , with tropical depression status achieved that morning and tropical storm intensity reached that afternoon . Gordon became a typhoon on the morning of August 28 . By early on August 30 , the cyclone reached its maximum intensity . A building ridge to its north directed Gordon westward until September 3 , when its motion slowed . A shortwave trough deepened to its northwest , and the cyclone turned northward in response . By September 4 , the cyclone was accelerating east to northeast , passing about 480 kilometres ( 300 mi ) southeast of Tokyo , and the storm became extratropical early on the afternoon of September 5 . 
