A large area of low pressure east of Guam developed a core of thunderstorms and sufficient organization to prompt its classification as Tropical Storm Phanfone.  At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Phanfone was located at latitude 15.4°N and longitude 148.3°W which put it about 160 miles east of Saipan.  Phanfone was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 65 m.p.h.

Phanfone is expected to continue to move in a northwesterly direction for the next two or three days as it moves around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system.  Later in the week it is expected to take a more northerly turn and it could be south of Japan by the weekend.

Both the oceanic and atmospheric environment around Phanfone’s projected track appear favorable for intensification.  Phanfone is expected to become a typhoon later this week and a period of more rapid intensification is possible.  Eventually, as Phanfone moves farther north, westerly winds in the upper levels will increase wind shear and begin a weakening trend.