Tropical Storm Choi-wan Drops Rain on Luzon

Tropical Storm Choi-wan dropped rain on parts of Luzon around Manila on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Choi-wan was located at latitude 15.5°N and longitude 119.6°E which put it about 85 miles (135 km) west-northwest of Manila, Philippines. Choi-wan was moving toward the northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

The center of Tropical Storm Choi-wan passed just south of Manila before the tropical storm moved west of Luzon. Bands near the center of Choi-wan dropped rain on parts of Luzon near Manila. Other bands in the southern half of Tropical Storm Choi-wan dropped rain on Mindoro. Choi-wan was still producing a few winds that were blowing at tropical storm force, but Manila did not report any winds that were that strong.

Tropical Storm Choi-wan exhibited an organized circulation on Wednesday afternoon. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western, southern and eastern sides of the center of Choi-wan. Other bands of thunderstorms were in the southern half of the tropical storm. Bands in the northern half of Tropical Storm Choi-wan consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Choi-wan.

Tropical Storm Choi-wan will move through an area that is marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. The center of Choi-wan will move over the South China Sea where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. However, an upper level ridge centered over southern China will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will limit the potential for intensification, but Tropical Storm Choi-wan could get a little stronger during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Choi-wan will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Choi-wan toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Choi-wan will move northwest of Luzon during the next 24 hours. Choi-wan will turn toward the northeast on Friday after it moves around the western end of the high pressure system. Tropical Storm Choi-wan could approach the southern end of Taiwan in 36 hours.