Tropical Storm Champi strengthened south of Iwo To on Wednesday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Champi was located at latitude 18.9°N and longitude 140.1°E which put it about 435 miles (680 km) south of Iwo To. Champi was moving toward the north at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

Tropical Storm Champi continued to strengthen on Wednesday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Champi. Stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands east and south of the center of circulation. Bands in the northwestern side of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Champi.

Tropical Storm Champi will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Champi will move over an area where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southeastern portion of an upper level ridge centered east of the Philippines. The ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical storm. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will slow the rate of intensification, but it will not be large enough prevent Tropical Storm Champi from strengthening. Champi will intensify during the next 36 hours and it is forecast to strengthen to a typhoon.

Tropical Storm Champi will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean during the next 48 hours. The high will steer Champi toward the north during the next two days. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Champi could be southwest of Iwo To in 36 hours.