Tropical Storm Kompasu brought wind and rain to Hainan on Wednesday. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Kompasu was located at latitude 19.2°N and longitude 110.0°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Haikou, China. Kompasu was moving toward the west at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.

Tropical Storm Kompasu brought wind and rain as it moved over Hainan on Wednesday. The strongest thunderstorms were in bands on the western side of Kompasu’s circulation. Bands on the eastern side of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Kompasu.

Tropical Storm Kompasu was moving under the southern part of an upper level ridge over China. The ridge was producing strong easterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Kompasu’s circulation. Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear. The flow around the northern side of Tropical Storm Kompasu was pulling drier air from Asia into the circulation. The combination of moderate vertical wind shear and drier air was causing the stronger thunderstorms to be on the western side of Kompasu.

Tropical Storm Kompasu will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Kompasu quickly toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Kompasu will move quickly across the Gulf of Tonkin. Tropical Storm Kompasu will reach the coast of northern Vietnam in 18 hours. Gusty winds and rain will reach the coast before the center arrives because the stronger thunderstorms are on the western side of Kompasu. Vertical wind shear and drier air will prevent intensification of Tropical Storm Kompasu. Kompasu will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to northern Vietnam and Laos. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.