Tropical Depression Forms South-Southeast of Guam

A tropical depression formed south-southeast of Guam on Wednesday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of the tropical depression was located at latitude 3.6°N and longitude 148.0°E which put it about 675 miles (1090 km) south-southeast of Guam. The tropical depression was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean south-southeast of Guam strengthened on Wednesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as a tropical depression. The circulation around the tropical depression exhibited more organization on Wednesday morning. More thunderstorms developed near the center of circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms started to revolve around the center of the tropical depression. Storms near the center began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical depression.

The tropical depression will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. The tropical depression will move through an area where the winds will be blowing from the east at most levels in the troposphere. Since the winds will be blowing from the same direction at different levels, there will be little vertical wind shear. The tropical depression will intensify during the next 36 hours to a tropical storm. It could eventually strengthen to a typhoon in a few days.

The tropical depression will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer the tropical depression toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track the tropical depression will pass south of Guam.