Former Tropical Storm Pakhar weakened to a tropical depression over the Western North Pacific Ocean northeast of the Philippines on Monday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Depression Pakhar was located at latitude 19.3°N and longitude 131.1°E which put it about 745 miles (1205 km) east-northeast of Manila, Philippines. Pakhar was moving toward the southeast at 7 m.p.h. (21 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 1003 mb.

After strengthening on Sunday, former Tropical Storm Pakhar weakened to a tropical depression on Monday. An upper level trough west of Japan produced strong southwesterly winds that blew across the top of Pakhar’s circulation. Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear and they blew the top of former Tropical Storm Pakhar away to the northeast of the lower level circulation. The circulation around Tropical Depression Pakhar on Monday afternoon consisted of a swirl of showers and lower clouds. Any clouds that grew higher into the atmosphere were quickly sheared apart by the strong upper level winds.

The circulation around Tropical Depression Pakhar will spin down gradually during the next 24 hours. Pakhar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. However, the upper level trough west of Japan will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear. The wind shear will prevent the development of new thunderstorms around Tropical Depression Pakhar.

Since the circulation around Tropical Depression Pakhar only exists in the lower levels of the atmosphere, it will be steered by the winds near the surface. Northeasterly winds will push Pakhar back toward the southwest. On its anticipated track, the circulation around Tropical Depression Pakhar should dissipate east of the Philippines during the next 48 hours.