Tropical Storm Sanvu was spinning over the Western North Pacific Ocean northeast of Chuuk on Friday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Sanvu was located at latitude 10.2°N and longitude 156.0°E which put it about 345 miles (555 km) northeast of Chuuk. Sanvu was moving toward the northwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Tropical Storm Sanvu strengthened during Thursday. More thunderstorms developed near the center of Sanvu’s circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Even though Tropical Storm Sanvu strengthened, the distribution of thunderstorms became more asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern side of Sanvu’s circulation. Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Sanvu.

Tropical Storm Sanvu will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Sanvu will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. However, it will move under the northern side of an upper level ridge over the equatorial Western North Pacific. The ridge will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Sanvu’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Stronger vertical wind shear is likely to cause Tropical Storm Sanvu to start to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Sanvu will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Sanvu toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Sanvu will pass north of Chuuk and Fananu during the weekend.