Tropical Storm Gaemi formed over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines early on Saturday.   At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Gaemi was located at latitude 16.1°N and longitude 128.2°E which put the center about 520 miles (840 km) south-southeast of Ishigakijima, Japan.  Gaemi was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines strengthened early on Saturday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Gaemi.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Gaemi was starting to exhibit more organization.  More thunderstorms were forming near the center of Gaemi’s circulation.  Thunderstorms were also developing in bands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Gaemi.  Storms near the center of Gaemi started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Gaemi will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Gaemi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.   It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce southeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Gaemi’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Gaemi is likely to intensify gradually during the next 24 hours.  Gaemi could strengthen to a typhoon by early next week.

Tropical Storm Gaemi will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Gaemi toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Gaemi will move toward the southern Ryukyu Islands.  Gaemi could be a typhoon when it approaches the southern Ryukyu Islands early next week.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression 04W formed over the South China Sea.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression 04W was located at latitude 16.1°N and longitude 113.8°E which put the center about 360 miles (580 km) southeast of Haikou, China.   The tropical depression was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 999 mb.