Tropical Storm Maria formed south of Japan on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Maria was located at latitude 26.1°N and longitude 143.3°E which put the center about 695 miles (1120 km) south-southeast of Tokyo, Japan. Maria was moving toward the east-northeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.
A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean south-southeast of Tokyo strengthened on Wednesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Maria. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Maria’s circulation. More thunderstorms also developed in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Tropical Storm Maria. Bands in the northern and western parts of Maria consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Maria’s circulation began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.
Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Maria.
Tropical Storm Maria will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level trough over Japan. The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Maria’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Maria will intensify during the next 24 hours. Maria could strengthen to a typhoon by Friday.
Tropical Storm Maria will move around the western side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Maria toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Maria will move closer to eastern Japan.