Tropical Storm Toraji rapidly developed over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines on Saturday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Toraji was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 127.7°E which put the center about 495 miles (795 km) east of Manila, Philippines.  Toraji was moving toward the west at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines strengthened rapidly on Saturday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Toraji.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Toraji organized quickly on Saturday.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Toraji’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Toraji generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Toraji was small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Toraji’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Toraji will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Toraji will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under axis of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Toraji will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Toraji could intensify rapidly at times.  Tropical Storm Toraji is likely to strengthen to a typhoon on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Toraji will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Toraji toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Toraji will approach Luzon in a little over 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Toraji is likely to be a typhoon when it reaches northern Luzon.  Toraji will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to northern Luzon.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods and mudslides.  Northern Luzon is trying to recover from two recent typhoons.  Typhoon Toraji is likely to seriously disrupt those recovery activities.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Yinxing passed south of Hong Kong and Tropical Storm Man-yi formed east of the Marianas.

At 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Typhoon Yinxing was located at latitude 19.1°N and longitude 113.1°E which put the center about 220 miles (360 km) south-southwest of Hong Kong.  Yinxing was moving toward the west-northwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 960 mb.

At 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Man-yi was located at latitude 16.1°N and longitude 156.1°E which put the center about 720 miles (1160 km) east of Saipan.  Man-yi was moving toward the northwest at 25 m.p.h. (40 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 999 mb.