Tropical Storm Wutip formed over the South China Sea south of Hainan on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Wutip was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 110.6°E which put the center about 150 miles (240 km) south of Lingshui, China.  Wutip was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 993 mb.

A low pressure system over the South China Sea strengthened on Wednesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Wutip.  The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Wutip was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern half of Wutip’s circulation.  Bands in the northern side of Tropical Storm Wutip consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  The storms in the southern half of Wutip began to generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm.

There was a large circulation around Tropical Storm Wutip, but the distribution of wind speeds was asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 110 miles (170 km) in the southern half of Wutip’s circulation.  The winds in the northern half of Tropical Storm Wutip were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Wutip will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Wutip will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge over eastern China.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Wutip’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification but the shear will probably not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Wutip is likely to intensify gradually during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Wutip will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Wutip toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Wutip will approach the southwestern part of Hainan in 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Wutip will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to Hainan.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.