Tropical Storm Wutip brought wind and rain to Hainan on Thursday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Wutip was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 108.5°E which put the center about 40 miles (65 km) south-southwest of Dongfang, China.  Wutip was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.

Tropical Storm Wutip brought wind and rain to Hainan on Thursday night.  The center of Wutip’s circulation was passing just to the west of Hainan.  Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Wutip were bringing strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Hainan.

Tropical Storm Wutip intensified on Thursday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Wutip’s circulation.  A small circular eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Storm Wutip.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Wutip’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Wutip 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 Wutip became more symmetrical on Thursday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Wutip’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Wutip will move through an environment that will be generally 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 axis of an upper level ridge over eastern China.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  However, much of the eastern side of Wutip’s circulation will pass over Hainan.  The increased friction over land will slow the winds in that part of Tropical Storm Wutip.  Tropical Storm Wutip could intensify to a typhoon during the next 24 hours if the center of Wutip remains over water..

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 north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center Tropical Storm Wutip will pass just to the west of Hainan.  Wutip will approach the coast of Guangxi in 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Wutip will continue to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hainan on Friday.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.  Wutip will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to Guangxi during the weekend.