The center of Tropical Storm Wipha passed just to the north of northern Luzon on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Wipha was located at latitude 19.6°N and longitude 122.0°E which put the center about 80 miles (130 km) north-northeast of Aparri, Philippines.  Wipha was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 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 991 mb.

The center of Tropical Storm Wipha was passing between northern Luzon and Taiwan on Friday.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Wipha’s circulation on Friday.  Numerous bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Wipha.  Storms near the center of Wipha generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Wipha was very large.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 205 miles (330 km) from the center of Wipha’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Wipha will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Wipha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge that is north of the Philippines.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Wipha’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Wipha will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Wipha could strengthen to a typhoon during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Wipha will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Wipha toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Wipha could approach Hong Kong in 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Wipha will produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain in northern Luzon and southern Taiwan during the rest of today.  Heavy rain could produce flash floods in some locations.