Tropical Storm Nokaen was passing just to the east of Luzon on Saturday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday the center of the Tropical Storm Nokaen was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 124.1°E which put the center about 185 miles (300 km) east-southeast of Casiguran, Philippines. Nokaen was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.
Tropical Storm Nokaen strengthened a little more as it moved east of Luzon on Saturday morning. Even though Nokaen was stronger, the distribution of thunderstorms remained asymmetrical. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western and northern parts of Tropical Storm Nokaen. Bands in the eastern and southern parts of Nokaen’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Nokaen 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 Nokaen was interacting with a high pressure system over eastern Asia. The interaction was causing a large area of strong winds in the northwestern quadrant of Nokaen’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Storm Nokaen. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 60 miles (95 km) in the other quadrants of Nokaen’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Nokaen will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Nokaen will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the western end of an upper level ridge that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce southeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Nokaen’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Tropical Storm Nokaen will start to weaken when the vertical wind shear increases.
Tropical Storm Nokaen will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Nokaen toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Nokaen will remain east of Luzon.
Bands in the western side of Tropical Storm Nokaen will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Luzon. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.