A tropical depression formed over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines on Tuesday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday the center of the tropical depression was located at latitude 9.1°N and longitude 135.0°E which put the center about 125 miles (200 km) north of Palau. The tropical depression was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.
A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines strengthened on Tuesday morning and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as a tropical depression.
The circulation around the tropical depression was gradually getting more organized. More thunderstorms were developing in bands revolving around the center of the tropical depression. Storms near the center of circulation began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical depression.
The tropical depression will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. The tropical depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the depression’s circulation. The winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. The tropical depression is likely to intensify to a tropical storm during the next 24 hours.
Th tropical depression will move around the southern part of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer the tropical depression toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the tropical depression will move toward the southern Philippines.