Tropical Storm Penha brought wind and rain to the southern Philippines on Thursday. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Penha was located at latitude 8.7°N and longitude 126.4°E which put the center about 20 miles (30 km) east of Lianga, Philippines. Penha was moving toward the west-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 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 1001 mb.
Tropical Storm Penha brought wind and rain to the southern Philippines on Thursday. Bands in the western side of Penha’s circulation were dropping rain on northern Mindanao, Leyte, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, and Negros. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.
The area of strongest winds in Tropical Storm Penha was relatively small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Penha’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Penha will move around the southern part of the high pressure system that is south of Japan. The high pressure system will steer Penha toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Penha will move across northern Mindanao during the next few hours. Penha will reach the Bohol Sea in 12 hours. Tropical Storm Penha will be over the northern Sulu Sea in 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Penha will move into an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Tropical Storm Penha will weaken while the center moves over northern Mindanao. Penha will then move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southwestern part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce strong southeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Penha’s circulation. The winds will cause strong vertical wind shear. In addition, Penha will move into a region of drier air by the time it reaches the northern part of the Sulu Sea. The strong vertical wind shear and the drier air will cause Tropical Storm Penha to continue to weaken even when the center gets back of water.