Tropical Storm Nuri meandered north of Yap on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Nuri was located at latitude 11.0°N and longitude 138.8°E which put the center about 105 miles (165 km) north-northeast of Yap.  Nuri was moving toward the east-northeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1000 mb.

Tropical Storm Nuri struggled in a hostile environment on Wednesday.  An upper level ridge that was southeast of the Marianas produced strong southwesterly winds that blew across the top of Nuri’s circulation.  Those winds caused strong vertical wind shear.  Those winds also blew the tops off of thunderstorms near the center of Nuri’s circulation.  A few thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the eastern periphery of Tropical Storm Nuri.  Bands in the other parts of Nuri’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Tropical Storm Nuri will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Nuri will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.   However, the upper level ridge that is southeast of the Marianas will continue to produce strong southwesterly winds that will blow across the top of Nuri’s circulation.  Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear.  In addition, Tropical Storm Nuri will be just to the south of a large area of drier air that originated over eastern Asia. The combination of strong vertical wind shear and drier air will cause Tropical Storm Nuri to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Nuri will move around the western part of a high pressure system that is south of the Marianas.  The high pressure system will steer Nuri toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Nuri will move toward the Marianas as it weakens.