Tropical Depression 05W formed over the Western North Pacific Ocean southeast of the Marianas on Tuesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression 05W was located at latitude 8.4°N and longitude 147.8°E which put the center about 100 miles (160 km) north-northwest of Puluwat. Tropical Depression 05W was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 1003 mb.
A low pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean southeast of the Marianas strengthened on Tuesday. Both the Japan Meteorological Agency and the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center designated the system as a tropical depression.
More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Depression 05W on Tuesday afternoon. More thunderstorms also developed in bands revolving around the center of the tropical depression. Storms near the center of circulation started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical depression. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
Tropical Depression 05W 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 that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical depression. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Depression 05W will intensify to a tropical storm during the next 24 hours. It could strengthen to a typhoon later this week.
Tropical Depression 05W will move around the southern side of a high pressure system 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, Tropical Depression 05W will pass south of Guam. The tropical depression could approach Yap in 36 hours. It will likely be a tropical storm when it approaches Yap.