Tropical Storm Hagupit has moved across the central Philippines and it is now beginning to move into the South China Sea.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Hagupit was located at latitude 13.5°N and longitude 119.9°E which put it about 100 miles southwest of Manila.  Hagupit was moving toward the southwest at 11 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 60 m.p.h.

Some thunderstorms have redeveloped near the center of Hagupit now that it is back out over open water.  It is possible that the tropical storm could maintain its intensity or even strengthen a little in the short term.  However, as Hagupit moves farther west it will encounter a northeasterly flow of cooler and drier air and more pronounced vertical wind shear.  The more unfavorable thermodynamic environment and wind shear will likely cause Hagupit to weaken during the next few days.

The northeasterly winds are expected to push a weakening tropical storm or depression in the general direction of southern Vietnam.  Hagupit or its remnants could make landfall in Vietnam in about 72 hours.