Tropical Storm Meari formed east of the Philippines on Wednesday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Meari was located at latitude 13.0°N and longitude 136.4°E which put it about 1045 miles (1685 km) east of Manila, Philippines.  Meari was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 996 mb.

A distinct center of circulation began to consolidate inside a broad area of low pressure located between Guam and the Philippines on Wednesday.  The center acquired enough characteristics of a tropical cyclone to be classified as Tropical Storm Meari by the Japan Meteorological Agency.  The low level center is still consolidating, but multiple spiral rainbands are forming.  More thunderstorms are forming south and west of the center and there are fewer storms north and east of center.

Tropical Storm Meari formed in an environment that is favorable for further intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  Meari is organizing beneath an upper level ridge which is an area of weaker winds.  There is little vertical wind shear and the upper level ridge is providing some upper level divergence.  Meari is likely to strengthen slowly while the core of the circulation organizes, but it could intensify more quickly once a well formed center exists.  Tropical Storm Meari could eventually strengthen into a typhoon.

A subtropical ridge located north of Meari is slowly steering the tropical storm toward the west.  That general motion is expected to continue during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Meari will move gradually closer to the Philippines.