Tropical Depression 35W dropped heavy rain on parts of the Philippines on Friday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Depression 35W was located at latitude 10.7°N and longitude 127.3°E which put it about 135 miles (215 km) east of Tacloban, Philippines.  It was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1001 mb.

The distribution of rain around Tropical Depression 35W was asymmetrical.  Most of the heavy rain was falling in thunderstorms northwest of the center of circulation.  A few thunderstorms were developing northeast of the center, but most of the bands in the rest of the tropical depression consisted of showers and lower clouds.  Tropical Depression 35W was located southwest of a strong subtropical ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge was producing strong upper level winds which were blowing from the east-southeast.  Those winds were blowing across the top of the tropical depression and they were causing strong vertical wind shear.  The strong wind shear was the reason why most of the heavy rain was falling northwest of the center of circulation.

Tropical Depression 35W will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification.  It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  The subtropical ridge will continue to cause vertical wind shear.  However, the tropical depression could move under slightly weaker upper level winds when it moves a little farther to the west.  If it moves under weaker upper level winds, then Tropical Depression 35W could strengthen into a tropical storm.

The subtropical ridge will steer Tropical Depression 35W westward for another 24 to 36 hours.  When the depression moves west of the Philippines, it will encounter strong northeasterly winds blowing around a high pressure system over Asia.  Those winds will steer Tropical Depression 35W toward the southwest when it moves over the South China Sea.

Tropical Depression 35W will drop heavy rain over parts of the Philippines.  The heaviest rain is likely to fall over Samar, Cebu, Bohoi, Panay, Mindoro and the southeastern part of Luzon.  The heavy rain will cause flash floods, and mudslides could occur in regions of steeper terrain.