Tropical Storm Bavi formed east of Taiwan on Friday night.  At 11:00 p.m. on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Bavi was located at latitude 23.9°N and longitude 122.8°E which put it about 85 miles (135 km) southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Bavi was moving toward the north-northeast at 6 m.p.h. (10 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.

The circulation around a low pressure system east of Taiwan strengthened on Friday night and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Bavi.  The circulation around Bavi was asymmetrical.  Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern half of the tropical storm.  Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the east of the tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) to the east of the center of circulation.  The winds on the western side of Tropical Storm Bavi were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Bavi will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Bavi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Bavi will intensify and it could strengthen into a typhoon by the end of the weekend.

Tropical Storm Bavi will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Bavi toward the north-northeast during the next few days.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Bavi will pass west of the Ryukyu Islands including Okinawa.  Bavi could approach South Korea in about four days.  The eastern side of Bavi will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Ryukyu Islands.