Tropical Storm Bavi was intensifying over the Western North Pacific Ocean east of the Marianas on Wednesday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Bavi was located at latitude 11.2°N and longitude 159.7°E which put the center about 1050 miles (1690 km) east of Guam.  Bavi was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

Former Tropical Depression 09W intensified on Wednesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Bavi.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Bavi exhibited much more organization on Wednesday evening.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of Bavi’s circulation.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Bavi.  Storms near the center of Bavi generated more upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Bavi became more symmetrical on Wednesday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Bavi’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Bavi will more through an environment that will be very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Bavi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°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 is likely to intensify to a typhoon during the next 24 hours.  Bavi could intensify rapidly at times.  Tropical Storm Bavi is likely to strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane by the weekend.

Tropical Storm Bavi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Bavi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Bavi could reach the Marianas in less than four days.

Tropical Storm Bavi is likely to intensify to the equivalent of a major hurricane before it reaches the Marianas.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression 10W formed over the South China Sea.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Depression 10W was located at latitude 17.7°N and longitude 112.6°E which put the center about 250 miles (400 km) east-southeast of Sanya, China.  The tropical depression was moving toward the west at 21 m.p.h. (33 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.

Tropical Depression 10W is forecast to strengthen to a tropical storm before it reaches Hainan.  It will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Hainan.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.