Tropical Storm Maysak formed east of Luzon on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Maysak was located at latitude 16.4°N and longitude 129.4°E which put it about 435 miles (700 km) east of Luzon.  Maysak was moving toward the west-southwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 997 mb.

More thunderstorms developed near the center of a low pressure system east of Luzon on Friday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Maysak.  Thunderstorms were also forming in bands revolving around the center of Maysak.  Storm nears the center were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Maysak will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours.  Maysak 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 Maysak will intensify quickly and it could strengthen into a typhoon within 24 hours.  Once an inner core with an eye and an eyewall is established Maysak could rapidly intensify into the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Storm Maysak will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Maysak toward the north-northwest.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Maysak could approach the Ryukyu Islands within 72 hours.  Maysak could be the equivalent of a major hurricane by that time.