Teopical Storm Molave formed east of Luzon and Tropical Sorm Saudel approached Vietnam on Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Molave was located at latitude 13.5°N and longitude 127.1°E which put it about 300 miles (485 km) east of Tabaco, Philippines. Molave was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (20 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 1003 mb.
A low pressure system east of the Philippines strengthened on Saturday and the Japan Meteorological Agency designated the system as Tropical Storm Molave. The circulation around Tropical Storm Molave was still organizing. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Molave. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of circulation.
Tropical StormMolave will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days. Molave 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 Molave will strengthen during the 12 to 18 hours before it reaches the Philippines. Molave could weaken when its circulation interacts with the islands of the Philippines. Molave could strengthen to a typhoon when it moves over the South China Sea early next week.
Tropical Storm Molave will move south of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high will steer Molave toward the east. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Molave will approach Catanduanes Island in about 12 hours. Molave will reach southeastern Luzon in about 18 hours. Tropical Storm Molave will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the central Philippines. The center of Molave could pass just south of Manila in a day or so. It could cause flash floods in some locations.
Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Saudel passes south of Hainan Island as it moved closer to the coast of Vietnam. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Saudel was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 109.7°E which put it about 210 miles (340 km) east of Xuan Duc, Vietnam. Saudel was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 987 mb.
Tropical Storm Saudel will make landfall on the central coast of Vietnam near Xuan Duc in about 18 hours. It will bring gusty winds to the coast. Saudel will drop heavy rain over parts of central Vietnam, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand. The ground in those areas is saturated from prior rain dropped by earlier tropical cyclones and other weather systems. Saudel will make ongoing floods worse.