The latest Western Pacific tropical storm has the potential to strike thePhilippines as a typhoon toward the end of the week. A tropical cyclone herewould be even less welcome than usual, as some areas are still struggling torecover from the impacts of Ketsana and Parma.The latest storm, being tracked as 23W, has been designated a tropical storm asof Monday morning, EDT. At the time, the center of the minimal tropical stormhad been about 240 miles east of Guam with movement toward the west-northwestat 17 mph.
Guam and nearby Saipan will feel the effects of TS 23W Monday night intoTuesday morning, EDT. The storm will unleash gale-force gusts and slashingdownpours in squalls, but nothing extreme for these typhoon-prone islands.
Beyond Guam and Saipan, 23W will strengthen over the open Philippine Sea as itmakes its way toward the west. Typhoon strength could be reached by midweek aswaters continue to be quite warm and the atmospheric setting will be favorable.
Adverse effects of 23W could be felt as soon as Friday, EDT, but a directstrike on the Philippines by this storm will be more likely over the weekend.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews
