Tropical storm may form, threaten northern Philippines to southeastern China next week

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Residents from the northern Philippines to Taiwan and southeastern China are being warned that a named tropical storm may form and bring potential impacts next week.

An area of disturbed weather currently located to the southwest of Guam is expected to gradually organize into a tropical depression or named storm over the northern Philippine Sea during the first half of next week.

"We are pretty confident that a tropical cyclone will develop, but there are questions on how strong this system will become," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.

A tropical storm may eventually brew from the area of disturbed weather that was churning southwest of Guam during the early morning hours of Saturday, July 13, 2019, local time. (RAMMB)

"There is high confidence that a tropical depression will form," Houk stated. "At this point, AccuWeather meteorologists believe it will become a tropical storm, but it would have a hard time reaching typhoon status."

The next tropical storm to form in the western Pacific basin will be called Danas. In the Philippines, the storm would be known locally as Falcon.

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"Right now, the main threat from the budding tropical storm is expected to be flooding rain," Houk said. "Potential impact areas include communities from Luzon Island in the Philippines to Taiwan and southeastern China.

Strong winds would also accompany a tropical depression or minimal tropical storm, threatening to cause sporadic tree damage and power outages. Such issues may become more widespread if the system strengthens into a strong tropical storm.

Before the storm threatens land, seas will build over the northern Philippine Sea and become increasingly more dangerous for boaters and swimmers as it strengthens.

All residents from Manila to Laoag, Philippines, to Hong Kong to Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, are urged to closely monitor this budding storm and review what preparations would need to be taken should a tropical storm threaten. Heavy rain may also eventually spread northward to Taipei, based on the storm's track.

Any impacts to these areas would not be until the middle to latter part of next week.

According to Houk, this is not the only feature being monitored for potential development next week.

"Coming westward behind this first system will be a second that may start to organize near Guam during the middle of next week," he stated.

That may lead to a period of enhanced rainfall and gusty winds for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands at that time.

"This system could become a tropical storm over the Philippine Sea toward next weekend," Houk added.

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