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

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

By Robert Richards, AccuWeather 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 this week.

An area of disturbed weather currently located across the Philippine Sea is expected to gradually organize into a tropical depression or named storm around the middle of the 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 Sunday afternoon, July 14, 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 southern Taiwan and southeast 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.

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

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

Tracking westward behind this first system will be a second that may start to organize in the Philippine Sea late in the week.

This second system has the potential to follow a path similar to the first. As a result, some locations stand the chance at seeing two rounds of heavy rainfall.

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