The storm forecast bulletin on October 18 of the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said that the low pressure in the northwest of Borneo Island, the southern East Sea is creating a large area of showers and thunderstorms.
Environmental conditions are expected to be favorable for gradual development and this system could become a tropical depression early next week when it crosses the Malay Peninsula and exits the West Pacific basin. The JTWC assessed the chance of the low pressure intensifying over the next 7 days as average (40%).
On the same day, the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting also said that currently (October 18), in the southern East Sea (including the Truong Sa archipelago), the sea area from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau and the Gulf of Thailand, there are scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Forecast for the day and night of October 18, the sea area south of the central East Sea, the southern East Sea (including the Truong Sa archipelago), the sea area from Khanh Hoa to Ca Mau, Ca Mau to Kien Giang and the Gulf of Thailand will have scattered showers and thunderstorms.
During thunderstorms, there is a possibility of tornadoes and strong gusts of wind of level 7-8. All ships operating in the above areas are at risk of being affected by tornadoes and strong gusts of wind.
On October 18, the JTWC also monitored two other depressions active in the West Pacific.
Tropical depression Invest 93W is currently located near Guam Island (USA). This system is unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.
Maximum winds near the center of the tropical depression are about 30 km/h. The minimum sea level pressure is estimated at nearly 1,009 hPa.
The second tropical depression - Invest 94W - is currently located near the Northern Mariana Islands. This system is unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.
Maximum winds near the center of Tropical Depression Invest 94W are around 25-35 km/h. The minimum sea level pressure is estimated at nearly 1,006 hPa.
A favorable environment for development with low wind shear (18-28 km/h) and very warm sea surface temperatures (31 degrees Celsius) will support the development of this tropical depression in the coming days.
Storm forecast models show Tropical Depression Invest 94W moving southwest towards the Philippine Sea in the next 24 hours.
