New tropical threat in West Pacific may impact Philippines, Taiwan

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

July 25,2017, 11:09:58AM,EDT

 

 An area of showers and thunderstorms to the east of the Philippines will drift northward through the middle of the week and is expected to become the next tropical system in the West Pacific.

If the budding system reaches tropical storm strength, it will be given the name Nesat and become the fifth named storm in the basin within a week's time.
Locations from the northern Philippines to Taiwan should be on alert for potential impacts this week ranging from flooding rainfall and mudslides to damaging winds.

The biggest concern across the Philippines will be heavy rainfall as the developing cyclone passes east of Luzon this week.
This will create a strong easterly flow, pulling ample moisture into the island and causing torrential downpours from Wednesday into this weekend.
Flash flooding and mudslides will be possible across Luzon with an increased risk each day as downpours continue over the same areas.
The threats for Taiwan are less clear and will be dependent on development, strength and track of this potential cyclone.
“Taiwan appears to be the most likely location to see impacts from this potential cyclone,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.
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These impacts would likely occur any time from Friday night through the weekend.
Another scenario would have the cyclone continuing on a northerly track which would keep any significant impacts to the east of Taiwan.
"Despite some uncertainty in its eventual track, there is higher confidence that this developing tropical threat will eventually strengthen into a tropical storm or potentially a typhoon," said Douty.
Elsewhere in the basin, Tropical Storm Sonca made landfall in central Vietnam early Tuesday afternoon, local time.
Flash flooding will be the main concern with areas from central Vietnam into northern Thailand at greatest risk. More than 100 mm (4 inches) of rain fell in Hue, Vietnam, as the storm made landfall north of the city.
There will also be a heighten risk for mudslides as rain of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) falls across the region into Wednesday.
Typhoon Noru became the first typhoon of the season on Sunday. However, the storm is expected to remain well east of Japan this week with no impacts to land.