February 20, 2018: The tropical depression has formed near the Federated States of Micronesia on Tuesday.
The system developed to tropical storm strength early on Wednesday, earning the name Wutip, Accuweather reported.
This tropical system is expected to become a typhoon by Thursday bringing unsettled weather to Chuuk State.
As of 12:23 p.m., the storm was located southwest of Pohnpei and was moving west at 15 mph, according to the National Weather Service Guam office.
As per the current track of the storm, developed Typhoon Wutip will causes a risk for flooding rainfall and damaging winds across Guam and parts of the Northern Mariana Islands.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Nukuoro in Pohnpei State and Lukunor, Losap and Chuuk in Chuuk State.
Philippines monitoring Tropical Storm Wutip
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Tropical Storm Wutip is located more than 3,000 kilometers east of Mindanao, still far from PAR.
The areas from Philippines to Japan need to monitor the track of this strengthening tropical system for potential impacts next week.
The Philippines has had one tropical cyclone in 2019 – Tropical Depression Amang. The next tropical cyclone that enters or develops within PAR will be named Betty, Rappler reported.