A tropical depression to the east of the Philippines strengthened into Tropical Storm Kalmaegi (Ramon in the Philippines), is likely to strike the northern Philippines over the weekend, and could bring rain to Taiwan by Monday (Nov. 18).
At 8 a.m. this morning (Nov. 13) Tropical Storm Kalmaegi (海鷗) formed, making it the 26th tropical storm of the year, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB). At that time, the CWB said that Kalmaegi was 3,740 kilometers east of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost tip, moving west-northwest at 17 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 64 kph with gusts of up to 90 kph.
CWB forecaster Lin Ding-yi (林定宜) said that due to the addition of a new northeast monsoon next week, Kalmaegi is likely to strike the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Sunday (Nov. 17), before heading out to the South China Sea. Lin said that Kalmaegi is likely to come closest to Taiwan on Sunday, when the probability of rain could increase.
By Monday, lingering moisture from the remnants of the storm, combined with a new northeast monsoon, is likely to bring precipitation to northern and eastern Taiwan. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Fengshen (風神) formed on Tuesday (Nov. 12), but Taiwan's forecasters do not believe the storm will have any impact on Taiwan as it as shifted to the east in the middle of the Western Pacific Ocean, far from any landmasses.
Source：Taiwan News
