Three storms churn in the western Pacific

Besides the devestation caused by Typhoon Ketsana there are three other typhoons brewing in the western Pacific. These storms will all affect the Marianas Islands especially Guam and Yap. Early projections indicated that all three of these storms would head to the Philippine island of Luzon. Current indications are that two of them will head towards Taiwan or China but it is still to early to state this with certainty.

Tropical Storm Eighteen (18W) has been slowly heading towards Guam all week. This storm will make landfall on the island within the next 12 hours and then diminish to a tropical depression after 24 hours. Eighteen will continue to dissipate over the next 72 hours and is not expected to threaten any other land masses.

Eighteen currrently has 40 MPH sustained winds and is moving WNW.

Typhoon Parma (19W) has 75 MPh sustained winds and is expected to increase to a Category 3 typhoon. Parma will scoot along the eastern coasts of the Philippine archepelago and is currently headed for Taiwan. If the storm continues to curve to the north, it may miss the island or just clip the norther region and head for the Chinese mainland.

Parma has passed south of Guam and is expected to make landfall on the island of Yap shortly.

Tropical Storm Melor (20W) is heading to the north of Guam and is expected to cross the Northern Marianas Islands by the end of the week as a Categort 1 typhoon. Melor is projected to continue intensifying becoming a Cat 2 storm by the end of the weekend.