T. S. Trami Fades as a Threat to Philippines

--The weekend saw the naming of a tropical storm, Trami, over the southeastern Philippine Sea, but its life as a tropical storm was short, indeed. As of Monday, Trami held the status of a tropical depression far to the east of northern Philippines. Thus, the Philippines has apparently been spared another head-on strike from yet another typhoon or tropical storm.
--Why has Trami failed to build to a typhoon? The answer likely lies to the north and west where a strong, cold high has pressed southward out of East Asia. A cold front at the leading edge of this cool push has reached the Philippines and the open Philippine Sea in Trami`s direct path. This being true, relatively cool, dry and stable air would almost certainly `take the wind out` of Trami--literally!
--While Trami fades, another storm is on the rise over the western Indian Ocean. This unnamed tropical cyclone is, as of Monday, is nearly 900 miles, or about 1,400 kilometers, east of the northern tip of Madagascar, toward which it is slowly drifting. Unlike Trami, this storm has spread before it a setting favorable for growth. So northern Madagascar will be at risk of the high winds and torrential rains marking a tropical storm by midweek.