Tropical Storm Nesat to strengthen, bring flooding rain to Philippines and Taiwan

Tropical Storm Nesat is currently to the east of the Philippines and will bring dangerous impacts to Luzon and Taiwan this week.

Nesat became the fifth cyclone to develop in the west Pacific basin in less than a week's time. Nesat is known as Gorio in the Philippines.

Locations from the northern Philippines to Taiwan should be on high 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 westerly flow, pulling ample moisture into the island and causing torrential downpours from Wednesday into this weekend.

Rainfall has already totaled more than 50 mm (2 inches) in Manila with more than 100 mm (4 inches) falling in Iba to the north of the capital.

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 becoming more clear now that Nesat has developed, and it appears likely that Taiwan will be at risk for a direct hit from the strengthening cyclone.

Impacts across Taiwan are possible as early as Saturday with the worst impacts expected from Sunday into Monday.

"Nesat is expected to be a typhoon when it reaches Taiwan," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty.

"As a result, impacts ranging from widespread flooding and mudslides to damaging winds are expected," Douty added.

Interaction with Taiwan will cause Nesat to weaken, however, flooding rain will continue to be a concern into early next week as the storm stalls between Taiwan and eastern China.

This stalling will continue the risk for flooding across Taiwan, but also expand the risk into eastern China, especially coastal Fujian province.

Elsewhere in the basin, 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.

A track toward the west next week could bring Noru near Japan.

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