Philippines Storm Threatens Flooding
October 24, 2012; 6:44 AM
Accuweather.com: Tropical Storm Son-Tinh has set out on a path through the Philippines archipelago, where it was slated to unleash heavy rain with the threat of flooding.
Widespread damaging winds were not expected with this storm of moderate intensity.
Wednesday, the center of Son-Tinh was near the island of Leyte, tracking towards the northwest at about 20 mph. Highest sustained winds were only 40 mph, barely above the minimum threshold for a named storm.
The center of Son-Tinh was forecast to head west of the Philippines near Mindoro, south of Manila, on Thursday.
The fast forward movement of Son-Tinh would help to lower the threat of widespread, serious flooding. Still, localized rainfall was expected to potentially reach at least 12 inches, enough to spark flooding and even mudslides, in central and southern Philippines.
Beyond the Philippines, warm, open seas would await, a factor favoring a strengthening storm.
Potential for a late-week strike upon northern Vietnam and even the island of Hainan, China, was forecast.