First Tropical Depression of 2010 Forms in Northwestern Pacific

The rainfall is all to the north and west of the storm’s center. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. Red areas are heavy rainfall at almost 2 inches per hour.

Tropical Depression 01W formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean yesterday and is now headed for a landfall in Vietnam. NASA satellite data shows that the system is weakening as it continues on its track through the South China Sea.

At 10 a.m. ET (10 p.m. Vietnam local time) today, January 19, Tropical Depression 01W had maximum sustained winds near 25 knots (28 mph). It was located about 190 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, near 9.1 North latitude and 108.7 East longitude. TD01W was moving northwest near 8 knots (9 mph). TD01W is generating 8- foot high waves in the South China Sea today.