Typhoon Saudel, the 18th typhoon of the season, formed in waters near Guam and is moving north.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said Saudel developed around noon on the 19th in waters east-southeast of Guam. The system had earlier formed as the 35th tropical depression in distant waters southeast of Guam around 3 a.m. before strengthening into a Category 1 typhoon.
Saudel is currently packing maximum winds of 18 meters per second. The storm is expected to move gradually to the northwest and strengthen to Category 3 over the weekend as it passes over warm seas. It is then forecast to move into waters between Guam and Okinawa, Japan.
Because the typhoon is still in its early stages, its path remains highly variable. Depending on its future course, it could pass Japan and move north to the Korean Peninsula. With southern regions of the country recently hit by a series of heavy-rain damage, the KMA is closely monitoring the typhoon's potential impact on South Korea.
Saudel is a name submitted by Micronesia, referring to a legendary chief's bodyguard.
