Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) A tropical depression above the Pacific Ocean strengthened into a tropical storm on Friday evening but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

Omais, the 12th storm of the year in the west Pacific, has a radius of 80 kilometers and was located about 1,018 km southeast of the southernmost tip of Taiwan as of 8 p.m., the CWB said.

It is moving in a northwesterly direction toward the Ryukyu Islands at a speed of 36 km per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of 90kph, the CWB said.

Omais is forecast to come closest to Taiwan on Sunday and bring rain to the eastern part of the island, the CWB said, adding that Taiwan is not expected to be hit by the storm directly.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel