Tracking generally west-northwestward , Ophelia was upgraded Cause_to_make_progress to a tropical storm Catastrophe on September 21 , and reached Arriving an initial peak of 65 mph ( 100 km/h ) on September 22 .

Tracking Scrutiny in a general northward direction , favorable conditions allowed Preventing_or_letting for quick strengthening Cause_change_of_strength .

Tracking west-northwestward , the depression intensified Cause_change_of_strength into a tropical storm over the central Philippines before entering Arriving the South China Sea .

Tracking slowly westward , it developed Coming_to_be into a tropical depression on September 8 and strengthened Cause_change_of_strength into a tropical storm Catastrophe shortly thereafter .

Tracking generally west-southwestward , the storm entered Arriving a stage of rapid deepening on August 10 , despite forecasts of an only marginally favorable environment .

Tracking generally toward the west-southwest , the disturbance received Receiving its name from Météo-France on January 5 .

Tracking westward , the system gained Getting tropical storm strength the following day and then reached Arriving typhoon intensity on August 20 .

Tracking generally west-northwestward , the disturbance was initially disorganized ; under favorable atmospheric conditions , shower and thunderstorm activity began Process_start to consolidate Cause_change_of_strength around a low-pressure center .

Tracking north-northwestward , the system steadily intensified Cause_change_of_strength , attaining Getting peak winds of 110 km/h ( 70 mph ) .

Tracking generally west to west-southwest , the small system steadily organized Arranging into a tropical cyclone by 22 November .

Tracking westward , the initial tropical depression intensified Cause_change_of_strength into a tropical storm Catastrophe several hours after tropical cyclogenesis .

Tracking northwest , favorable conditions allowed Preventing_or_letting for the intensification of the system to tropical storm strength on August 2 .

Tracking generally westward , the initial low-pressure area remained Presence generally weak until it entered the Timor Sea , by which time it had strengthened Cause_change_of_strength into a tropical cyclone on 5 December .

Tracking generally towards the west-northwest , the storm gradually intensified Cause_change_of_strength as it traversed Motion_directional the Caribbean , peaking as a Category 5 hurricane on July 16 , marking Recording the earliest date for a storm Catastrophe to do so during the course of a given year .

Tracking in a curved path around the edge of a subtropical ridge , Etau continued to intensify as it neared Japan .

Tracking Scrutiny generally west , the system steadily organized Causation into a tropical storm Catastrophe , passing Motion_directional Vietnam to the south , before striking Attack Thailand along the Malay Peninsula on November 15 .

Tracking steadily west-northwestward , it slowly intensified Cause_change_of_strength due to only marginally favorable conditions .