It's only January 15, but the Western North Pacific already has its first named #TropicalStorm of the year.

TS #Nokaen is expected to skirt the eastern coast of Luzon, Philippines, as it intensifies slightly for the next 2 days. After which it will gradually weaken due to wind shear.

Nokaen (ນົກແອ່ນ) is the Laotian word for "swallow" (the bird, not the verb of ingesting food or fluids).

It's an unseasonably early storm. Who says #ClimateChange isn't real?