Due to increased wind shear and cooler waters, Neoguri rapidly weakened and made landfall as a minimal tropical storm in southern China on April 19.

[1] By April 13, a low-level circulation had formed and started consolidating about 260 km (160 mi) southeast of Bislig on Mindanao island in the Philippines.

[7] The depression continued westward, along the southern periphery of a strong subtropical ridge extending from southeastern Asia to north of Luzon.

Based on satellite intensity estimates using the Dvorak technique, the JTWC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm 02W midday on April 14.

[11] After attaining tropical storm status, significant intensification was limited due to a slight increase in wind shear as well as impeded outflow.

[15] At 1200 UTC on April 16, the JMA classified Neoguri as a typhoon about 350 km (220 mi) east of Qui Nhon, Vietnam.

[17] Late on April 17, the JTWC assessed Neoguri as attaining peak winds of 175 km/h (110 mph), averaged over a duration of one minute, near the Paracel Islands.

[18] Early the next day, the JMA estimated Neoguri reached its peak intensity with ten-minute sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph), about 190 km (120 mi) east of Sanya on the southern tip of Hainan.

Upon attaining peak winds, the typhoon had turned northward,[20] and the China Meteorological Administration assessed Neoguri as moving ashore along Hainan island near Wenchang.

[23] After turning to the north-northeast, Neoguri made landfall on Guangdong province in southern China, a short distance west of Macau as a weak tropical storm.

[26] As Ambo (Neoguri) passed directly through many parts Visayas and Mindanao, PAGASA issued Public Storm Warning Signals for these areas.

[32] However, the storm did not stop the Palarong Pambansa (National Games in the Philippines) which was held in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, one of the areas said by PAGASA to see stormy weather.