 The initial tropical disturbance formed near the International Dateline on December 17 , and initially moved west @-@ northwest . The system slowly organized , becoming a tropical depression December 21 , and then a tropical storm on December 23 as it turned more to the west due to a strengthening ridge of high pressure to its north . The cyclone steadily strengthened over the next four days , initially hampered by strong east winds aloft . As the storm moved south of Guam , wind gusts to 50 knots ( 93 km / h ) were recorded on the island . Norris became a typhoon on December 27 . Over the next day and half , intensification continued . On December 28 , a strong surface high pressure system turned Norris to the southwest , and led to slow weakening . The cyclone regained tropical storm strength on December 30 while turning more to the west . Norris crossed the southern Philippines on December 31 and January 1 , weakening into a tropical depression as it emerged into the South China sea . Strong southeast winds aloft prevented redevelopment of the depression . Norris ' remnant circulation turned northwest and dissipated on January 2 well to the south of Hong Kong . 
