However, the system managed to intensify into a tropical storm by 18:00 UTC on October 13 as it traveled west-northwestwards along a subtropical ridge.[6][3][5] At this point, the system was given the name Sarika by the JMA.[7][nb 3] The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which had been tracking the storm since October 12, assigned it the local name Karen.[8]