Typhoon 'Ineng' enters PAR

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Ineng" (international name "Goni") has entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday noon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

The typhoon was last located at 420 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 205 kph. It is likely to move west northwest at 20 kph.

It is the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second for this month.

The weather bureau said that the typhoon is yet to affect the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" which will bring rains over Visayas and Mindanao by Wednesday.

The typhoon is forecasted to make landfall in  extreme Northern Luzon or in the province of Batanes or in Calayan by Friday due to a high pressure area blocking its movement.

PAGASA may raise public storm warning signals over provinces of northern Luzon by Thursday or Friday.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau is monitoring another typhoon with international name "Atsani" which has a slim chance of entering PAR.

It will locally be named "Jenny" once it enters the country's area of responsibility.