Typhoon may hit Philippines next week - US forecast

MANILA, Philippines — A tropical storm that could develop into a typhoon may hit the country next week, according to the forecast of the US Department of Defense weather bureau.

The tracking map released by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) showed that the tropical storm currently over the Pacific Ocean was last located at about 414 kilometers east southeast of the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

It is currently packed with winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 83 kph.

Moving west-northwestward at 24 kph, the tropical storm may pass over Guam by Friday.

Based on the JTWC data, the tropical storm will become stonger as it approaches the Philippines.

On July 16, the tropical storm will be near Luzon with winds of 203 kph and gusts of 250 kph, qualifying for the "typhoon" category of the JTWC.

The latest weather forecast from the website of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) still has no data on the approaching storm.

But based on the list of PAGASA, the newest cyclone will be named "Glenda" once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

According to the latest weather outlook bulletin of the agency, the whole country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms until July 14.

The Philippines was just spared by Tropical Cyclone Neoguri (named "Florita" in the Philippines) after it headed to Japan.

Neoguri even intensified into a super typhoon while inside the PAR.

Related: 'Florita' now a super typhoon - US Defense weather agency