MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau is closely monitoring a typhoon that is expected to enter the country by Tuesday morning.
In its tropical cyclone advisory issued yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the typhoon with international name Mindulle continues to intensify as it slowly moves toward the West Philippine Sea.
“The typhoon will continue to move slowly in the next 48 hours. Highly favorable conditions will allow Mindulle to continue to rapidly intensify within the next 36 hours over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea,” PAGASA said, adding the typhoon will be named Lannie once it enters the Philippines.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the center of the typhoon was located at 1,555 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, but still outside the Philippine area of responsibility.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour near its center, with gustiness of up to 250 kph. It was seen moving north- northwestward.
Based on the PAGASA’s forecast track, Mindulle will enter the Philippines, particularly toward extreme Northern Luzon, at around 8 a.m. tomorrow. It was forecast to exit by Thursday morning.
PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez, however, said the typhoon is not expected to make landfall and may instead just traverse the sea of northern Luzon.