A TROPICAL storm (international name: Surigae) intensified into a severe tropical storm yesterday morning and continued to head toward the Philippine area of responsibility.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in a bulletin issued at 11 a.m. yesterday, said Surigae is forecast to further
intensify into a typhoon in the next 36 hours,
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, Surigao was some 1,140 km east of Mindanao, slowly moving north northwestward, and packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and
gustiness of up to 115 kph.
PAGASA said Surigae, which strengthened into a severe tropical storm at around 8 a.m yesterday, had been expected to enter the PAR between Thursday night and Friday morning.
Once it enters PAR, Surigae will be named “Bising.”
“Surigae is forecast to gradually accelerate while moving west-northwestward until Sunday, then will turn northward by Monday,” PAGASA said.
Rains may be experienced in some parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao in the coming days due to the trough of the cyclone.
Weather specialist Anna Clauren said there is a small chance the tropical cyclone will make landfall. Based on the latest track, it will get near the eastern part of southern Luzon and the Visayas, she also said.
