A potential super typhoon advances closer to the Philippines even as Typhoon “Tino” exits the country today, the state weather bureau reported yesterday.
The incoming storm, which will be called “Uwan” when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), is forecast to be at near peak intensity when it makes landfall over Central or Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the tropical depression was located 1,835 km east of northeastern Mindanao.
It was packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) with up to 70 kph gusts, and was moving eastward at 10 kph.
The weather disturbance may enter the PAR late Friday or early Saturday, PAGASA said.
Weather conditions in northern Luzon are expected to deteriorate from Sunday.
Meanwhile, “Tino” further intensified as it moved over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the weather bureau also said.
The center of the eye of “Tino” was estimated 330 kilometers east northeast of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin yesterday.
“Tino,” which devastated Central Visayas and parts of Mindanao this week, is forecast to re-intensify in the next 12 hours and may reach its peak intensity while it moves further across the WPS.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who is also chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said that the government is also ramping up preparations for “Uwan,” emphasizing the need to maximize the short window between typhoons.
“We will take advantage of the available time to prepare for ‘Uwan.’ We will provide relief to those in harm’s way. We will also sustain support for those currently in evacuation centers,” he said in Filipino.
