Severe Tropical Storm ‘Pepito’ (international name: Man-Yi) intensifies into a typhoon as it undergoes rapid intensification, the state weather bureau said on Friday.
According to the latest 11 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon ‘Pepito’ is moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 620 km east Northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised over the eastern portion of Northern Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.
TCWS No. 1, meanwhile, is hoisted over the eastern portion of Northern Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.
The weather disturbance is expected to move generally west northwestward within the next five days. On the track forecast, ‘Pepito’ is more likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes tomorrow evening or on Sunday early morning.
“Pepito will continue to rapidly intensify today through tomorrow and may reach super typhoon category prior to its landfall tomorrow evening or on Sunday early morning. Although a slight weakening may occur after its initial passage over land, much of the weakening will occur on Sunday as ‘Pepito’ passes over the landmass of Central Luzon,” PAGASA said.
The typhoon will traverse the country as a typhoon and may only be downgraded into a severe tropical storm once it is over the West Philippine Sea on Monday.
PAGASA has also not ruled out a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon during the same time frame, over the eastern coast of Northern Samar tomorrow afternoon or evening, or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora on Sunday afternoon or evening.
