Typhoon “Tino” (international name Kalmaegi) has completely left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 12:30 a.m. early Thursday, moving west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea north of the Kalayaan Islands, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Despite its exit, a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) remains in effect over the Kalayaan Islands, because of the typhoon’s wide circulation. “Tino may be outside our PAR, but because of its extensive reach we still have TCWS No. 1 in Kalayaan,” said weather specialist Loriedin De La Cruz-Galicia at PAGASA’s 6 a.m. briefing.
At 4 a.m., the centre of Tino’s eye was estimated at 265 km north-northwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan — outside the PAR. The typhoon is currently packing sustained winds of 155 km/h near the centre with gusts up to 190 km/h, moving at 35 km/h towards the west-northwest. Strong to typhoon-force winds are extending out as far as 480 km from its centre.
While fair weather is expected for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao — with possible local thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening — some areas may still see rain. The islands of Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aurora and Quezon could be affected by scattered showers brought by Tino’s trough. Batanes may face cloudy skies and rains due to the northeast monsoon (“amihan”), and Cagayan might also get rain due to a shear line.
PAGASA added that the tropical depression currently outside PAR has intensified into the tropical storm named Fung-Wong internationally. It is moving northwest at 20 km/h, with strong to gale-force winds extending out to 550 km from its center.
Officials said Fung-Wong is likely to enter PAR by late Friday evening or early Saturday morning and will be named “Uwan” locally.
There is a growing possibility it will rapidly intensify into a typhoon by Friday and could reach the super typhoon category by Saturday. Its track suggests a possible landfall in Northern or Central Luzon on Monday, potentially at or near its peak intensity (PNA)