Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) may intensify into a super typhoon as it approaches, while parts of the Visayas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2, state meteorologists said Monday.
As of 4 a.m. Monday, Tino was some 430 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 135 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Tino is forecast to reach the typhoon category Monday, and ‘it will likely make its initial landfall at or near peak intensity.’
‘The possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out based on alternate scenarios and climatological data,’ Pagasa said in its 5:00 a.m. update.
Pagasa weather specialist Daniel James Villamil also said ‘rapid intensification’ of Tino is ‘highly likely.’
‘The sea where Tino’s center is going has a high sea surface temperature, so it is favorable for further intensification,’ Villamil said.
Tino will make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar, Leyte, or the Dinagat Islands by Monday midnight or early Tuesday morning.
It will traverse the Visayas and northern Palawan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning or afternoon.
‘While its interaction with the terrain will trigger a slight weakening, Tino is expected to remain as a typhoon throughout its passage over the country,’ Pagasa said.
Pagasa hoisted TCWS No. 2 for the following parts of the Visayas:
Central and southern portions of Eastern Samar
Central and southern portions of Samar
Leyte
Biliran
Southern Leyte
Camotes Islands
The eastern portion of Bohol.
TCWS No. 1 is up for the following areas:
Luzon:
Sorsogon
Masbate, including Ticao Island and Burias Island
The southern portion of Albay
The southern portion of Oriental Mindoro
The southern portion of Occidental Mindoro
Cuyo Islands
Visayas:
Northern Samar
The rest of Eastern Samar
The rest of Samar
The rest of Bohol
The rest of Cebu, including the Bantayan Islands
Siquijor
Negros Oriental
Negros Occidental
Guimaras
Iloilo
Capiz
Aklan
Antique, including Caluya Islands
Mindanao:
The central portion of Surigao del Sur
The northern portion of Agusan del Sur
The rest of Agusan del Norte
The eastern portion of Misamis Oriental
Camiguin