MANILA – Tropical cyclone Emong has intensified to tropical storm category while maintaining its speed and forecast movement.
Latest data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) show that Emong recorded maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 95 kilometers per hour.
The state weather bureau located Emong on Sunday afternoon at 405 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes while moving northwest at 30 kilometers per hour.
Emong (international name: Nanmadol) will not likely make landfall over any part of the country and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning.
Forecast models show that Emong has no direct effect over any part of the archipelago but it will continue to draw in rain brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
“Cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms will be experienced over the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM and the province of Palawan,” Pagasa said in its 5 p.m. forecast.