MANILA, Philippines – Emong (international name: Nanmadol) has intensified overnight into a severe tropical storm before moving out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday early morning.
The state weather bureau last located Nanmadol over the area of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands with maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the tropical cyclone would continue to draw rain brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
“Cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms will be experienced over the regions of Ilocos, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan,” Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. update.
Forecast data from Japan Meteorological Agency show that Nanmadol is expected to weaken to tropical storm category before making landfall over Kyushu Island.