MANILA, (PNA) — The typhoon earlier spotted east of extreme Northern Luzon has entered the Philippine Area Of Responsibility (PAR) and was named “Urduja”, according to PAGASA.
“Urduja”, the fourth cyclone to enter the country this month and the 21st for this year.
As of 4 a.m. the eye of Typhoon “Urduja” was located 1,200 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (21.8°N, 135.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 160 kph and gustiness of up to 195 kph.
It is forecast to move north northwest at 13 kph.
PAGASA weather forecaster Joey Figuracion said if the cyclone maintains its speed and direction, they expect the cyclone to leave the Philippine territory on Thursday, and will be headed for Japan.
He said the cyclone is not forecasted to affect any part of the country and still not expected to make landfall in the country.
Estimated rainfall amount within the 900-km diameter of the typhoon is from 10 to 25 millimeters per hour, which is classified as “heavy to intense”
Urduja is forecasted to be at 910 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes by Wednesday morning and by Thursday morning 930 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes or 270 km east of Okinawa, Japan or outside PAR.
PAGASA also said sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
In its Tuesday forecast, PAGASA said that Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.
It added that Metro Manila and the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol Region will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rains while the rest of Luzon and Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
PAGASA also issued a gale warning as strong to gale-force winds associated with surge of northeast monsoon enhanced by Typhoon “Uruduja” is expected to affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
“Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it said.