Severe Tropical Storm Gorio has intensified into a typhoon early Tuesday, August 12, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its 5:00 AM bulletin, PAGASA reported that Typhoon Gorio was spotted 745 km east of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h, moving westward at 25 km/h.
"Gorio has intensified into a typhoon and is forecast to maintain its strength prior to its landfall to Taiwan before weakening throughout the remainder of the forecast period," PAGASA said.
The weather bureau noted that Gorio has a low chance of directly affecting the country within the next three days. However, if the forecast track shifts further south, the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over Extreme Northern Luzon is not ruled out.
PAGASA said Gorio is expected to move west-northwestward during the entire forecast period. Based on its track forecast, the typhoon may make landfall over the eastern coast of Taiwan by Wednesday afternoon, August 13, and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.
Forecast Wind and Coastal Water Conditions
- Extreme Northern Luzon: Moderate to strong winds from the northwest to west; coastal waters will be moderate to rough.
- Rest of Northern Luzon & Eastern Sections of Central and Southern Luzon:
- Light to moderate winds from the west to northwest; coastal waters will be slight to moderate.
- Rest of the country: Light to moderate winds from the southwest to northwest; coastal waters will be slight to moderate.
Sunrise is at 5:42 AM, while sunset will be at 6:21 PM.
