Typhoon Mangkhut intensifies; Wednesday PAR entry still expected

The typhoon with the international name Mangkhut intensified further even as it continued to make its way towards the eastern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, weather service PAGASA reported in a Wednesday morning forecast.

At 3 a.m., Mangkhut was 1,390 kilometers east of southern Luzon, and still outside the PAR, with 200 kilometer per hour winds and gusts of up to 245 kph.

Mangkhut was moving westwards at 20 kph, and was still expected to enter the PAR on Wednesday. On its entry the typhoon will be locally named Ompong.

PAGASA's projections had not changed, and Mangkhut was still expected to reach the Batanes-Cagayan area by Saturday.

However, the weather service warned that the typhoon's effects would also be felt over Central Luzon and over the eastern section southern Luzon.

Mangkhut was also likely to intensify even further, possibly into a super typhoon, with Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals raised over Luzon as early as Wednesday evening. — DVM, GMA News