Typhoon Kristine intensifies as it moves over Philippine sea

Typhoon Kristine, with international name Haishen, has slightly intensified as it moved northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Friday evening.

In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather agency said that Kristine will remain far from the landmass and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday evening.

PAGASA said the weather disturbance is forecast to reach peak intensity of around 205 to 215 kilometers per hour on Saturday.

Despite this, Kristine is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition in the country throughout its forecast period.

It may also bring rough to very rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon starting Saturday morning. PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky.

At 10 p.m. on Friday, Kristine was located at 1,205 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

It is moving northwestward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said it may head toward southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula after leaving PAR.

A severe weather bulletin on Kristine may be issued at 11 a.m. on Saturday.—LDF, GMA News