Bising intensified into a typhoon after entering PAR —PAGASA

Severe Tropical Storm Bising intensified into a typhoon shortly after it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday morning, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

PAGASA said based on available data, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal #1 may be raised over some localities in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar as early as Friday night.

At present, however, Bising, which entered PAR at 6:20 a.m., is not directly causing severe weather over any portion of the country. 

PAGASA said it is likely that winds and heavy rains associated with Bising will be affecting portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region starting Sunday.

Over the next 24 hours, Bising will bring rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 4.5 m) over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

Based on the forecast track, Typhoon Bising will move generally west-northwestward until Monday when it is expected to turn northeastward.

PAGASA said Bising is less likely to make landfall in any part of the country.

Bising intensified into a Typhoon category at 8 a.m. on Friday and is forecast to steadily intensify over the next three days.

At 10 a.m. on Friday, the center of the eye of Bising was located based on all available data at 960 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

It is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 160 km/h.  —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News