Jenny maintains strength, may become a severe tropical storm by Sunday

Tropical Storm Jenny has maintained its strength as it accelerates west southwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Saturday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Storm Jenny is forecast to steadily intensify and become a Severe Tropical Storm by Sunday.

The tropical cyclone is not yet directly affecting the country.

PAGASA, however, said heavy rainfall may be experienced in Batanes and Babuyan Islands on Tuesday or Wednesday due to the proximity of the track forecast to Extreme Northern Luzon.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat may be enhanced by Jenny, resulting in possible occasional rains over the western portions of Southern Luzon and Visayas on Sunday.

Thus, the possibility of issuing a Weather Advisory for Southwest Monsoon is not ruled out.

PAGASA said the current forecast scenario shows that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals may be hoisted over Extreme Northern Luzon on Sunday or on Monday in anticipation of the onset of tropical cyclone severe winds.

However, the hoisting may happen earlier should there be changes in the forecast scenario.

Further, the potential enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon by Jenny will bring gusty conditions over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds:

· Sunday: Palawan, Romblon, most of Visayas, and Dinagat Islands

· Monday: Most of MIMAROPA and Visayas, and Dinagat Islands

Track and Intensity Outlook

PAGASA said Tropical Storm Jenny is forecast to move generally northwestward until Monday, while a west northwestward turn towards Luzon Strait-Southern Taiwan area may take place on Tuesday.

Further, a landfall or close approach scenario over Extreme Northern Luzon or northeastern mainland Cagayan is not ruled out since these scenarios are within the forecast confidence cone.

Tropical cyclone may reach typhoon category on late Monday or on Tuesday.

Location of Eye/center

The center of Tropical Storm Jenny was estimated based on all available data at 1,025 km East of Central Luzon (15.3 °N, 131.2 °E )

Moving west southwestward at 35 km/h, it has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News