By Alec Go
Severe Tropical Storm Inday has intensified into a typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, Inday was located 430 km east of Basco, Batanes or 445 km east of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.
“Ito’y patuloy na kumikilos pahilaga at inaasahan nating ito’y tuluyang kikilos papunta sa may southern Japan area,” PAGASA weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said in an 11:00 a.m. briefing.
“Sa ngayon, may nakitang pamumuo ng habagat sa may kanlurang bahagi ng katimugang Luzon at ng kabisayaan na magdudulot ngayon ng maulap na papawirin na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at pagkulog,” he added.
Aside from habagat, the typhoon’s trough may also bring heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms over the eastern section of Southern Luzon and the western portion of Central Luzon.
Hoisting of wind signals over the Extreme Northern Luzon has not yet been ruled out.
Ordinario said they may issue gale warning by Saturday afternoon as Inday is forecast to bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
Inday may further intensify until Sunday or Monday as it tracks northwestward over the Philippine Sea.
It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
