As of 3 a.m., Tropical Storm Surigae was located 1,500 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. PAGASA
MANILA — Tropical Storm Surigae slightly intensified ahead of its Philippine area of responsibility entry Thursday morning, according to PAGASA.
As of 3 a.m., it was located 1,500 kilometers east of Northern Luzon.
It had maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour with gustiness up to 90 kph. It was moving west northwestward at 30 kph.
The weather disturbance will be assigned the local name Queenie once inside the PAR.
“Sa ngayon, maliit ang posibilidad na ito ay mag-landfall sa ating bansa,” weather forecaster Robert Badrina said during PAGASA’s morning broadcast.
(For now, the storm has a slim chance of making landfall in the Philippines.)
Queenie is expected to gradually intensify while moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea.
It may reach typhoon strength east of Taiwan on Sunday, September 27.
The current PAGASA forecast track shows it may recurve east of Taiwan, turn northward, and exit the PAR on Tuesday next week.
The storm is also not likely to enhance the southwest monsoon or Habagat.
“Pagdating naman sa Habagat, maliit din ang posibilidad na palakasin nito ‘yung Habagat. Kung magkakaroon man ng Habagat, hindi na ito katulad ng naranasan natin nitong nakaraang buwan. So inaasahan natin na hindi ito masyadong makakaapekto sa ating bansa,” Badrina explained.
(There is also a low likelihood that Queenie will enhance the Habagat. If there will be Habagat, it will not be as intense as what we experienced in August. Queenie will not have much impact on the country.)
The tropical storm’s trough or extension will bring scattered rains over parts of Eastern Visayas and Caraga Thursday.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be warm and humid, with likely rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.
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