Severe Tropical Storm Fung-wong intensified further Friday as it churned over the Philippine Sea northeast of Palau, prompting warnings of rapid strengthening into a super typhoon and potential landfall in northern Philippines early next week, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 a.m. bulletin that the storm’s center was located about 1,315 kilometers (818 miles) east of Eastern Visayas, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Fung-wong was packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) near the center and gusts up to 125 kph (78 mph).
Moving west-northwest at 20 kph (12 mph), the storm is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility late Friday or early Saturday, at which point it will be renamed Uwan locally.
PAGASA warned that Fung-wong could intensify rapidly, reaching typhoon strength within 24 hours and potentially escalating to super typhoon status by Saturday evening or Sunday morning. The agency projected landfall over southern Isabela or northern Aurora late Sunday or early Monday, followed by a crossing of Northern Luzon before exiting into the West Philippine Sea.
Tropical cyclone wind signals could be raised over parts of Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and the Caraga Region as early as Friday afternoon or evening due to anticipated strong winds. Under the current track, the highest possible signal is No. 5, indicating winds greater than 185 kph (115 mph) that could cause catastrophic damage.
Weather conditions are expected to worsen starting Sunday, with life-threatening winds and heavy rainfall possible over northern and central Luzon on Monday and Tuesday.
Local governments have been directed to complete evacuations by Nov. 9 in preparation for the storm’s approach.
