Tropical cyclone Jangmi intensifies into tropical storm, says PAGASA

Tropical cyclone Jangmi (international name) has intensified into a tropical storm on Wednesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an 11:00 a.m. tropical cyclone advisory, PAGASA reported that Jangmi had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It was last located 1,300 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao and is moving North northwestward at 10 kph.

The tropical storm is expected to further intensify into a typhoon by Saturday over the Philippine Sea. It may prompt the hoisting of Storm Signal No. 1 during its entire passage, PAGASA said.

As for its forecast track, the bureau said Jangmi is “less likely” to make landfall over the country, but its periphery may still bring gusty conditions over Extreme Northern Luzon.

It is also likely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday evening and will be locally named Domeng, the country’s fourth tropical cyclone this year.

The storm may also enhance the Southwest Monsoon starting Saturday.

PAGASA cautioned of moderate to rough sea conditions over the seaboard of Extreme Northern Luzon over the weekend, which may prompt the issuance of gale warnings in the area.

In a separate 4:00 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said the trough of the tropical cyclone will bring rains and thunderstorms over the rest of Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

The bureau warned of possible flash floods and landslides due to moderate to occasional heavy rains. — Edg Adrian A. Eva