Tropical cyclone “Igme” (international name “Chaba”) has intensified into a typhoon but maintained a northwest movement and could leave the country’s area of responsibility by tonight.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration located the eye of Igme at 1,005 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
The typhoon still has no direct effect over any part of the country.
Should it maintain a northwest track at 25 kph, Igme will be outside the country’s area of responsibility tonight.
PAGASA said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands today.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over the eastern section of Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.
Meanwhile, light to moderate winds blowing from southwest to south will prevail over the rest of Luzon and coming from southwest to west over Visayas and Mindanao, causing slight to moderate seas. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)