By ELLALYN RUIZ
The tropical cyclone with international name “Kammuri” intensified into a severe tropical storm yesterday afternoon and may further develop into a typhoon ahead of its entry into the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday or Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration estimated the location of Kammuri at 1,645 kilometers east of Visayas yesterday afternoon.
Kammuri is now a severe tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. It further slowed down to 20 kph but has maintained its westward track.
PAGASA said the tropical cyclone may enter the PAR on Sunday or Monday and will be given the local name “Tisoy,” making it the 20th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.
Should it maintain its current speed and direction, Kammuri will be at 1,635 kms east of Catarman, Northern Samar this morning.
Tomorrow morning, the weather disturbance may have become a typhoon and will be 1,905 kms east of Baler, Aurora, and 1,805 kms east of Baler Saturday morning.
PAGASA said that by Sunday morning, Kammuri will be inside the PAR or at 1,445 kms east of Baler, and 1,075 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora Monday morning.
The State weather bureau was earlier looking into two possible tracks – one is a possible landfall over Southern Luzon and another is a tropical cyclone recurvature or close approach towards Northern Luzon. Since it is a long-range forecast, there is still a high uncertainty on Kammuri’s final track.
As of yesterday, Kammuri’s trough or extension has started to bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur.
Meanwhile, PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said cloudy skies with light rains may be felt in Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Aurora and Quezon due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan.”
