Vinta expected to intensify into a typhoon before Sunday PAR exit

Severe Tropical Storm Vinta (international name Tembin) intensified again after crossing the southern portion of Balabac Island in southern Palawan, weather PAGASA reported in a 2 a.m. bulletin.

At 1 a.m, Vinta was 355 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan or 410 kms south- southeast of Pagasa Island, Palawan, with sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 2 remained raised over souther Palawan, which may experience a meter high storm surge and where open sea wave heights would be from 4.1 to 14 meters.

The rest of Palawan was also still under Signal 1. Open sea wave heights over this area would be from 1.25 to four meters.

Sea travel along Palawan's seaboards; as well of those of the Mindoro provinces; and the western seaboards of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and of Tawi-Tawi remained risky.

Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rain was expected over Palawan, while scattered light to moderate, with at times heavy rains, were also expected over the western sections of Visayas and Mindanao.

Given the Vinta was moving west at 23 kph, the storm was predicted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility sometime between Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, and be 325 kms southwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan by Sunday evening.

But before it does exit, Vinta was likely to intensify even further into a typhoon. — DVM, GMA News