Domeng accelerates northward with same strength

Tropical Storm Domeng maintained its strength as it accelerated northward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA reported Friday.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Domeng was last spotted 995 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon at 10 PM today.

It is packing maximum winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of 90 kph while heading northward at 20 kph.

While it does not have a direct effect on the archipelago, Domeng and Severe Tropical Storm Chaba will enhance the Southwest monsoon spurring monsoon rains over the western sections of  Central and Southern Luzon.

Chaba is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Further, the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring occasionally gusty conditions reaching strong breezes to gale-force in strength over Extreme Northern Luzon, the northern and western portions of Luzon, and the western portion of Visayas.

A gale warning also remains in effect over the western seaboards of Luzon while moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon.

The state weather bureau issues the alert warning to advise fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the sea while large sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

According to PAGASA, Domeng is expected to gradually accelerate northward or north-northwestward until Saturday morning, then northwestward for the day.

It may also reach the severe tropical storm category in the next 36 hours.

he tropical storm is forecasted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Saturday, July 2 morning or afternoon. Outside the region, it is expected to pass very close to or over the Ryukyu Islands in Japan Saturday evening before turning north-northwestward on Sunday, July 3 as it moves over the East China Sea. —NB, GMA News