PAGASA: Inday may become severe tropical storm within 12 hours

Tropical Storm Inday may reach severe tropical storm category within 12 hours and may intensify further as it tracks the favorable environment of the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said on Thursday evening.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the state weather agency said Inday has decelerated as it continues to move westward over the Philippine Sea.

The center of Inday was estimated at 885 kilometers east of Central Luzon.

It had maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

At present, Inday is moving westward at 10 km/h.

It also has strong to gale force winds that extend outwards up to 310 kilometers from the center.

No tropical cyclone wind signal has been hoisted yet for Inday.

According to PAGASA’s projections, Inday was forecast to move generally northwestward over the Philippine Sea before turning west northwestward on Sunday.

"This will be followed by a more northwestward to northward turn by early next week as it moves towards the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands. On the track forecast, Inday may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday or Tuesday," it said.

"The possibility of a rapid intensification within the forecast period is not ruled out," it added.

Aside from rain showers caused by its trough, Inday remains less likely to bring heavy rains in the country throughout the forecast period.

The latest forecast scenario for Inday shows that the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over any land area in the country remains unlikely, PAGASA said.

However, Inday may bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of extreme Northern Luzon, ranging from 1.5 meters to 3.5 meters beginning on Saturday.

“These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said.—LDF, GMA News