Inday further intensifies, starts to decelerate over sea east of Taiwan
Typhoon Inday (international name: Muifa)continued to intensify as it started to decelerate over the sea east of Taiwan, weather bureau PAGASA said Sunday.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said the center of the eye of Inday was last spotted 335 km Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (22.5°N, 124.5°E).
It has maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 205 km/h, and central pressure of 950 hPa.
PAGASA said Inday’s present movement is west northwestward at 10 km/h.
It also has strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 310 km from the center.
PAGASA said Inday is forecast to move generally north northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan on Sunday through Monday morning, gradually decelerating during the process.
Rainfall, winds
Based on the bulletin, Inday remains less likely to directly bring heavy rains in the country throughout the forecast period.
However, its outermost rainbands and the Southwest Monsoon may bring rain showers and thunderstorms over Batanes and the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon.
Further, while the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals remains less likely at this time, PAGASA said that further westward shift in the track forecast and/or expansion in the extent of tropical cyclone winds may result in the hoisting of wind signals over portions of Extreme Northern Luzon.
Gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength may also be experienced over Extreme Northern Luzon on Monday due to the channeling of the typhoon circulation in the Luzon Strait.
Coastal waters
A gale warning likewise remains in effect for the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon due to Inday.
With this, moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon are expected reaching 1.2 to 3.0 meters high.
PAGASA warned that such sea conditions may be risky for those using small seacraft, while mariners were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and avoid navigating if possible.
Track, intensity
PAGASA said further intensification of Inday will continue on Sunday through Monday morning as the storm tracks northwestward over the sea east of Taiwan.
However, the slightly cooler waters east of Taiwan and the forecast slow-down period over this sea area may result in a weakening trend beginning late Monday or on Tuesday, it added.
For the rest of Monday through Tuesday, the typhoon will move northward slowly towards the vicinity of Yaeyama Islands and the East China Sea.
Inday may then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday morning or afternoon. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News