Pilandok maintains strength, moves eastward over Philippine Sea

Tropical Storm Pilandok maintained its strength as it moved eastward over the Philippine Sea, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. Tuesday bulletin.

As of 10 p.m., Pilandok was located within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), about 1,105 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon.

It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

PAGASA said Pilandok was less likely to make landfall in the country and would remain far from the Philippine landmass. It is forecast to move north-northeastward within the next 12 hours.

However, the weather bureau warned that heavy rainfall and strong winds may still be experienced in areas outside the projected landfall point and forecast confidence cone.

Pilandok is forecast to remain a tropical storm as it moves toward southern Japan. It is expected to exit PAR by Thursday morning, September 3. — VBL, GMA News