Cempaka maintains strength, to be named 'Samuel' once inside PAR — PAGASA

Typhoon Cempaka maintains its strength as it continues to move in the west northwest direction and will be named Samuel once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday, according to the Tropical Cyclone Advisory posted by PAGASA.

The center of Typhoon CEMPAKA was estimated at 1,500 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon, outside the PAR, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and central pressure of 980 hPa.

Cempaka continues to move west northwestward at the speed of 20 km/h with strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 300 km from the center.

General outlook for the forecast period

Typhoon Cempaka is forecast to move generally west northwestward until it enters the PAR by Monday morning.

"Once inside the PAR, this tropical cyclone (TC) will be given the domestic name Samuel. This TC will briefly stay inside the PAR, as it is forecast to move north northwestward by tomorrow afternoon, then turn east northeastward and exit through the northeastern boundary of the PAR by tomorrow evening or Tuesday (10 November) early morning," the state weather bureau said.

"Cempaka will continue to strengthen until it reaches peak intensity. A weakening trend is likely to begin by Tuesday," the agency added.

PAGASA also reported that Typhoon Cempaka will remain over the Philippine Sea and is not expected to directly affect the weather or sea conditions in the country.

However, the bureau said, due to the Northeast Monsoon, moderate to rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon within the next 24 hours. Very rough seas may affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon from Tuesday onwards and a Gale Warning will likely be issued by Monday. — BAP, GMA News