Typhoon Kristine weakens, will exit PAR Saturday night

Typhoon Kristine (international name: Haishen) weakened slightly on Saturday morning and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the evening, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin.

The typhoon is unlikely to have a direct effect on the country's weather, PAGASA said.

However, the weather bureau raised a gale warning over the seaboards of Batanes and Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, as coastal waters will be rough to very rough, with waves reaching as tall as 4.5 meters.

Other areas in the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, meanwhile, will have moderate to rough seas, with waves expected to reach 2.8 meters. PAGASA advised those with small seacraft to take the necessary precautions.

At 10 a.m., the eye of the typhoon was located at 1,080 km east northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon.

Kristine has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

The typhoon is moving northwest at 15 km/h.

It is expected to move north-northwestward starting Saturday evening and pass close to Japan's Northern Amami Islands and Tokara Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago.

From there, the typhoon is forecast to head toward the west coast of Kyushu, Japan then the Korean Peninsula.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take the necessary precautions.

The next weather updates will be given during the 4 p.m. public weather forecast, and the 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin. —KG, GMA News