Severe Tropical Storm Tino now a typhoon —PAGASA

Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) intensified and became a typhoon on Monday morning, PAGASA said. 

Tino reached the typhoon category at 8 a.m., the weather bureau said.

At 8 a.m, the center of Tino was estimated to be located at 340 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, which is inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

It has winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.

Tino is moving west southwestward at 25 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over:

•     the southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes); and
•     Dinagat Islands and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.

TCWS No. 2 meanwhile was raised over:

• the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar (Quinapondan, Can-Avid, Lawaan, Balangiga, City of Borongan, Taft, Llorente, Maydolong, Giporlos, Salcedo, Balangkayan, Sulat, San Julian, General Macarthur, Hernani);
• the central and southern portions of Samar (San Sebastian, Santa Rita, Villareal, Zumarraga, Pinabacdao, Talalora, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Motiong, Calbiga, Daram, Marabut, Paranas, Basey, Hinabangan);
• Leyte;
• Biliran;
• Southern Leyte;
• Bohol;
• the northern and central portions of Cebu (Pinamungahan, Liloan, Cebu City, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Sibonga, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Dumanjug, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands; 
• the northeastern portion of  Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City);
• the rest of Surigao del Norte;
• the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes); and
• the northeastern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay).

TCWS No. 1 on the other hand is in effect over the following:

•     Sorsogon;
•     Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island;
•     Albay;
•     the southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres);
•     the southern portion of Marinduque (Torrijos, Buenavista, Gasan, Boac);
•     Romblon;
•     the central and southern portions of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Socorro, Pola, Victoria);
•     the central and southern portions of Occidental Mindoro (San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan, Magsaysay, Sablayan);
•     Cuyo Islands
•     Calamian Islands;
•     Northern Samar;
•     the rest of Eastern Samar;
•     the rest of Samar;
•     the rest of Cebu;
•     Siquijor;
•     Negros Oriental;
•     the rest of Negros Occidental;
•     Guimaras;
•     Iloilo;
•     Capiz;
•     Aklan;
•     Antique including Caluya Islands;
•     the rest of Surigao del Sur;
•     the northern and central portions of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat, City of Bayugan, Prosperidad, Esperanza, San Luis, Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario);
•     the rest of Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental; and
•     the northern portion of Bukidnon (Baungon, Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao).

"On the track forecast, TINO will move generally westward and may make its initial landfall over the vicinity of the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, or Dinagat Islands by midnight or tomorrow (04 November) early morning," PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. bulletin.

From there, Tino will then traverse Visayas and northern Palawan, then emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning or afternoon.

PAGASA warned that storm surges of more than three meters in height in parts of Visayas and Mindanao may occur on Monday due to Tino.

In a storm surge warning issued at 8 a.m., PAGASA said a high risk of life-threatening storm surge may occur in the next 48 hours. —KG, GMA Integrated News