Domeng intensifies into a typhoon

Domeng has intensified into a typhoon, according to PAGASA's 5 pm weather bulletin.

Domeng was last spotted 815 km East of Northern Luzon moving northwestward at 20 km/h. It has maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and central pressure of 975 hPa.

PAGASA, however, said that "no wind signal is currently hoisted."

"Based on the latest forecast track, the hoisting of tropical cyclone wind signal over Extreme Northern Luzon is less likely, but not ruled out... Typhoon DOMENG is forecast to move north northwestward until tomorrow (31 May) before recurving towards southern Japan for the remaining forecast period. This tropical cyclone is less likely to make landfall over the country," said PAGASA.

Domeng is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday.

"DOMENG will continue to intensify until it reaches its peak intensity on Monday while remaining over the Philippine Sea. Afterwards, it will steadily weaken but will remain as a typhoon throughout the rest of the forecast period," added PAGASA.

Habagat

Meanwhile, PAGASA said heavy rainfall is expected over Palawan, Antique, and Occidental Mindoro from May 31 to June 1 in its 5 p.m. bulletin due to the southwest monsoon or habagat.

Habagat will also bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Zambianga Peninsula, BARMM, Batangas, and Lanao del Norte.

The enhancement of Habagat and the periphery of Domeng will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

Most of Visayas, Batanes, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.

Up to rough seas over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 3.5 m: The seaboard of Batanes; the eastern seaboards of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan.

• Up to 3.0 m: The seaboard of Isabela; the northern seaboard of Babuyan Islands; the eastern seaboard of northern Aurora.

• Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced of operating ill-equipped vessels.

PAGASA urged offices concerned "to take all necessary measures to protect life and property." —with reports from Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/ VAL, GMA News