MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm “Queenie” has sustained its strength over the Philippine Sea and is projected to intensify into a typhoon by Sunday, September 27, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported.
In its 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin, the state weather bureau located the center of the storm at 1,065 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
Queenie is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near its center, with gustiness reaching up to 90 kph, while moving west-northwestward at a speed of 20 kph.
No tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised over any region, as Queenie is “unlikely to directly affect the country throughout the forecast period,” according to PAGASA.
The weather bureau detailed that the storm will continue its west-northwestward path until Friday afternoon before shifting to a northwestward direction on Saturday morning.
By Saturday afternoon, the tropical cyclone is expected to slow down as it begins making a turn toward the northeast.
“On the forecast track, the center of Queenie will exit (PAR) between Sunday afternoon (Sept. 27) and (early Monday morning, Sept. 28). Outside the PAR, Queenie will accelerate as it heads northeast,” PAGASA said.
The weather agency added that the storm is likely to gain strength while remaining inside the region, noting,
“This tropical cyclone will gradually intensify while inside PAR. It may reach typhoon category by Sunday.”