Severe Tropical Storm Domeng is expected to intensify into a typhoon by Saturday evening or early Sunday as it continues moving over the Philippine Sea east of Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin on Saturday, PAGASA reported that the storm had slightly strengthened while maintaining a northwestward track.
The center of Domeng was estimated at 875 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts reaching up to 125 kilometers per hour. The storm was moving northwestward at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour, with a central pressure of 985 hectopascals.
Forecasters said the tropical cyclone is expected to continue traveling generally northwestward through Sunday before curving toward southern Japan during the latter part of the forecast period.
Despite its projected intensification, PAGASA said Domeng remains unlikely to make landfall in the Philippines. The weather disturbance is also expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday.
The state weather bureau added that Domeng will continue strengthening throughout the weekend before gradually weakening afterward. However, it is forecast to maintain typhoon strength for the remainder of the monitoring period.
In a separate advisory, PAGASA officially declared the onset of the southwest monsoon, locally known as the “habagat,” marking a key seasonal shift that could signal the beginning of the country’s rainy season.
The agency said the establishment of the southwest monsoon is expected to bring increased rainfall to parts of the country in the coming weeks as weather patterns transition toward the wet season.