Tropical Cyclone Tino has strengthened into a Severe Tropical Storm while moving across the Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Severe Tropical Storm Tino was located 805 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas. The weather disturbance is moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour, carrying maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gusts of up to 115 kph.
PAGASA said the system is expected to continue intensifying and could reach typhoon category within 24 hours.
“The possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out based on alternate scenarios and climatological data,” the agency stated.
Based on PAGASA’s forecast track, Tino will generally move westward over the next three days and is projected to make its first landfall over Eastern Samar or Dinagat Islands late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.
As of the latest advisory, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Camotes Islands, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.
These areas are likely to experience heavy rainfall, particularly Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, and Leyte. PAGASA also warned that strong winds and storm surges may occur even in communities outside the expected landfall zone and forecast cone.
The northeast monsoon (amihan), enhanced by the tropical cyclone, will bring strong to gale-force winds over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern and eastern Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Lubang Islands, Marinduque, Calaguas Islands, and Caluya Islands.
PAGASA further cautioned that within the next 48 hours, there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surges in low-lying coastal areas of Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.
Residents in affected regions are urged to remain vigilant, monitor official updates, and take necessary safety precautions as Tino continues to strengthen while approaching the Philippine landmass.