Tropical Storm “Hagupit” gained strength on Friday as it tracked west-northwestward across the Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of the latest weather bulletin, the storm’s center was located approximately 1,460 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao.
“Hagupit” currently packs maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center, with gusts reaching up to 105 km/h. Moving westward at 20 km/h, the storm’s gale-force winds extend 280 km from its center.
PAGASA expects the storm to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday afternoon or evening, at which point it will be locally designated the name “Caloy.”
While the storm may briefly reach severe tropical storm status within the next 24 hours, meteorologists anticipate a weakening trend starting Saturday due to an unfavorable environment.
Current forecasts suggest “Hagupit” will be downgraded to a tropical depression by Monday, May 11, and dissipate into a low-pressure area by Wednesday, May 13.
The weather bureau noted that the storm is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass and is unlikely to directly impact the country’s weather or sea conditions over the next three days.