Typhoon Saudel is expected to enter the northeastern border of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday, a move set to intensify the southwest monsoon (habagat), according to state meteorologists.
Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) positioned the weather system 1,660 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon as of 3 a.m.
Moving west-northwestward at 30 km/h, the typhoon maintained maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near its center.
“Base sa ating forecast track, inaasahan na ito’y maging super typhoon kapag ito’y nasa loob ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility,” weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.
Once inside the national domain, Saudel will receive the localized designation “Obet”. Forecasters anticipate the cyclone will traverse the Philippine Sea and potentially intensify into a super typhoon before departing PAR by Tuesday.
Monsoonal conditions intensified by the cyclone will trigger intermittent rainfall over Batanes, where moderate to intense downpours present elevated risks of flash floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, the rest of the Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal will experience overcast skies accompanied by scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
Isolated rain showers brought by localized thunderstorms will affect the remainder of the country, while northern and western sea boards of Luzon are slated for moderate to rough waters fueled by moderate to strong southwest winds.
In addition to Saudel, PAGASA is tracking a tropical depression located 1,330 kilometers east of southern Luzon, which is currently projected to remain outside the PAR.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Gaenari (previously known as Neneng) continues to move outside the PAR near Taiwan, jointly reinforcing the habagat alongside Saudel.