The tropical depression located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has strengthened into a tropical storm and is now officially named “Jangmi,” state weather bureau PAGASA announced on Wednesday morning, May 27.
According to PAGASA’s 10:00 a.m. bulletin, the center of Tropical Storm Jangmi was spotted 1,300 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao. It currently sustains maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts reaching up to 80 kph and a central pressure of 1002 hPa.
The storm is tracking north-northwest at a speed of 10 kph, with strong to gale-force winds spanning up to 380 kilometers outward from its eye.
Forecasters expect Jangmi to maintain its north-northwest trajectory through Wednesday before steering northwestward across the Philippine Sea. By the weekend, the weather disturbance is projected to pivot back toward a north-northwest to northward direction.
Jangmi is anticipated to cross into the PAR by Thursday evening, May 28, at which point it will be locally designated as “Domeng.”
By the time it enters local waters, the storm is predicted to upgrade into a severe tropical storm. It could further escalate into a full typhoon by Saturday, May 30, as it moves over the Philippine Sea.
While the state weather agency notes that a landfall remains unlikely, the storm’s outer bands could still trigger gusty conditions across Extreme Northern Luzon. Consequently, PAGASA may hoist Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over vulnerable areas during its approach.
Furthermore, rough to moderate seas are expected along the seaboards of Extreme Northern Luzon this weekend, which may prompt the issuance of gale warnings.
The weather bureau also warned that the cyclone could pull and reinforce the southwest monsoon (habagat) by Saturday, bringing potential rainfall to several regions of the country.
Disaster risk reduction management offices and the general public are strongly advised to keep a close watch on subsequent weather updates.