‘Quiel’ intensifies into typhoon; new tropical cyclone seen off Luzon

Satellite image from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Quiel has strengthened into a typhoon as it moves southwest of Palawan on Friday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.

In a 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the weather disturbance was moving southwest at 10 kilometers per hour (kph) and spotted some 430 kilometers (kms) west of Coron around 2 p.m. Friday.

Quiel packs maximum sustained winds of up to 120 kph near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph, according to Pagasa .

Pagasa also said Quiel may be expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Friday night and Saturday morning, and head towards Vietnam. But before that, it is forecast to bring moderate with occasional heavy rains over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Apayao and Ilocos Norte; and light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Mindoro Provinces, Palawan, and Western Visayas.

Meanwhile, Pagasa has discovered another active tropical cyclone at 3,525 kms east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.

Pagasa said the weather disturbance named Severe Tropical Storm Halong is moving northeast at 35 kph. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and gustiness of up to 125 kph. /kga