Typhoon Quinta intensifies again as it gets closer to exiting PAR

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Quinta intensified again Monday night as it neared the western border of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), according to a late-night bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Quinta was last located 420 kilometers west of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour with a gustiness reaching up to 170 kph.

Moving westward at 25 kph over the West Philippines Sea, it was predicted to intensify further and exit PAR by early Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, a low pressure area (LPA) spotted over the Pacific Ocean moved closer to PAR. It was last seen 1,900 km east of Southern Luzon.

It’s still not expected to intensify into a tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours.

As of this writing, only the areas of Lubang Island, Calamian Islands, and Kalayaan Islands are under a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

Moderate to heavy and at times intense rain may still fall over Western Visayas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands, Quezon, Aurora, Isabela, and Cagayan.

The same condition was predicted for the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

A gale warning remains in effect over the northern seaboards of Luzon, as well as the whole coastal area of Ilocos Region down to Central Luzon in the west, and also in the eastern part which includes Cagayan Valley; waters of Southern Luzon, including Palawan, and the Visayas.

This means small boats are not allowed to operate as seas may be rough to very rough.

[atm]