MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Bising maintained its strength while accelerating away from the country, state meteorologists observed on Thursday night.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Bising was last located 495 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes.
It still packs packs maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 185 while moving northeast at 15 kph.
By Friday night, Pagasa says that Bising may weaken into a severe tropical storm, and may be around 875 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon.
On Saturday night, it would be around 1,205 kilometers east of the same area.
Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, Bising is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility as a tropical storm.
Pagasa earlier lifted all tropical cyclone wind signals as Bising considerably weakened and moved farther, although its trough can still be felt over northern and eastern portions of Luzon.
Currently, a gale warning is still up over the seaboards of Ilocos Norte, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, and Isabela.
Operators and crewmen of small vessels are advised not to set sail due to the rough to very rough sea conditions.
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