Tropical storm intensifies as it approaches PAR

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Nyatoh (international name) intensified early Wednesday as it approached the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau said.

Nyatoh was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour and gusts of up to 105 kph, weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

The storm was last spotted 1,330 kilometers east of Southern Luzon and was expected to enter PAR within the day and will be locally named Odette.

Based on forecast analysis, however, the storm will recurve northward away from the country after it enters PAR.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon has intensified and will bring cloudy skies with light rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Aurora.

Pagasa warned of rough to very rough sea conditions over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon (Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, the northern coast of Ilocos Norte, and Aurora).

Fishing boats and other small sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger vessels are alerted against big waves.

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/MUF