Inday now a severe tropical storm, may become a typhoon – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Inday (international name: Muifa) has intensified into a severe tropical storm and is likely to develop into a typhoon in the next 24 hours,  state meteorologists said Friday.

According to the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Inday was located 800 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 115 kilometers per hour.

“Bahagya pang lalakas at magiging typhoon itong si Inday sa susunod na 24 oras habang ito ay kumikilos ng northwest direction. Nakikita natin na tuloy-tuloy ang paglakas pero may tsansa ng paghina paglabas ng ating area of responsibility,”  said Pagasa weather specialist Raymond Ordinario.

(Inday will partially grow stronger and become a typhoon within the next 24 hours while it moves in a northwest direction. We foresee that it will continue to gain strength but will weaken outside our area of responsibility).

Ordinario said Inday’s trough would continue towards the Quezon province, Bicol Region, Samar Provinces, Mindoro province, Panay Island, and nearby areas.

However, because of its distance, Pagasa said the declaration of a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal during Inday’s stay in the Philippine area of responsibility would be unlikely.

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/MUF