Tropical depression outside PAR develops into tropical storm – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has intensified into a tropical storm.

The weather disturbance was gradually advancing west-southwestward, the state weather bureau reported on Friday.

Citing its 5 a.m. cyclone bulletin, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said tropical storm Khanun moves at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).

It was last plotted 1,300 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, sustaining winds of 65 kph and a gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Khanun is forecast to turn and generally move north-northwestward until Sunday afternoon over the Philippine Sea.

The tropical cyclone may enter the PAR between Saturday late evening and Sunday morning (July 30).

Once inside PAR, the storm will be named “Falcon.”

It is predicted to intensify in the next five days.

Khanun may also “enhance the southwest monsoon, which will trigger occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas beginning Saturday or Sunday (July 30),” says Pagasa.

Meanwhile, typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) was last monitored 385 km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes.

It packs maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

The typhoon left the PAR on Thursday (July 27).

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APL/abc