MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Goring is expected to intensify steadily and may become a typhoon tonight or tomorrow early morning (Friday).
Its “inherent volatility” or possibility to develop into a super typhoon is not ruled out, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned on Thursday.
In its bulletin issued at 11 a.m., the state weather bureau said Goring maintained its strength while moving over the Philippine Sea at least 355 kilometers east northeast of Calayan, Cagayan, or 300 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.
Goring has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 70 kph, and is moving north-northwestward at 15 kph.
“Goring is forecast to steadily intensify throughout the forecast period and may reach tropical storm category tonight or tomorrow early morning,” the state weather bureau reported.
“It may be upgraded into a typhoon category by Saturday during the southward segment of its looping track,” it said.
“While current intensity forecast [indicates] the progression towards typhoon category, the inherent volatility of attaining super typhoon category remains a possibility,” Pagasa explained.
The state weather bureau has yet to raise wind signals at this time.
These signals may be hoisted over the areas in Northern Luzon beginning Thursday evening, August 24 or Friday, August 25.
Despite the possible posting of wind signals, Goring is less likely to trigger heavy rainfall over the country in the next three days.
Pagasa is still cautioning the public that if a westward shift in the track of Goring happens, heavy rainfall may be experienced over portions of Cagayan Valley in the next three days.
It also stressed Goring may enhance the southwest monsoon, locally called ‘habagat,’ beginning Sunday, August 27 or Monday, August 28.
This condition will result in occasional rains over the western portions of Central and Southern Luzon.
Goring is the country’s seventh tropical cyclone in 2023 and the first in the month of August.
RELATED STORIES:
LPA east of Cagayan is now Tropical Depression Goring, says Pagasa
Pagasa: LPA spotted in east of Cagayan may develop into tropical cyclone