Typhoon “Lawin” (international name: Haima) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Lawin entered PAR at 5:30 p.m.
It was located at 1,555 kilometers east of Virac in Catanduanes.
At 5 p.m., Pagasa said Lawin packed maximum sustained winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph, as it moved west northwest at 24 kph.
Pagasa said the typhoon will intensify further before making landfall over the Cagayan area by Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, forecaster Jori Loiz said Lawin may intensify into a super typhoon.
Signal No. 1 may be raised over northern Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, including Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes on Tuesday, Loiz said.
After landfall, Lawin will cross Ilocos Norte and Apayao. With a report from Frances Mangosing/rga