‘Pepito’ intensifies into typhoon, now outside PAR

Image: Courtesy of bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines —  Severe tropical storm Pepito (international name: Saudel) has intensified into a typhoon but is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau said Thursday.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said Pepito left the PAR at 7:30 a.m.

Based on Pagasa’s forecast, Pepito is heading northwestward on Thursday, then will move westward on Friday. Pepito is also expected to make landfall over the central portion of Vietnam by Sunday.

Pepito was last spotted at 485 kilometers west-northwest of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, or 480 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

The typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph), and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Pepito was also monitored moving northwest at 20 kph.

/MUF