Typhoon outside PAR, east of Mindanao intensifies slightly

(DOST-PAGASA / Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Sinlaku has slightly intensified while moving slowly northward and outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Saturday afternoon.

As of 3 p.m., the typhoon was tracked outside PAR and some 2,770 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao.

Pagasa reported that the typhoon now has maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center (from the 130 kph earlier) and gustiness of up to 170 kph (from 160 kph earlier), while moving slowly northward.

 “Mapapansin po natin, base sa ating pinakahuling datos, itong bagyo na ito ay patuloy na kikilos pa hilaga, eventually pa hilagang silangan,” Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said in Pagasa’s latest weather briefing.

(Based on latest data, this typhoon is expected to continue moving northward, with a possible turn toward the northeast eventually.”)

PAR entry

The weather bureau also noted that the system may enter the PAR by the end of next week, possibly Thursday or Friday.

Once it moves closer into the Tropical Cyclone Advisory Domain which is demarcated by the green line in the satellite images, Badrina said a more detailed tracking may be issued.

“Base rin sa pinakahuling datos natin… maliit ang posibilidad na tumama sa kalupaan ng ating bansa,” he reiterated.

(“Based also on the latest data, there is a low probability that it will make landfall in the country.”)

Pagasa said that once the tropical cyclone enters PAR, it will be locally named “Caloy,” which would be the third tropical cyclone of 2026.

“Isa po yung buwan ng Abril sa mga buwan kung saan kakaunti lamang yung nabubuo o pumapasok ng [PAR],” Badrina added.

(“April is one of the months when only a few tropical cyclones form or enter the [PAR].”) /gsg

Meantime, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, Pagasa added. / gsg