Quedan intensifies into typhoon

MANILA, Philippines - Lingering storm Quedan intensified into a typhoon yesterday but it is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow, the state weather bureau said.

Quedan, which has been hovering over the Philippine Sea since Sunday, was not expected to directly affect any part of the country.

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued gale warning for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out to the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” PAGASA said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Quedan was spotted at 720 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It was forecast to move northwest at 11 kph.

It is expected to be 650 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes this morning and 600 km northeast of Itbayat, or 330 km east of northern Taiwan, outside the country’s territory tomorrow morning.

Quedan is the 17th cyclone to enter the country this year.

PAGASA’s 24-hour forecast showed that Palawan, Western Visayas and Zamboanga peninsula will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.