Storm Soudelor becomes typhoon

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm Soudelor intensified into a typhoon as it moved closer to the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, but the state weather bureau said it still unlikely to hit any part of the country. 

As of 8 a.m., the eye of Soudelor was spotted at 2,335 kilometers east of Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph. 

Soudelor slightly slowed down and was moving west-northwest at 20 kph from 25 kph last Sunday. It is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow and will be locally named Hanna. 

Samuel Duran, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Soudelor has a slim chance of making landfall based on their latest forecast.

Duran said Soudelor was forecast to move west-northwest, a track almost similar to that of Typhoons Goring, Nangka and Falcon.

He said a high-pressure area north of the typhoon was slightly pushing it down. If the high-pressure area moves, Duran said Soudelor may veer to the north and would no longer enter the Philippine area of responsibility. 

Duran said there is a high probability that the cyclone would enhance the southwest monsoon that would bring rains in many parts of the country beginning tomorrow.