Typhoon Yutu unlikely to make landfall

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Yutu (international name) is moving closer to the Philippines but is unlikely to make landfall, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday morning.

At 3 a.m., the typhoon was located 2,555 kilometers of Visayas packing maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195 kph.

The weather disturbance is forecasted to move west northwest at 20 kph.

PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the typhoon is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility between Saturday and Sunday.

The typhoon will be called "Rosita" once it enters the country's jurisdiction.

"Based on our weather model outputs, Yutu will not make landfall in the country but it is still possible that it will change its direction," Rojas said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, an intertropical convergence zone continues to affect Mindanao while Visayas, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro will experience partyly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

"Light to moderate winds blowing from the Northeast to East will prevail over Palawan and Occidental Mindoro and from the Northeast to Northwest over Visayas with slight to moderate seas," PAGASA said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray