'Amang' now a storm, enters PAR

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical cyclone "Amang" has intensified into a storm and has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of the tropical storm was located at 950 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 5 a.m. today.

Amang has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Moving west-northwest at 19 kph, Amang was forecast to be at 640 kilometes east of Guiuan by Friday morning and 380 kilometers east of Legaspi by Saturday morning. By Sunday morning, it will be at 340 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.

PAGASA estimated heavy to intense rainfall amount within the 300-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.

The agency's latest forecast track shows the tropical storm recurving to the north by Sunday instead of directly hitting Philippine landmass.

PAGASA earlier said that Amang has a low probability of making landfall although it may still affect parts of Luzon and Visayas.

In a phone-patch interview on ANC, PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said storm signals may be raised over Eastern Visayas and the Bicol region within 36 hours.

He advised residents of the said regions to still be prepared for rainy weather.

Loiz said Tacloban City may experience rain on Saturday when Pope Francis visits the typhoon-hit area.

Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines today for a state and apostolic visit until Monday.

The pontiff is set to have various activities here over the weekend including a meeting with typhoon victims in Tacloban City and a holy mass at the Rizal Park in Manila, which is expected to be attended by millions.