Tropical cyclone “Emong” has intensified into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Thursday.
PAGASA said the center of typhoon “Emong” was located 220 kilometers west-southwest of Bacnotan, La Union, or 210 kilometers west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
It had maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
The weather bureau said Emong is expected to make landfall over the Ilocos Region on Thursday night or early Friday morning, 25 July.
PAGASA said it may raise Wind Signal No. 4 for the region as the system has reached typhoon strength.
Wind Signal No. 3 is currently hoisted in the northern portion of Pangasinan (Anda, Bolinao, Bani), the western portion of La Union (Luna, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, San Fernando City, Bauang, Caba, Bangar), and the southwestern portion of Ilocos Sur (San Esteban, Santiago, Candon City, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz and Tagudin).
Meanwhile, PAGASA is also monitoring tropical storm “Dante,” which tracked closer to northern Luzon. It was last located 735 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with sustained winds of 75 kph and gusts up to 90 kph.
Another tropical depression remains unnamed as it is located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). If it enters the country’s territory before another cyclone forms, it will be named “Fabian.”
Tropical storm “Dante” exited the PAR on Thursday afternoon, PAGASA reported. It was last spotted 775 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
As this developed, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged all local government units to remain on high alert as inclement weather brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon and typhoon conditions is expected to persist until early next week.