Tropical Storm Queenie is maintaining its strength as it moves northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Northern Luzon, with PAGASA warning that the system may intensify into a typhoon by Sunday, September 27.
In its Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 2 issued at 5 p.m. Thursday, PAGASA said Queenie was located 1,205 kilometers east of Northern Luzon at 4 p.m.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center, with gustiness of up to 90 kph and a central pressure of 996 hPa.
Queenie is moving northwestward at 25 kph, with strong to gale-force winds extending up to 370 kilometers from its center.
No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal is currently in effect.
However, PAGASA said the storm's trough is expected to bring strong to gale-force wind gusts over Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Sarangani from Friday, September 25, until Saturday, September 26, particularly in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds.
Coastal waters are expected to have wave heights of less than 2 meters over the next 24 hours.
PAGASA said Queenie is expected to move generally west-northwestward until Friday before turning north-northeastward by Sunday.
The storm is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning or early afternoon, September 28, before moving generally northeastward near the southern islands of Japan.
PAGASA said Queenie will gradually intensify while inside the PAR and may reach typhoon category by Sunday.
The weather bureau also cautioned that heavy rainfall and severe winds may occur outside the storm's landfall point and forecast confidence cone.
The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices in affected areas were advised to take necessary measures to protect life and property and to follow instructions from local authorities.
