Verbena has intensified into a typhoon over the waters north of the Kalayaan Islands, the PAGASA said.

According to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 27, the typhoon’s center was located at 255 km north of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

It has maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 170 km/h, and a central pressure of 965 hPa. It is currently moving west-northwestward at 15 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is currently hoisted in the Kalayaan Islands, with minimal ot minor impacts. However, the PAGASA cautioned that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.

Verbena will pass north of the Kalayaan Islands on Thursday morning and may decelerate significantly, moving west-southwestward slowly until Friday afternoon, November 28.

From then, the typhoon will move generally northwestward slowly until Sunday, November 30, before turning west southwestward again from the rest of the forecast, the PAGASA said.

Verbena may slightly weaken over the next 48 hours and may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm by Friday evening (November 28) or Saturday (November 29).

The typhoon may re-intensify briefly into a typhoon over the weekend.