Pepito intensifies into a typhoon and is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Pagasa said on its latest weather bulletin.
Pepito left the PAR at 7:30 AM today. On the forecast track, this tropical cyclone will move northwestward today and turn westward beginning tomorrow. It is forecast to make landfall over central portion of Vietnam by Sunday.
It intensified into a typhoon at 8:00 AM today and may reach its peak intensity tomorrow.
At 10:00 AM today, the eye of Typhoon Pepito was located based on all available data at 485 km West Northwest of Dagupan City, Pangasinan or 480 km West of Sinait, Ilocos Sur (OUTSIDE PAR) (17.0 °N, 115.9 °E ).
It is moving Northwestward at 20 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.
Today, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Batanes, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan. Flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
Pepito now a typhoon; exits PAR
PAGASA Regional Services Divisions may issue local thunderstorm/rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings as appropriate.
High winds to gale-force winds with occasional gusts due to Pepito will continue to affect the Northern and Central Luzon, especially over the western portions of these areas. Such conditions are more likely to be experienced in coastal and mountainous areas.
The Low-Pressure Area outside the PAR was estimated based on all available data at 1,200 km East of Mindanao (9.3 °N, 137.2 °E). It is likely to enter the PAR tomorrow and may develop into a tropical depression during the weekend. It is not affecting the weather over any portion of the country at this time.
Gale Warning remains in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central Luzon, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Island), and Palawan (including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands) due to rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.5 m). Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for small seacrafts.