MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Ineng maintained its strength but it is not likely to make landfall, the state weather bureau reported Thursday morning.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa), in its 5 a.m. weather report, said “Ineng” maintained its maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
It was last spotted 840 kilometers east of Casiguran town in Quezon and continues to move west northwest at a slower speed of 15 kilometers per hour from the previous 25 kph.
The storm may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Saturday night or Sunday morning.
Pagasa said “Ineng” is expected to spawn heavy rains in the Bicol region, as well as the provinces of Aurora and Quezon.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon will bring light to moderate, and at times heavy rain showers in the western section of Luzon and the entire Visayas region.
A gale warning was raised in several provinces – Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, eastern coast of Albay, eastern coast of Sorsogon, Northern and Eastern Samar, Leyte, Quezon including Polilio Islands, Surigao del Norte, Siargao and Dinagat Islands. / gsg