Typhoon Kong-rey now inside PAR, named 'Queenie'

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:41 p.m.) — Typhoon Kong-rey has entered the Philippine area of responsibility Monday afternoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

It has been given a local name “Queenie”—the 17th tropical cyclone in 2018.

As of 4 p.m., “Queenie” was spotted 1,385 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of 195 kph.

It is moving northwest toward southern Japan at a speed of 15 kph.

While inside PAR, the typhoon is seen to intensify further.

“Queenie” is expected to leave the country’s jurisdiction Friday without hitting any landmass.

PAGASA noted that the forecast track of “Queenie” is similar to Typhoon Paeng (international name: Trami), which left PAR over the weekend.

No tropical cyclone warning signal will be hoisted should the typhoon maintain the forecast track, the state weather bureau added.

But the trough of the extension of “Queenie” will bring light to at times moderate rains over Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora until Thursday.

Residents of Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

Forecast positions

• Tuesday afternoon: 1,120 km East of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
• Wednesday afternoon: 775 km East of Basco, Batanes
• Thursday afternoon: 580 km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes
• Friday afternoon: 700 km North Northeast of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
• Saturday afternoon:1,135 km North of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)

— Gaea Katreena Cabico