MANILA, Philippines - Signal number 1 was hoisted over Catanduanes as 'Santi' intensified into a tropical storm Wednesday night.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronimical Services Administration said that as of 10 p.m., the storm's center was estimated at 470 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.
'Santi' was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometets per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
The storm was moving northwest at 11 kph.
The weather bureau said the storm's forecast location by Thursday night is 240 kilometers northwest of Virac.
The storm was forecast to move close to Baler, Aurora by Friday and make landfall in Dupax, Nurva Vizcaya by Saturday evening.
The weather bureau said residents if Catanduanes shoumd be on alert against landslides and flashfloods.