'Strong' typhoon to enter Philippines; no landfall

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm Neoguri has intensified into a typhoon over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday and is likely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday, the state weather bureau said.

In advisory, PAGASA said the typhoon, which not expected  to make a landfall, was estimated at 1,410 kilometers off Virac, Catanduanes as of 4:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Once in the Philippine vicinity, the typhoon will be named "Florita," the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

Accuweather meteorologist Eric Leister said Neoguri will continue to strengthen as it transitions into a "strong typhoon" and makes its way over the open western Pacific.

"Rapid strengthening is possible through Sunday into early next week as the cyclone progresses through an area of very warm ocean waters and low wind shear, and the inner core is well established," he said in a report.

He said the typhoon appears to be headed for Japan, while Taiwan should remain alert.

The Philippines, meanwhile, may experience flooding rainfall in the west-central and northwest parts of the country, depending on the storm's track, Accuweather said.

Neoguri is currently enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, bringing light to moderate rains to the Visayas, Mimaropa region, the Bicol region and some areas of Mindanao.

The rest of the country including Metro Manila will have fair weather on Saturday with partly cloudy to cloudy skies accompanied by isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.