Typhoon "Haishen" (international name) entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday morning and was given the local name "Kristine," the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.
In the latest weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), it said that "Kristine" entered PAR at around 9 a.m. Friday and was spotted 1,340 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon.
The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph while moving northwestward at 15 kph.
According to PAGASA, "Kristine" is expected to further intensify as it is still moving off the waters and is forecast to reach peak intensity of around 205 to 215 kph on Sunday.
However, the state weather bureau said "Kristine" is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition in the country as it will remain far from the country's landmass throughout the forecast period.
PAGASA said that the typhoon may exit PAR between Saturday evening and early Sunday morning and will head towards southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or "habagat," as well as localized thunderstorms, will continue to affect the country this weekend and will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.
The agency warned residents of possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.
While the typhoon will not likely have a direct effect in the country, PAGASA said that it may bring rough to very rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon on Friday night to Saturday morning.
PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky, especially for small sea crafts, over the said seaboards.
"Kristine" is the country's 11th tropical cyclone to enter PAR this year and the first this September.
PAGASA said an average of 20 tropical cyclones is expected to enter PAR each year, while the bureau's climate outlook forecast said that at least two to three tropical cyclones may hit the country this month.