Severe tropical storm "Bising" (international name "Surigae") intensified into a typhoon on Friday morning, April 16, and may begin to affect portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region by Sunday, April 18.
As of 11 a.m., Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Bising has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
"Over the next three days, Bising is forecast to steadily intensify," PAGASA said.
Bising was estimated at 960 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at around 10 a.m., moving west-northwest at 15 kph.
PAGASA said Bising has no direct effect yet over the country as of Friday.
While the center of Bising may not hit land or make landfall, it could pass close enough to the eastern section and bring stormy conditions over some portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region.
PAGASA said winds and heavy rains associated with the weather disturbance could be felt over portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region starting Sunday.
In anticipation of the onset of strong breeze and near-gale conditions, PAGASA will likely raise tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 in some areas of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar as early as Friday evening.
PAGASA warned that Bising could also trigger rough to very rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours.
It advised mariners of small sea vessels to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.