Tropical storm "Dante" (international name "Choi-wan") has left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Friday morning, June 4, but may re-enter the area in the afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA estimated the location of tropical storm Dante at 285 kilometers (km) northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte or 325 km west of Calayan, Cagayan at around 4 a.m.
"On the forecast track, its center will re-enter the PAR this afternoon and make a close approach or landfall in the vicinity of southern Taiwan i.e., Pingtung County area tonight. Afterward, the storm will continue moving northeastward towards the East China Sea," PAGASA said.
Dante has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph while moving northward at 20 kph.
A gale warning remains in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon due to rough to very rough seas.
PAGASA advised mariners without the proper experience to immediately seek safe harbor as sea travel is still risky for small sea craft over these waters.
Dante will likely maintain its strength until its landfall or close approach over the southern portion of Taiwan by Friday evening.
Afterward, the resulting land interaction will lead to the weakening of Dante into a tropical depression and into an extratropical cyclone by Saturday, June 5, over the East China Sea.