Typhoon "Kiko" (international name "Chanthu") has continued to intensify rapidly as it is expected to move towards north of the country in the next 48 hours.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Kiko was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph while moving west-northwest at 20 kph.
Typhoon Kiko was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph while moving west-northwest at 20 kph.
According to PAGASA, Kiko is expected to continuously intensify until Friday, "when it is likely to reach its peak intensity of 185 to 205 km/h while moving over Extreme Northern Luzon." It may weaken on Saturday as it moves closer to Taiwan and interacts with its rugged terrain, it added.
The center of the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 1,175 kilometers (km) east of Central Luzon at around 4 a.m. It was expected to be at 410 km East of Aparri, Cagayan in the next 48 hours.
PAGASA said that heavy rains associated with Kiko may begin affecting extreme northern Luzon by Friday, Sept. 10.
There is also a moderate to high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) will be hoisted for several provinces in Northern Luzon, with higher wind signal levels possible over Extreme Northern Luzon, it added.
PAGASA said these wind signals may be hoisted for these localities beginning tonight or tomorrow morning.
Kiko is forecast to move westward or west northwestward until Friday towards Luzon Strait and the vicinity of Extreme Northern Luzon. Afterward, the typhoon will turn northwestward and pass near the southern coast of Taiwan on Saturday before making landfall in the vicinity of southeastern China on Sunday evening or Monday morning, PAGASA said.