The typhoon with the international name "Mindulle" has slightly weakened while traversing the Philippine Sea on Sunday evening, Sept. 26, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone advisory, PAGASA said Mindulle was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph while moving north-northeastward slowly.
"Mindulle is forecast to maintain its strength in the near term with a possibility of slight weakening as the typhoon undergoes an eyewall replacement cycle. Intensification will likely resume tomorrow as the typhoon completes the process," PAGASA said.
The center of the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 1,600 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon as of 10 p.m.
Based on the latest forecast, PAGASA said Mindulle is likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and exit the PAR on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
Mindulle will be given a local name "Lannie" once inside the PAR.
However, PAGASA said the weather disturbance is less likely to directly affect the country's weather condition throughout the forecast period but may cause moderate to rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon as early as Monday, Sept. 27.
"Sea travel will be risky for those using small sea crafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions," it advised.
PAGASA on Sunday afternoon said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) remains the dominant weather system in the country.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Palawan in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers caused by the ITCZ and localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA continued to advise the public to take precautions against possible flash floods or landslides especially during the occurrence of severe thunderstorms that are often associated with short-lived heavy rains.