The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday evening, Dec. 1, said there is now a lower chance that the severe tropical storm with the international name "Nyatoh" will enter the country's area of responsibility.
"The centerline of the current track forecast shows that this cyclone may not enter the PAR (Philippine area of responsibility) considering both the latest model guidance and the eastward shift in the previously issued track forecasts," PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone advisory.
However, PAGASA is still not ruling out the possibility of entry into the PAR "considering the near-term probability cone, half of which still lies within the PAR region."
As of 10 p.m., the center of Nyatoh was located 1,225 kilometers east of southern Luzon or outside the PAR.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph while moving north-northwest at 10 kph near the eastern limit of the PAR.
"Despite its distance from the Philippines landmass, the trough (or extension) of this severe tropical storm will bring increased likelihood of scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Bicol region, Visayas, and Mindanao in the next 24 hours," PAGASA said.
Nyatoh is seen to intensify into a typhoon in the next 12 hours, with a peak intensity of about 140 kph by Friday, Dec. 3.
"Increasingly unfavorable environment will result in continuous weakening during the weekend. Nyatoh may degenerate into a remnant low by Sunday (Dec. 5) as it embeds itself in an eastward-moving cold front," PAGASA said.