PAGASA: 'Dante' continues to move away from PH, heads for southern Taiwan

Tropical storm "Dante" (international name "Choi-wan") has started to move northward over the West Philippine Sea west of Ilocos Norte on Thursday evening, June 3.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Dante was at 260 kilometers (km) west-northwest Sinait, Ilocos Sur or 250 km west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Dante is projected to move generally north-northeastward or northeastward in the next 24 hours.
"The storm is forecast to pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of southern Taiwan i.e., Pingtung County area tomorrow evening (June 4). Afterward, the storm will continue moving northeastward towards the East China Sea," PAGASA said.
A gale warning remains in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon due to rough to very rough seas.
PAGASA warned that sea travel remains risky for small sea craft over these waters.
Mariners without the proper experience were advised to immediately seek safe harbor.
Dante has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 80 kph while moving northward at 20 kph.
PAGASA said the tropical storm will likely maintain its strength until its landfall or close approach over the southern portion of Taiwan.
Afterward, the resulting land interaction will weaken Dante into a tropical depression.
"This tropical cyclone is forecast to transition into an extratropical cyclone on Saturday (June 5) while over the East China Sea," PAGASA said.