Tropical storm Inday (international name: Muifa) accelerated westward as it moves over the Philippine sea east of northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) latest bulletin, Inday will move generally northwestward over the Philippine sea towards the vicinity of Ryukyu Islands and east China Sea. It remained less likely to directly affect the country's weather condition.
The weather disturbance was last spotted 1,130 kilometers (km) east of Central Luzon or 1,165 km east of northern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is moving westward at 20 kph.
“This tropical cyclone is forecast to reach severe tropical storm category within 24 hours and may intensify further as it tracks the favorable environment of the Philippine sea. The possibility of a rapid intensification within the forecast period is not ruled out,” said PAGASA.
Inday is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sunday, Sept. 11 or Monday, Sept. 12.