Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) steadily intensified, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to raise tropical cyclone wind signals in more areas on Monday afternoon, July 24.

As of 5 p.m., Egay has maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.

Between late Tuesday, July 25, and early Wednesday, July 26, Egay may continue to strengthen and become a super typhoon with winds exceeding 185 kph, PAGASA said.

“However, should the track forecast shift closer to the landmass of Luzon, the typhoon may peak at an intensity just below the super typhoon threshold. Nevertheless, Egay is forecast to become a very strong typhoon,” PAGASA pointed out.

(PAGASA)

Due to the anticipated strong winds from the approaching typhoon, Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes, eastern portion of Albay, northern portion of Camarines Norte, eastern portion of Camarines Sur, Isabela, northern and central portions of Aurora, Quirino, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, central and eastern portions of Mountain Province, eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, eastern portion of Ifugao, central and eastern portions of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Batanes, and northeastern portion of Northern Samar.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was up over Metro Manila, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao Island, Burias Island, the rest of Albay, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Abra, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon including Polillo Islands, the rest of Aurora, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, central and eastern portions of Romblon, northern and central portions of Batangas, Eastern Samar, the rest of Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, the northern and central portions of Leyte, and northern portion of Cebu.

Based on the current forecast scenario, the highest wind signal that may be hoisted will be Signal No. 4 or 5, which is associated with typhoon-force winds.

Egay was last spotted 500 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, moving north-northwestward at 10 kph.

It may continue to move north-northwestward in the next 12 hours before turning northwest toward northern Luzon.

“On the track forecast, this typhoon is forecast to cross the Luzon Strait and make landfall or pass very close to the Babuyan Islands-Batanes area between tomorrow late evening (July 25) and Wednesday morning (July 26),” PAGASA said.

However, it has not ruled out the possibility of landfall over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

Egay may leave the country’s area of responsibility on Thursday, July 27.