"Goring" (international name: Saola) has intensified into a super typhoon (STY) category, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday, Aug. 27.

PAGASA had anticipated this intensification and alerted the public in its previous weather advisory.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/27/goring-to-reach-super-typhoon-category-pagasa-may-raise-signal-no-4-1

From maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) in the previous 11 p.m. bulletin, it escalated to 185 kph at 5 a.m. PAGASA update.

STY Goring was spotted over the coastal waters of Palanan, Isabela while moving south southwestward "slowly" and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

New LPA seen

Meanwghile, PAGASA is also tracking another low-pressure area (LPA) in the eastern Visayas area.

"We are also monitoring another low-pressure area, which was last spotted over 2000 kilometers to the east-northeast of the eastern part of Visayas," weather specialist Obet Badrina said.

However, PAGASA added that the chance of this LPA developing into a more severe weather disturbance is currently low.

"For now, we're not ruling out the possibility that this could develop into a typhoon, but at least within the next 24 hours, the likelihood is still relatively low," Badrina added.

'Goring ' to remain super typhoon approaching Taiwan

PAGASA pointed out that "Goring" is expected to maintain its STY status as it makes landfall in southern Taiwan.

However, due to "land interaction with Taiwan's rugged terrain, " STY Goring will be weakened. 

PAGASA said "it is likely that 'Goring' will emerge over the Taiwan Strait and exit the PAR (Philippine area of responsibility) region as a severe tropical storm or a minimal typhoon." (Sonny Daanoy)