Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) further weakened, while another cyclone, which is expected to enter the country's area of responsibility by midweek, intensified into a tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, Aug. 28.

Although Goring continues to weaken, it maintained its typhoon strength with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph, as of 11 a.m.

It was last spotted 245 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, moving north-northeastward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said Goring’s strong winds may continue to affect areas where tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 is still in effect.

Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan, eastern portion of Isabela, northern and central portions of Aurora, Polillo Islands, northern and eastern portions of Camarines Norte, including Calaguas Islands, northeastern portion of Camarines Sur, and northern portion of Catanduanes.

PAGASA said higher wind signals may still be raised over extreme Northern Luzon and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan Monday or Tuesday, Aug. 29 as Goring makes a counter-clockwise loop over the Philippine Sea.

“Hoisting of Wind Signal No. 3 or 4 over the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area is not ruled out,” it pointed out.

Goring landfall not ruled out

PAGASA said that due to its looping track, Goring may continue to move northeastward and northward, then northwestward on Tuesday towards the Bashi Channel and the vicinity of Batanes.

Based on the latest forecast track, the typhoon will make a close approach to Batanes between Wednesday morning and evening, Aug. 30, with a possible landfall scenario not ruled out, before moving to the southern portion of Taiwan between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Aug. 31.

Although it may gradually weaken in the next 12 hours due to the upwelling of cooler ocean waters and onset of dry air intrusion, Goring may re-intensify into a super typhoon as it turns northwestward by mid-Tuesday.

“Goring may pass close to Batanes at or near its peak intensity,” PAGASA pointed out.

Heavy rains

PAGASA said Goring may continue to bring heavy rains (50 to 100 millimeters) to Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte in the next 24 hours.

By Wednesday, Batanes may receive torrential rains (greater than 200 millimeters), while the Babuyan Islands may experience intense rains (100 to 200 millimeters).

Heavy rains may persist in the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

The southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” enhanced by Goring will also bring occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days.

PAGASA said the typhoon may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Thursday.

New tropical storm

Meanwhile, the tropical depression near the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has intensified into a tropical storm with the international name “Haikui,” PAGASA said.

It was moving westward at 15 kph, and was last spotted 2,230 kilometers east of Northern Luzon.

Haikui has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.

It may reach severe tropical storm category within 36 hours and turn into a typhoon before entering the PAR.

PAGASA said the tropical storm may enter the PAR between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Aug. 30 and 31.

“Once inside the PAR, the domestic name ‘Hanna’ will be assigned to this tropical cyclone,” it pointed out.

“The current forecast scenario suggests that Hakui is less likely to directly affect the country. However, it may enhance the southwest monsoon beginning on Wednesday or Thursday. This may result in the continuation of occasional or monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon and Visayas throughout this week,” PAGASA said.